Anyone that’s tried to book a flight over the winter from Bridgeport to the Orlando area through Allegiant already knows, but North Central West Virginia Airport Director Rick Rock confirmed today that the highly popular destination flight has been extended through May 5. Rock told members of the Benedum Airport Authority – the airport’s governing body – the date during today’s meeting.

 

However, it’s what he said after the meeting regarding the flight that is even better news regarding the flight to the Orlando-Sanford International Airport.

 

“We’ve actually known that they’re going to continue the flights for sure through May 5 for a few weeks now,” said Rock. “They’re actually working on finalizing the schedule even further than that. Right now, though, you can easily book flights through May 5.”

 

What that means is that Allegiant continues to see benefits from its twice-weekly flights from Bridgeport. And that is certainly good news for the airport and those who like to travel to one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.

 

“We hope to see the extension beyond May 5 and we think it’s going to happen,” said Rock. “I think we’re doing, right now, as well as we have been. I think we’ll see it through August of next year when they’ll take their entire fleet down for maintenance.”

 

The flight service to Orlando resumed earlier this month; on Oct. 2 to be exact. The interruption was part of the planned fleet maintenance. Even with the break in the flights, Rock said the numbers are already strong since they’ve resumed.

 

“Already, with bookings, through this month we’re going to be at 80 percent capacity and the flights we’ve already had are at 90 percent capacity,” said Rock. “I anticipate that we’re going to be better off in our first month this time than we were in our first month when we began the flight. We were at around 82 percent then and we’ll be in the high 80s or low 90s this time.”

 

Rock said although he anticipates the flight service to be resumed from May through August, he said the official word on that won’t come immediately. He said word on that should come in December or January. 

 

Thanks to the strong public support of the flight, the airport enplanement numbers for the year are soaring. Rock said more than 16,600 passengers have flown out of the airport this year - the highest number since he said at least the year 2000.

 

Also today, the Authority held a moment of silence in memory of long-time member Oce Smith. Smith passed away yesterday after several years of failing health. He served as a Marion County representative on the Authority (the airport is jointly owned by Harrison and Marion County) for at least 35 years.

 

Marion County Commissioner Butch Tenant spoke of Smith’s dedication to the board and to public service, which included a 45-plus year stint at the sergeant-at-arms for the West Virginia Legislature. Rock also talked about a recent conversation with Smith. (Click HERE for that story).

 

Although Mid-Atlantic Aerospace Complex (MAAC) Director Tracy Miller had a rare absence, she did provide information to the board on the recent visit by a Japanese delegation to the airport facility. The visit was spearheaded by Senator Jay Rockefeller, Senator Joe Manchin and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. Rock said although the airport didn’t have anything to do with the program that included a luncheon for the delegation of nearly 50 Japanese business officials, he said the visit spoke highly of the area.

 

“The group visited New York City, they stayed in Pittsburgh and came here before going to Los Angeles,” said Rock. “I think that speaks to the economic vibrancy of the businesses in and around this airport.”

 

Also today, Airport Engineer Chad Biller of The Thrasher Group told members that he hoped the paving part of the near $1 million airport terminal improvements that have begun will be finished before the weather turns bad. He also said the removal of the existing canopy at the terminal’s main entrance will not begin until all materials arrive for the new canopy.

 

The meeting ended with Airport Assistant Superintendent of Operations Mark Heefner talking of the recent charter flight by the Kansas football team. Despite a lopsided loss to WVU, Kansas officials took the time to let Heefner know their experience of getting loaded and sent on their way was one of the best, and fastest, they’ve experienced.

 

Editor's Note: Rick Rock is pictured above, while Marion County Commissioner Butch Tennant is shown speaking about the late Oce Smith in the second photo. In the bottom photo,is the Airport's Mark Heefner.