Come August 11, things are going to get serious for the North Central West Virginia Airport. At that time, and running through August 13., the Volaire Air Service Forum will be taking place in St. Augustine, Florida, and Bridgeport will be represented.

 

NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock and Deputy Director Shawn Long will take part in the forum hosted by Volaire. Volaire serves as the industry consultant for the airport.

 

“We’ll be meeting with four airlines,” said Rock, who indicated two of the airlines will be those serving the airport – United and Allegiant. One of the other airlines is SkyWest, which United does its local flights through. Rock said SkyWest does flights for multiple airlines and could provide another opportunity.

 

While there is no guarantee the airport will add new flights or expand on existing flights as a result of this meeting or the one in September being hosted by Allegiant, it has happened multiple times in the past.

 

As for what Rock will be recommending, it will be a combination of flights. Some will be based on existing numbers from NCWV Airport and numbers to destinations where people from this area are going to Pittsburgh to fly to.

 

“With the data in hand and with our track record, if we make a formal pitch, you feel more confident,” said Rock. “At the same time, I read comments and hear them personally all the time and the viable ones we consider and even some less viable. The one thing for sure is we’re listening and watching what people want to help us when we go after flights.”

 

Perhaps the biggest misnomer is the airport simply chooses flights it wants. Nothing could be further from the truth as the NCWV Airport lobbies with, and works with, airlines to have the service it currently has, which is fairly untypical for a city of 8,000 people.

 

“We have no problem telling them the community has asked for certain flights, and many of those such as more flights into the Gulf Coast of Florida are among those we annually make a pitch for and one we’re confident we can support,” said Rock. “Ultimately, it is the airline that determines the situation. We just have to keep plugging away.”

 

Rock said a true market study is part of the data that will be used. He said believes it shows several destinations the NCWV Airport could support.

 

“If there’s a city like Nashville that Allegiant is trying to grow and it makes sense for us, say even if the data not there, you try to sell them on a hunch because that is a flight we hear about constantly,” said Rock. “Allegiant is growing into a lot of new cities, and we’ll take what they offer, if they offer, because we think we have the community to make it work.”

 

Rock talked briefly about the conference during what turned into a 14-minute meeting of the Benedum Airport Authority on Wednesday. As he was doing so, an Allegiant flight was departing with a large crowd walking to it.

 

The crowds have been large throughout June and July with the addition of the flights to Destin and the expansion to five flights a week to Myrtle Beach. In fact, the airport has already surpassed last year’s passenger totals that were hamstrung by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Last year, the airport had 18,583 passengers fly out.  Through June, the number stood at 15,177. However, Rock said during the meet that through today, there had been 4,087 passengers in July for 19,264 total.

 

“It’s busy across the entire industry as a result of people being pent up due to COVID and wanting to go on vacation,” said Rock. “There have been some cancelations throughout all the networks due to a shortage of people from pilots to staff and weather. We have that vacation plans get upended with a cancelation, but rest for pilots and staff are critical, as is the weather. We want people to fly, but we want people to be safe.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows an Allegiant flight with passengers boarding Wednesday, while Rock is shown below addressing the Benedum Airport Authority during yesterday's meeting.