Ely Airport is a county-owned airport three miles northeast of Ely, in White Pine County, Nevada.The Federal Aviation Administration says this airport had 239 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 216 in 2009 and 245 in 2010. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a general aviation airport.HistoryEly's first airline flights were United Airlines Convair 340s in 1955. United's last piston powered flights, Douglas DC-6s, stopped at Ely until 1970. United's service to Ely was then operated with Convair 580s flown by Frontier Airlines (1950-1986) in a subcontract arrangement. United Boeing 737-200s took over from November 1977 until 1982, flying San Francisco - Reno - Elko - Ely - Salt Lake City. Ely is the smallest destination, population-wise, ever to be served year round with United mainline jets.On November 12, 2006 Air Midwest (operating as US Airways Express) started flights to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada via Cedar City Regional Airport in Cedar City, Utah, The stop in Cedar City was due to the fact that McCarran Airport requires Transportation Security Administration screening not available at Ely Airport. Previously Scenic Airlines scheduled flights to North Las Vegas Airport and Elko Regional Airport.
