Good news involving the North Central West Virginia Airport has been plentiful in the past few years. New flights, record numbers in passengers in comparison with the past 20-plus years and even record revenue and more than $1 million in renovations to the terminal building.

 

Of course, it’s the destination flights – as well as their renewals and expansions – between Bridgeport and both Orlando and Myrtle Beach through Allegiant Airlines most will point to. And many will talk about last week’s proposal by NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock to land another destination flight to the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, also through Allegiant.

 

While news on another new flight may be in the future, big news could potentially be coming down the pike as early as next Tuesday. At that time, airport officials are expected to be notified of what airlines bid on providing Essential Air Service (EAS) from Bridgeport to a yet to be determined hub.

 

Currently the company that is utilizing EAS, which provides a FAA subsidy of $2.3 million to the NCWV Airport’s provider for daily flights, is Silver Airlines. Airport officials have been less than pleased with the Silver service and have made a full court effort to land one of the major airlines to come into Bridgeport and provide daily service.

 

Silver Airlines provides daily connecting flights to Washington-Dulles International Airport. Rock said other hubs offer cheaper flights and even more connecting flights, but that NCWV officials aren’t opposed to staying there with the right partner.

 

During Tuesday’s strategic planning meeting, Rock and others on the Benedum Airport Authority – the airport’s governing body – made no secret they are hoping to land American Airlines and perhaps get daily flights to a hub in Charlotte to provide connecting flights worldwide. American, or another major carrier, is the partner they are looking for.

 

“The bids from airlines are due on May 3 to the (Department of Transportation),” said Rock. “We hope to hear something that day, but it may be a little after that.”

 

What they hope to hear is that American Airlines – or another major network carrier such as Delta or United – has bid on the EAS service. To help land one of the big players to begin flights on a daily basis. Whatever airline submits and is eventually chosen, the hubs that they will be able to go to will either be  Charlotte, Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Washington-Dulles, or Philadelphia. Those hubs will be the ones for connecting flights even if a smaller airline is chosen.

 

“We certainly think we put something attractive together to draw a group like American. We believe our EAS package is more attractive than the others that are out there,” said Rock.

 

Rock and Authority President Ron Watson said that the NCWV Airport’s proposal to draw bids includes a minimum revenue guarantee (MRG) of roughly $2 million. The money comes from entities such as the Harrison and Marion County commissions – the owners of the airport – along with municipalities such as Bridgeport and Clarksburg and other agencies. The guarantee helps avert risk to an airline as if they don’t meet profits by using the EAS funds, then the airline can tap into the MRG. Rock has suggested that the first money used would be matching $250,000 contributions by the Commissions since they own the airport.

 

While Rock isn’t certain a major airline like American will come to Bridgeport, he said he is certain there will be bids on the service. However, the minimum revenue guarantee will only be available to the major airlines. If that doesn’t work, Rock said a small airline will be vetted properly during the proposal process if there are more than one and that the airport has said it will not do any proposal that includes a tie-in with Morgantown’s airport.

 

Authority members also didn’t seem to think having Silver return for the next round is a good idea. During Rock’s presentation Tuesday he said Silver has “damaged its brank” at the airport. However, he said they’re a number in a long line of providers that have not lived up to expectations and, as a result, have caused daily flight numbers to remain stagnant.

 

“It wouldn’t be my recommendation. We want a partner we can grow with. We don’t’ want to discourage anyone from bidding, but we want a real partner and someone that cares about the passengers like we do, respond to concerns and have reliability and fair pricing to our customers,” said Rock when asked if the airport would consider bringing back Silver. “Silver, or any carrier since 9/11, have not been able to meet the needs of the community. We just have to have the right partnership in place.”

 

Authority members know that if they can land a major airline to come into Bridgeport that the community’s trust will have to be re-established. However, they believe a reliable carrier offering multiple flights per day to a prominent hub could easily remedy that. Rock said, like he was with the destination flights, that people will utilize the service if it is reliable and that the MRG wouldn’t have to be utilized. 

 

Editor's Note: Rick Rock addressed the Benedum Airport Authority Tuesday, while Authority President Ron Watson, left, has the attention of fellow Authority members Ernie VanGilder, middle and Kris Cinalli. Watson was instrumental in raising a large portion of the funds that are being used to entice a network carrier to Bridgeport.