Xtra Airways moves headquarters to Boise

4/6/2010
Xtra Airways is a charter airline currently operating out of Nevada.

But its CEO said her company has outgrown its location in Elko and is ready for bigger facilities in Boise.

The company is in the process of packing up and in two weeks will move into the offices above the North Face store.

Xtra Airways President Lisa Dunn said the City of Trees is an attractive place with lots of things to do for her growing business.

“Elko's a small town," Dunn said. "There's only 15,000 to 20,000 people here. We've been in Elko for about 25 years. And there's not much here.”

Xtra Airways fleet of Boeing 737s gets hired for private flights.

And according to the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, Boise has the right kind of clientele.

“We've got a great business background for an airline," said Bill Connors of the Boise Chamber of Commerce. "We've got headquarters of government, we've got sports teams, we've got universities and we've got a corporate base here."

Connors says it's a win-win. Not only does Xtra Airways have built-in customers in Boise, but the city gets great exposure.

"This is positve thing for economic development," Connors said. "The more air service you have, the more transportation opportunities you have in and out of your community, the better chances to attract other businesses."

Dunn said 30 people are coming with her from Elko and they've already scouted out the area.

The transplants will help inject more money into the local economy.

"They're staying in hotels and eating at the restaurants," Dunn said. "I have several that have already rented houses and several that have already made offers on houses. It will be my employees and their families."

The company is also hiring for five to ten new positions: receptionists, accounting personnel and aviation-types.

She hopes to have them on her payroll in less than a month. And there could be more if her charter business continues to grow.

"Over the next year or two I definitely anticipate adding more airplanes and what that means to Boise is adding positions at headquarters to manage those planes," Dunn said.

Xtra Airways moves here the middle of this month and plans to begin interviews immediately.

News tag(s): Business Boise Xtra_Airways