As Possibility of New Daily Air Service Provider Nears, NCWV Airport Director Rock Meeting with Airlines
By Jeff Toquinto on March 19, 2025
While key matters for the North Central West Virginia Airport were addressed inside the terminal building on Tuesday by the Benedum Airport Authority, an item being dealt with more than 1,500 miles away is perhaps of the highest public interest.
During the meeting of the Authority, the airport’s governing body, NCWV Deputy Director Shawn Long told those gathered that Director Rick 
Rock was out of town. Rock is currently in Vail, Colorado at the Volaire Air Service Forum that concludes tomorrow.
Rock was out of town. Rock is currently in Vail, Colorado at the Volaire Air Service Forum that concludes tomorrow.
Volaire, who is the airport’s marketing consultant, is hosting the event to allow their clients to meet with various airlines. And considering the NCWV Airport is currently in the process of soliciting bids for either a continuation of the same daily service or a new one, it is an opportune time.
“This is perfect time with the upcoming RFPs (requests for proposal) due for EAS (Essential Air Service),” said Rock. “I’m here advocating for our airport to get as many bids as possible under the EAS contract.”
Currently, the airport uses Contour through the EAS program with daily flights to Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Without EAS, it is likely the NCWV Airport and most other rural airports nationwide would not have a daily service provider.
Contour was one of only four airlines that bid on providing daily service to the NCWV Airport in 2022 and started service Dec. 1 of that same year. Contour was one of only two jet service providers. The other two utilized prop planes. Contour won the bid and received a $5.5 million federal subsidy to provide flights locally.
The price is almost certainly going to be more this time and will need approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which runs the EAS program. The airport can only choose from those that bid, as well the hub those flights use and the times they offer. The airport does not select who they want or where the daily flights go.
The good news? Both Rock and Long think there will be more bidders this time around, and they believe they will mainly be jet service
providers.
providers.
“I’m confident there will be more interest with not only a proven market, but with the ability to insert the opening of a new terminal into the conversation,” said Rock.
Whether that will be a tipping point for bids is unknown. However, Long said the amount of interest is up from the 2022 bid.
“There’s been several airlines in contact with us,” said Long. “We’ve been on several phone calls with airlines to start the process of investigating fits for the EAS.”
Additional fits could result from Rock’s visit to Colorado. Along with discussions during the opening portion of the conference Monday with airlines, Rock had a bevy of meetings on Tuesday.
“I met with three airlines (Tuesday) morning,” said Rock. “I (had) another meeting (last night).”
Rock and Long also expect current EAS holder Contour to bid again. Rock said Contour can submit a bid that is the same or even one offering additional flights.
“You want to see as many airlines submit for this as possible because competition will give us a chance to look at as many hubs, as many flights, and as many time frames for flights as possible,” said Rock. “We’re pleased with Contour, but we have to do our due diligence to make sure we pick the right service best for our airport, our customers, and our community and region.”
Barring a delay in the process, which is possible under new guidelines being put in place by the new presidential administration, a three-year and new – or continued use of Contour’s – service will go into effect Dec. 1, or shortly after the opening of the new terminal for business.
More from this meeting ahead on Connect-Bridgeport.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows a Contour jet outside the NCWV Airport terminal Tuesday, while Deputy Director Shawn Long is shown at Tuesday's Airport Authority meeting.
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