ST. CLOUD — The director of the St. Cloud Regional Airport is welcoming the federal government’s decision to delay the closures of 149 airport control towers nationwide, including two in Minnesota.

The St. Cloud tower was due to close April 21. While airport director Bill Towle says he’s glad the Federal Aviation Administration decided Friday to delay the closures until June 15, he says he’d rather keep his tower open permanently.

Towle says some airports have discussed finding other ways to cover the costs. But he says it would be tough for St. Cloud to find money to pay its five controllers. The only commercial airline serving St. Cloud is Allegiant.

The other Minnesota airport granted a reprieve is the Anoka County airport in Blaine, which had been due to close May 5.