Despite massive passenger numbers and even, according to one consultant-based study, the most airline employees since 2001, the aviation industry is not flying high. Continued shortages of pilots and technicians to feed the existing and future demand is a real problem with no real solution in the foreseeable future.

 

What does that have to do with North Central West Virginia? Plenty, actually.

 

As a rural airport, when airlines make decisions about dropping or cutting services, their first targets are often rural facilities. A case in point was the loss of the United Express daily service to Chicago and Washington, D.C. Despite good numbers out of Bridgeport’s North Central West Virginia Airport, when United had to decide two years ago to cover shortages in pilot staffing, they eliminated 30 rural routes.

 

Just like that, Bridgeport’s service was gone. For those who think the airport decided to get rid of the Chicago and Washington service, which was funded to the tune of millions of dollars through an FAA subsidy program, allow me to say it again – they did not.

 

The airport had zero control over that decision. They had zero control over who would bid to replace it. They cannot pick up the phone and tell an airline to start flying here.

 

The good news? The airport was fortunate another daily jet service provider was willing to bid on daily service through the FAA’s Essential Air Service, or EAS, program providing funding to rural airports. This time, there are daily flights to Charlotte (one of only two jet services that bid on Bridgeport’s EAS), and the federal government is supplying more than $5 million annually to make that happen.

 

Even though this blog is not about that, be thankful you have a daily provider going to the second largest hub on the East Coast in Charlotte Douglass International Airport. Again, be thankful.

 

As for the really good news? The NCWV Airport’s destination flights for 2024 have all been renewed by Allegiant.

 

For those asking why Allegiant does not expand its flights to Myrtle, which will start again in the summer, as well as Destin, with a similar summer start, the answer should have already been spelled out. Since it is a certainty that it will be asked, here is the answer: Allegiant makes those decisions, not the NCWV Airport. And Allegiant makes those decisions even with the NCWV Airport regularly meeting with them to expand those very flights.

 

That said, even though some airlines may be looking for new destinations, they are often cutting out smaller airports. Allegiant, which is not receiving federal funding to fly out of Bridgeport, has done that elsewhere.

 

The fact they are keeping Bridgeport at existing levels in existing markets is good news. Rather, it is really good news.

 

“There are a lot of rural airports that only have the Essential Air Service,” said NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock. “The fact we have multiple destinations to some of the most beautiful beaches in the United States from rural America says a lot about how much support this airport gets from North Central West Virginia and even beyond.”

 

The fact that the numbers have remained strong for years is why Allegiant is keeping the flights. Allegiant is not being a benevolent presence for rural airports. What they do is best for their business.

 

Allegiant’s Bridgeport business is good due to the aforementioned success Rock brought up. The community supports these flights and even though the chances are slim of adding new destinations through Allegiant or expanding existing ones, Rock said he and his airport staff will continue to meet regularly with them and request just that. They have the numbers; they just need the aviation forecast to be as good as some of the beach destinations the flights carry folks to.

 

“We’re actually punching above our weight class because of the community, and I hope they realize that. I’m thankful for those flying with us, and I’m thankful for the flights we have. People probably know that I want more, too,” said Rock. “I think myself, and maybe others, got spoiled with press conference every year or every other year announcing a new destination or expansion of a destination. In a positive aviation climate, I am almost certain we would have new flights and have expanded flights. For now, maintaining what we have is just as critical.”

 

Not just critical, but something to be thankful for. After all, it is really good news.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows an Allegiant flight leaving Bridgeport, while NCWV Director Rick Rock is shown below.