Barring a change by the Federal Department of Transportation, daily flight service out of Bridgeport will continue to go through Silver Airways and into Washington’s Dulles International Airport. Members of the Benedum Airport Authority, the governing body of the North Central West Virginia Airport, agreed with the recommendation to continue the service with Silver.

 

It’s all part of the Essential Air Service (EAS) program that provides subsidies to airlines to provide daily flight service to rural areas. Without EAS, many smaller airports nationwide would not have the ability to provide flight service.

 

Harrison County Commissioner and Airport Authority President Ron Watson said there were four proposals to get the EAS service for NCWV. However, after reviewing all the proposals, he said continuing with Silver to Washington, D.C. where more than 100 connections can be made was determined to be the best.

 

“We worked with our consultant (Sixel) to determine what was the best route to go,” said Watson. “I don’t think any of them had everything we wanted, but we felt this was our best option. We feel good that we did our due diligence in choosing Silver.”

 

Currently, flights by Silver also include a stop at Morgantown’s Municipal Airport. Silver’s latest proposal includes Morgantown as well as Parkersburg’s Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport. To further compound the situation, Watson said Morgantown has also reviewed EAS proposals and has not chosen to continue with Silver.

 

“What makes that interesting is that Silver’s proposal is that it’s all three or it’s nothing,” said Watson. “With Morgantown choosing a different service that flies out of Pittsburgh that’s going to force a decision to be made.”

Whatever the decision is, Watson said it will be made by the Department of Transportation. He said there’s no guarantee what’s chosen by an airport is what’s given to that airport.

 

“We’ve had it happen before with a direct flight from here to Cleveland, Ohio even though there was a different recommendation,” said Watson. “In the end, the DOT may tell us that we have to go with someone else or they may tell Morgantown ‘sorry, you have to go with Clarksburg.’ We just don’t know and won’t know for a little while. If we do get Silver again, everything from the flight service side of things will be close to the same as it is right now.”

 

March enplanements have rebounded from the previous months and shown the highest enplanements from Silver this year at 533. They have reduced the number of cancelled or delayed flights.

 

Sun Air and CityLink Airlines also bid on the service. Silver Air’s bid actually came at a time when it saw its enplanements – or passengers flying out of Bridgeport – rebound. Airport Director Rick Rock said May numbers were at 533; easily the highest monthly number in 2014.

 

Most the passengers flying out of Bridgeport have been part of the still relatively new twice weekly flight service to Orlando-Sanford International Airport. That service is through Allegiant Airlines.

 

Editor's Note: Pictured above is Authority President Ron Watson.