The final numbers are in. And at initial glance, one would think the passenger – or enplanement – totals for the North Central West Virginia Airport in 2020 were a disaster.

 

On the surface, they are. The airport saw 18,583 people fly out of Bridgeport last year, the lowest number since there were just 10,831 passengers in 2013. The number is also more than 24,000 less than the record high of 42,829 the year before.

 

Looking on the surface, as any type of operation during the COVID-19 pandemic, can be misleading. NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock believes that is certainly the case here.

 

“We were, basically, non-operational for a portion of two months with no flights or practically no one on them (including 41 passengers total in the month of April),” said Rock. “We have been trying to survive and get to the other side, but we also know we don’t want to go backwards. When you consider all the variables, our numbers are being looked at as a good thing.”

 

Rock said this is not the first time something of an unexpected nature hampered air activities. In 2001, following the 9/11 attacks, air service began a slow decline from 15,395 passengers that year to all the way down to 4,813 in 2007.

 

Is a repeat in store? Rock does not think so.

 

“After 9/11 our numbers took a while, but they were practically down to nothing,” he said. “I just don’t believe you’re going to see that again with our partners in United and Allegiant. I think once we get past this pandemic, we’re actually going to see growth. At the same time, we know, as does everyone in this industry, that we’re facing a challenge if we want to get numbers back and to grow.”

 

Rock said several things have him believing things will bounce back. For starters, Rock is hoping continued vaccinations ahead of the summer destination flights that usually adds Myrtle Beach to the mix will see a bump.

 

“If people feel safe, they’ll get out and visit. If they feel safe, they’ll come and visit people here,” said Rock. “We look to have a full schedule soon. Ideally, we’d like that to happen and see things close to normal by June. Will it happen? We don’t have the answer, but we’ll be ready for it if it does.”

 

Rock said normalcy will see Allegiant flights back to near 90 percent capacity as opposed to the 50 and 60 percent mark they are currently at. It will include Allegiant adding the third flight options – to Orlando and also to Myrtle once approved – during the summer months, which did not happen in 2020.

 

“Losing that third flight was a big drop for us,” said Rock. “We hope that changes.”

 

Allegiant is currently flying two flights a week to Orlando. United is offering daily flights to Chicago and Washington, D.C. Rock said another key variable of the bounce back is one a little more unpredictable.

 

“We feel good if people feel better about flying and have vaccinations they will go back on vacations,” said Rock. “The business traveler is the one we need to return on our daily flights through United. That will be big for us because United’s numbers are way off the mark. They are probably a third of what they were before, and it’s a concern.”

 

Rock said part of the reason of his confidence in a bounce back is in the strength of the airport’s two partners. He said United and Allegiant remain strong, and he said the airport being part of the FAA’s Essential Air Service program has provided stability.

 

“You put that together with the team we have, and we have the ability with our staff that barring something totally unforeseen we should survive and begin to thrive again,” Rock said.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows a United Express plane being de-iced, whie Airport Director Rick Rock is shown below.