Back on April 15, 60 Minutes ran a fairly scathing report on Allegiant Airlines, the carrier that offers destination flight service in Bridgeport to Orlando and Myrtle Beach from North Central West Virginia Airport.

 

The segment reported that the airline was more likely than other airlines to suffer from major in-flight mechanical failures. The report also questioned the FAA’s handling and oversight of Allegiant.

 

The segment on 60 Minutes said Allegiant had more than 100 mechanical issues from a period running from January 2016 to October 2017. The FAA said it addressed each incident individually and met the agency’s satisfaction. Some members of Congress, at the time of the report, asked for an investigation into the matter.

 

The FAA and Allegiant both spoke out against the piece. The FAA also sent a response to CBS News, the network that airs 60 minutes.

 

While the issue is more than a month old, officials at the NCWV Airport brought the matter up again during the Benedum Airport Authority meeting last month. The Authority, which oversees the governance of the airport, asked Director Rick Rock if there had been any problems with Allegiant since the report.

 

“There’s been no problems,” said Rock.

 

Authority President Ron Watson, who praised Allegiant for their on-time performance and lack of issues from Bridgeport, said he heard very little locally as a result of the report.

 

“I’ve had one person say they won’t fly again,” said Watson. “That was it.”

 

Long-time Authority member Roger Diaz also added to it. He said he “hadn’t heard a thing.”

 

Rock said the impact of the segment on local numbers was almost non-existent. He did, however, say a few opted not to use the service as a direct result of the 60 Minutes piece.

 

“We had a total of two cancellations as a result of the segment,” Rock said.

 

Rock said Allegiant is continuing to upgrade its fleet. He said they are continuing to switch out of the older MD80 (McDonnell Douglas) aircraft to the Airbus A320 that actually seats 186 passengers, which is more seats than the MD80.

 

“The MD80 is and older airplane, but it’s a good airplane,” said Rock when asked which aircraft was the one 60 Minutes focused on. “Allegiant actually made the decision to transition into the Airbus a few years ago, which is a brand new.

 

“They’ve been coming in here for some time now and I actually thought that wouldn’t be the case since we’re a smaller market,” he continued. “We actually have times where we’ve had 186 passengers on that flight. It does well and we’re still excited about the future and our partnership with Allegiant.”

 

Rock said a little more than half of the Allegiant flights now going to and from Bridgeport involve the Airbus. He said Allegiant has informed him that they play on switching all Airbus A320s sometime in 2019.

 

Based on the numbers, there was a big drop in April of 2018 from April of 2017. In 2017, Allegiant had 1,744 flights compared to 1,222 this year. However, Deputy Director Shawn Long said the numbers last year included several additional flights Allegiant added in April. He said the airline will occasionally add flights during several months throughout the year.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock, while Authority President Ron Watson, right, listens to Authority member David Hinklei n the second photo. Bottom pictures shows and Airbus 320 after landing in Bridgeport.