North Central West Virginia Airport Director Rick Rock, as well as members of the Benedum Airport Authority, said despite comments to the contrary, the direct Allegiant Airlines flight service between Bridgeport and the Orlando area will resume in October. During Wednesday’s Authority meeting, members of the airport’s governing body said there is some confusion about the status of the service.

 

“On October 2, Allegiant starts back up,” said Rock. “We’ve tried to get the word out, but there are some that are concerned that it’s over since the service isn’t going right now.”

 

As reported several times on Connect-Bridgeport, including most recently on August 6, the service came to an end August 10. However, it was a temporary interruption of service on all Allegiant flights for fleet maintenance.

 

“We’re looking forward to them coming back. It’s a little boring around here without them,” Rock said with a smile.

 

The reason for that is the overwhelming success of the flights, which have been booked at or above a 90 percent capacity since beginning service in November of 2013. In fact, the flights have produced 19,889 passengers in that time.

 

“Even though the service is off until October, you can still purchase tickets right now for when the flights resume,” said Rock. “You’ll see marketing of the service begin in force in September.”

 

While that service resumes Oct. 2, the day before that will see a new daily flight schedule with Silver Airlines. Silver is the company currently providing direct daily flights to Washington Dulles International Airport for local travelers to make connecting flights. Rock said he has yet to be told of the schedule, but that there will be changes. Among the changes – and it’s one the Authority isn’t pleased about – is that the flight will now include a stop in Parkersburg as well as Morgantown. Previously, it only consisted of a stop in Morgantown.

 

The Authority has little control on making a change as Silver’s daily route is part of the EAS (Essential Air Service) program where federal dollars subsidize routes in smaller, rural airports. The airport even looked at taking the EAS money and chartering their own flight service and perhaps teaming up with another state airport – such as Beckley – to avoid the issues.

 

“Basically, (the committee assigned at looking at this option) voted not to go it alone,” said Authority member Mike Romano. “We would have to give up 10 years of EAS support to go that route.”

 

While the airport will have to continue its deal with Silver, members said they were going to hold Silver’s “feet to the fire” as it relates to customer service. Rock was directed to have staff begin timing what it takes for passengers to leave the plane and then get their luggage. According to those at the meeting, at times the wait has been 40 minutes or even longer. Rock is to report those findings at the next Authority meeting.

 

“According to their standards it should be 10 to 12 minutes,” Rock said.

 

Rock was also asked to have collective concerns by Clarksburg, Beckley, Parkersburg and Morgantown – all using the Silver service – to send concerns to the Department of Transportation. Rock also said he had yet to hear if it was Silver’s responsibility or that of the airport to get passengers who are often stranded at Morgantown – and could soon be stranded in Parkersburg once they’re added in October – back to Bridgeport if the flight leaves and then is delayed at one of the other airports. Romano asked that Rock be allowed to set up a transportation system to pick those passengers up. That suggestion was unanimously approved.

 

“We’re trying to obtain as much efficiency as possible … There have been too many complaints made and the concerns are that things aren’t going as fast as they should be. We’re going to study them for the next 30 days. We’re going to see how fast they’re moving in and moving and we’re just going to use a stopwatch.”

 

Other problems are also going to be noted, as well as providing the DOT information on specific complaints by passengers. Issues from wait times in terminals and canceled flights to flight delays and being stranded in airports are also going to be included on the information gathered by the local airport.

 

Editor's Note: NCWV Airport Director talks to Authority members during his director's report in top photo, while Authority member Mike Romano makes a point during Wednesday's meeting.