“The report is for the time period ending March 31, but we just received a copy of it,” said NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock. “It’s just more positive news for the airport and it’s the type of numbers that you hope you can build on.”

 

Rock is quick to point out that the Allegiant flights, which is a twice-weekly, non-stop flight service between Bridgeport and Orlando-Sanford International Airport, is the reason. Although the exact numbers aren’t broken down as to what Allegiant contributed from March 31 of 2013 to March 31 of this year, there are numbers available showing Allegiant’s impact from Jan. 1, 2014 to the end of June. Allegiant had produced 7,617 passengers in that time frame.

 

“We’re well over 9,000 right now,” said Rock.

 

The only slight rain on the parade is that, as of today, Allegiant’s flight service from Bridgeport to the Orlando area has been suspended due to planned fleet maintenance. The maintenance is for all flights, not just Bridgeport and was anticipated. Bridgeport’s service will resume Oct. 2.

 

“According to the numbers we received, our enplanements are up from that March period last year to this year 96 percent,” said Rock. “That’s simply incredible.”

 

The list, compiled by Mead & Hunt, an architectural and engineering firm that provides aviation consulting services, shows that only two other airports across the entire eastern region saw an increase higher than that in Bridgeport. The airports in question are Trenton, New Jersey and New Castle, Delaware.

 

The numbers of passengers also allowed Bridgeport to leapfrog Morgantown, Greenbrier and Parkersburg. Bridgeport still trails Charleston’s Yeager Airport – the busiest in West Virginia – and Huntington’s Tri-State Airport.

 

“It would be nice to catch up to those two, but we have a long way to go, a really long way to go, to get there,” said Rock. “Right now, we’re just pleased with our pace.”

 

According to the study, Bridgeport had 12,172 passengers in that time frame. Huntingtono had 90,108 passengers and Charleston had 214,085.

 

The other thing Rock said the study pointed out that likely helped the NCWV have higher numbers is a drop in their overall airfares, which again is largely the result of the special rates offered by Allegiant. In fact, no one on the list of 57 airports had a higher drop in average fares than the NCWV Airport.

 

“We dropped 35 percent, which is a combination of what Allegiant has brought to the table and I also know that fares through our daily service to Washington (Dulles) is also getting better,” said Rock.

 

The difference in the March-to-March time period saw fares drop by $74. The previous average fare was $210 and the current average fare is $136. Ron Watson, president of the Benedum Airport Authority (the airport’s governing body), said those numbers speak volumes.

 

“I think the numbers gives us some validity that we’re on the right track and that by doing some out of the box thinking it has paid off,” said Watson. “People can be critical of government groups for thinking that way, but these numbers give credibility for that mindset.

 

“The passenger numbers and the fare numbers are just a start,” Watson continued. “We are looking at things with air service and with tenants here at the airport on the horizon that we believe will make us even more of a major player. Will it happen? I don’t’ know for sure, but these numbers show us that we’re closer to having things happen now than before.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo, which is courtesy of NCWV Airport, shows an Allegiant Plane loading as Silver Airlines takes off in the background. NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock is in the middle photo, while Authority President Ron Watson is shown below.