Although there were no promises made on expanding existing air service or adding new routes, North Central West Virginia Airport Director Rick Rock got some good news at the recent Allegiant Conference that was roughly two weeks ago in Las Vegas. And that good news was that the discount air service provider was pleased with their existing and soon-to-be-open routes out of the Bridgeport airport.

 

“It was a great experience and an opportunity for Allegiant to tell us we’re doing well. We track those numbers and believe we’re doing well, but it’s when you sit down with their sales rep people and their operational people and they tell you that you’re doing well and that they’re happy with what you’re doing, that’s when you really feel good about it,” said Rock.

 

While that may seem trivial to some, the NCWV Airport’s relationship with Allegiant has been a boon for both the airport and the destination traveling public. The flight from Bridgeport to the Orlando-Sanford International Airport has been a huge success and renewed multiple times by Allegiant. Rock briefed members of the Benedum Airport Authority – the airport’s governing body – on the status of the recent meetings he had at the conference.

 

Officials with Allegiant have said that the success of that flight weighed heavily in their decision to consider creating a second destination flight starting next month. On June 5, Allegiant will offer summer flights to Myrtle Beach through August 17.

 

“They believe we’re exceeding our expectations with the Orlando flight and they like what they see with the early numbers on the Myrtle Beach flight. Our expectation is to continue to grow and with Allegiant as a partner that could mean good things in the future,” Rock said. “We’ve said that before and it ended up with another flight service after they were pleased with what we did. We’ll have to keep going and we have to make sure the public takes advantage of both flights.”

 

As of today, Rock said the NCWV Airport has sold 120 of the 166 seats for the initial flight. He anticipates that the flight will nearly be sold out once June 5 arrives.

 

“We think it’s going to do well and be received well. It’s a destination many in the community have asked for and now we have it,” said Rock. “We’d like to have all the tickets sold for this flight and for every flight through August, but we’re not there yet. We’re off to a good start and the most important thing is that Allegiant is pleased.”

 

Rock said more than 30 percent of the seats for the June through August flights have already been sold. Currently, the airport has sold roughly 2500 of the 7500 seats that are available.

 

“It’s trending the way you want to see it. People tend to do most of their book 30 to 45 days of their vacation and the front half of our schedule is doing really well,” Rock said. “It’s where it needs to be.”

 

Airport Authority President Ron Watson said he anticipates a bigger jump in the numbers once the flights begin and word spreads. He points to the huge amount of individuals driving from Harrison County and the entire North Central West Virginia region to Myrtle Beach as reason for his optimism.

 

“Once you have what you would call those early trial runs I think this will go well from there,” said Watson. “(Heck), a lot of people go from here to Myrtle on what they call the Hillbilly Highway. Our flight is 40 minutes versus 10 hours.”

 

In other business at today’s Airport Authority meeting, the body:

 

- Gave staff permission to spend up to $30,000 for a new “tug” to be utilized at the airport. The existing tug, a device used to move aircraft to areas of the airport, is showing signs of wear and also can’t handle some of the larger aircraft coming into Bridgeport. The airport is likely to buy a refurbished tug from a Florida facility as opposed to a new one at a cost of $100,000.

 

- Will host a ribbon cutting for the inaugural Myrtle Beach flight and terminal renovations on June 5. The ribbon cutting will be at 3 p.m. and the public is invited.

 

- Learned from Rock that the NCWV Airport is the only airport in the state growing and that TSA was adding eight inspectors to Bridgeport.