It wasn’t too many years ago members of the Benedum Airport Authority were doing anything they could think of to get passengers to the airport. With $1 million in federal funding on the line, it was critical for the Authority to be creative in finding ways to secure 10,000 passengers for the year.

 

The 10,000 number was and remains the magic number for the North Central West Virginia Airport. For airports reaching that total, they receive $1 million from the FAA in Airport Improvement Project (AIP) funds to do upgrades at the facility.

 

For a few years, the money didn’t come. In recent years, the 10,000 plateau has been easily surpassed thanks not so much to creative thinking as efforts by the Authority and NCWV Director Rick Rock and his staff to secure additional airlines for destination flights and a quality daily flight service provider,

 

On Thursday, it became apparent that for the moment that finding ways to reach the magic mark of 10,000 passengers may not be a problem for the immediate future. Rock said he was informed by Deputy Director Shawn Long of good news on that front.

 

“Shawn just informed we have already surpassed 10,000 enplanements for the year,” said Rock.

 

Although Long didn’t have exact figures, he estimated that it happened in early April. He said currently the airport totals are in the range of 10,500 passengers for the year.

 

The airport did have totals for the first three months of 2019 and they’re already well ahead of last year’s totals. The totals come from three primary sources including the daily United Express flight through SkyWest that has 3,277 passengers this year; charter flights (primarily Big 12 teams including WVU) at 1,354 and Allegiant Airlines that provides destination trips to Orlando and soon Myrtle Beach at 4,580 on the year.

 

That left the airport with 9,211 enplanements, or passengers flying out of the NCWV Airport, through March. The total also leaves them ahead of last year’s totals by several hundred.

 

Airport officials are continuing to look to expand numbers. Along with continued efforts to land more flights and even carriers, a brochure highlighting businesses and what the NCWV Airport facility offers was unveiled. The brochure, according to Authority members David Hinkle and Andy Lang, was utilized at a recent trade show.

 

Editor's Note: NCWV Director Rick Rock listens to Airport Authoirty member and Bridgeport Mayor Andy Lang during last week's meeting, while Harrison County Commissioner Patsy Trecost looks over the new brochure promoting the airport in the bottom photo.