It’s been known for some time that Bridgeport’s new daily air service provider – SkyWest flying under the United Airlines banner – will start daily scheduled service Nov. 1 out of Bridgeport.

 

It’s also know that SkyWest is one of the most reliable services nationwide and will see the North Central  West Virginia Airport have a regional jet to utilize as to the prop planes that have provided service for decades.

 

And it’s known that the airport will have flights going to two major hubs in Chicago and Washington, D.C.

 

What hasn’t been known is when flights would be going in and out of Bridgeport under the new federally subsidized service through the FAA’s Essential Air Service program. On Wednesday, it was revealed.

 

Airport Director Rick Rock provided a list of the new finalized flight service schedule. While some may have already booked flights and know of parts of the schedule, the official schedule has been released.

 

“I’m extremely pleased with the schedule because it gives us a lot of things that many customers like,” said Rock. “Are there other times or additional times we’d like to have? Sure, but for starting out I’d argue this service we have combined with the schedule is as good as any Essential Air Service program in the country.”

There will be daily flights to Chicago and Washington Dulles International Airport Monday through Friday. The flights will go from Clarksburg to Washington at 6:10 a.m. and arriving at 7:27 a.m.; and with flights from Washington leaving at 12:40 p.m. and arriving 1:48 p.m. in Bridgeport. The Monday through Friday flight from Bridgeport to Chicago will depart at 2:18 p.m. and arrive at 3 p.m. and the flight from Chicago will leave there at 4:15 p.m. and arrive in Bridgeport at 6:38 p.m.

 

Sunday will also have flights to both hubs. Flights from Bridgeport to Washington will leave at 10:30 a.m. and arrive at 11:47 a.m., while flights from Washington will depart at 12:40 p.m. and arrive at 1:48 p.m. The Sunday Chicago flight will leave Bridgeport at 2:18 p.m. and arrive at 3 p.m., while the departing flight from Chicago is at 4:15 p.m. and with a 6:38 p.m. arrival time.

 

There is no Saturday Washington flight, but there is one to and from Chicago. The Bridgeport to Chicago flight leaves at 12:38 p.m. and arrives at 1:20 p.m. The departure flight from Chicago leaves at 2:10 p.m. and arrives in Bridgeport at 4:33 p.m.

 

Rock said SkyWest, which flies as United Express under United, provides everything that could be wanted in a daily service provider.

 

“We have to great hubs that we’ll be going to on regional jets. At Dulles, you will have access to 45 direct flights and connections all over the world and in Chicago you will have access to more than 100 direct flights and connections all over the world,” said Rock. “You add to that the United code and baggage transfers and the competitive pricing and we have a service we’ve never been able to offer before.”

 

Of course, Rock knows the community – both the luxury and business traveler – has to have faith in the service. The last several daily providers, most recently ViaAir and Silver, have provided poor scheduled service that resulted in the community not using it due to reliability.

 

“We have to prove it to our community,” said Rock.  “We have to get the word out that this is different. We know it’s a game changer here and we have to show the traveler that it is as well.”

 

As for the business community, the Benedum Airport Authority – the airport’s governing body – approved a budget of $5,000 for the airport to host an event that would highlight the pending arrival of SkyWest and its benefits. Rock and Airport Authority President Ron Watson agreed that stakeholders from the entire region, up to 17 counties and more if necessary, need invited including local governments, business, media, conventions and visitor bureaus and all others that could utilize or help promote the service.

 

A time frame for the event was not scheduled, but Rock would prefer to do it prior to the Nov. 1 start of service. The event will be held at the Bridgeport Conference Center.

 

“It would allow people to take ownership of this and get on board,” he said.

 

Rock said he also hopes the new service will cater to West Virginians across the country to come home for visits or permanently. He said the United Code sharing and baggage transfers, along with all of the connections, will make that easier than ever.

 

“It’s going to be so much easier to get home,” said Rock. “The best thing is that I can assure them that this service will be reliable … This is one of the top airlines in the country and they operate under United, which is one of the big four airlines. We just need the traveling public to take advantage of it.”

 

Officials with United and SkyWest have already had roughly 15 individuals make site visits to Bridgeport. Rock said the next site visit by those involved is set for Oct. 17.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Airport Director Rick Rock at this past week's Benedum Airport Authority, while the middle graphic is the schedule as provided by the NCWV Airport. Bottom photo shows Authority President Ron Watson, right, talking with Authority member Mike Romano.