Rick Rock knew it was possible. Those involved intimately with the North Central West Virginia Airport knew it was possible too.

 

What Rock, the director of the NCWV Airport, didn’t know was whether the very real possibility of a direct flight between Bridgeport and St. Petersburg, Florida would become reality. He was only told that it would likely happen, and there was nothing official.

 

That all changed on his way home from work on Dec. 2 after talking earlier that day to an air service development official from Allegiant regarding St. Petersburg. And he had a good feeling even before he actually talked to the official.

 

“I saw a missed call from Las Vegas, so I knew something good was happening. Just got home from work and it was 4:45 p.m. Eastern time,” said Rock. “There was no voicemail, but I called back and then shortly thereafter the phone call confirmed.

 

“That was how short of a window it was from the news of it happening to the announcement of it happening. It was not a certainty until the phone call the Thursday before the (Dec. 7) Tuesday announcement,” continued Rock. “At that point, we just had to wait for them to make the announcement.”

 

On that early December morning, Allegiant sent out a press release. A short time later, it was all over social media, and the buzz was real.

 

“I think it’s perhaps most excitement we’ve seen since the Myrtle Beach flight and perhaps our first announcement with Orlando. There was that much talk going on about it for days,” said Rock. “A lot of people here want to take part in some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida and there are a whole lot of West Virginians there who are looking for a quick trip home.”

 

Those quick trips, unlike two of the three other destination flights to Florida, are not just for the summer months. Like the Orlando trip, this will be a year-round flight offered Mondays and Fridays. Even the Orlando flight, which is now year-round, did not begin that way.

 

“The fact is ongoing is a big deal and I am certain it’s going to do very well because the community never lets us down and is why we are able to keep adding slowly to our flights,” said Rock. “With this flight, the feedback has been 100 percent positive. We’re looking at the inaugural flight March 11.”

 

The reality of it being more than lip service came in late September when Rock attended Allegiant’s annual conference in Las Vegas. It is the same annual meeting Rock has made the pitch for St. Petersburg for years.

 

“We had a great discussion with the Allegiant leadership, and they’ve been a great partner who roots for us as much as we root for them,” said Rock. “Initially, I was told it was possible, but not assured. Then, I had a conversation with others in leadership who said we had proven we deserved the flight. That made me feel pretty good we may get it, but I knew there are other airports doing well that probably may have deserve it too. Still, I had a good feeling.”

 

Rock has a good feeling if the strong numbers continue more flights will be added. He said Nashville, Charlotte and Punta Gorda are the ones that have been pushed and will be pushed.

 

“Those are key based on date we have showing where people travel. Everything is data based, but we will take any flight that is offered,” Rock said. “We listen to what our community wants, but it has never been a matter of us choosing flights. This is a difficult process, and the service has to be offered. If anyone or I here owned the airline, we’d fly everyone, but that’s not the reality.”

 

Rock said the next step is to not only get people to fly out of Bridgeport, but to get people to fly into the state and the city. He said getting people to come back home or to visit will make the flights even more valuable to the community and to Allegiant.

 

“That would take us to the next level. Bringing people here is a big deal, and we’re going to work toward that,” said Rock. “We’re also going to keep working to add flights and we hope the next announcement is sooner rather than later.”

 

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