For those who seem to like the Bridgeport to Orlando direct flight service, there was some good news reported Wednesday. Allegiant Airlines, according to North Central West Virginia Airport Director Rick Rock, has announced that it will extend the flight service into 2016.

 

The flight service, which began in November of 2013, has been a huge success based on the numbers. This year, the numbers are again high and Rock said the planes are still flying from Bridgeport to Orlando-Sanford International Airport at higher than a 90 percent capacity.

 

Through the first five months of the year, the airport has witnessed 6,139 passengers using the flight service. That’s on pace to match or surpass last year’s total of 13,274 passengers using the service.

 

However, the flight service doesn’t automatically renew itself. Instead, Allegiant has to deem the service worthy and extend it. And Rock said that’s going to happen again.

 

Allegiant, which is a low-cost carrier, shuts down all of its Orlando routes to perform maintenance on its fleet of planes starting on August 17. Flights will then resume in Bridgeport on Thursday, Oct. 1 of this year. As of now, Rock said service will continue for sure until the end of February, 2016.

 

“As this goes forward, I’m more confident that ever that they’ll continue their service to Orlando,” said Rock. “Based on conversations with their officials, I believe they’re pleased with us and the support that we have from the community. The community locally and even beyond has bought into this and we’re able to fill those airplanes to the level they want. As long as that continues, I think we’re good and we’re already showing good numbers with our Myrtle Beach flights too.”

 

Right now, Rock said the Myrtle Flights will continue through August 17. He said Allegiant only has a temporary base with the airport at Myrtle Beach and if that changes he hopes the public would be able to support flights in the offseason.

 

Rock said the early flights to Myrtle, which began June 5, have been strong. He said at least two of the early flights have been well above the 90 percent capacity mark. He also said as of Wednesday morning that 4,107 of the roughly 7,500 seats available through August 17 have already been sold.

 

“The numbers provide us with an opportunity,” said Rock. “That’s definitely a good thing.”

 

Click HERE for a story on the rest of Wednesday's meeting.

 

Editor's Note: Airport Authority Attorney Dean Ramsey, seated, talked with NCWV Airport Director Rick Rock during Wednesday's meeting.