×

MOV Regional Airport service might change

By JOLENE CRAIG

jcraig@newsandsentinel.com

WILLIAMSTOWN – Officials with the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport are awaiting more details with the upcoming change of commercial service.

“We have an idea of what the new schedule will be, but nothing is set at this time,” said Wood County Airport Authority president Bill Richardson.

Airport manager Jeff McDougle said the flight schedule for the new service to Washington Dulles International Airport at Washington, D.C., is not expected until Sept. 6.

“The airline is still working with the airport and the other airlines to figure out what the flight times will be and other details,” McDougle said.

In July, the United States Department of Transportation announced Silver Airways will provide new service to the Wood County airport beginning Oct. 1.

Once the new schedule is loaded into the system, travelers will be able to book flights on the new service with the knowledge of the flight times, although people can make reservations now for after the new service begins, but will have to check with United Airlines or Silver Airways for the flight changes after the Sept. 6 schedule change, McDougle said.

“Some people have flights booked for the Cleveland route for after Oct. 1 and their flights will be accommodated by the airline,” McDougle said. “Those folks will need to check their itineraries after the first week of September for changes. It is very important passengers make sure their flight itineraries are correct after Sept. 6.”

The new service from Silver includes other airport facilities in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The original bid from the airline included nine communities: Altoona, Pa.; Johnstown, Pa.; Greenbrier/White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.; Beckley, W.Va.; Clarksburg, W.Va.; Morgantown, W.Va.; Staunton, Va.; DuBois, Pa.; and Parkersburg.

The new service will see Silver Airways provide 18 flights per week including 12 nonstop to and from Dulles with the other six flights stopping in either the Morgantown Municipal or North Central Regional airports.

As of Aug. 5, the temporary schedule issued to the airports included in the bid has the local airport with two non-stop flights to Dulles and the third as a one-stop in Morgantown per weekday. At the weekend, there will be two departures on Saturday and one on Sunday.

“With the stop in Morgantown on our Monday through Friday schedule, we should be able to book flights for passengers who want to stay there,” McDougle said.

Wood County Airport Authority Treasurer-Secretary Tim Flinn said that could be a new spin on the service for West Virginia University fans.

“If they wanted to spend the night, they could fly there on Friday for Saturday’s game,” he said.

Another change between the current and upcoming service is the plane, as the current service to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is in a Beech 1900 aircraft, 19-passenger plane, while the new service will use Saab 3400s, which seat 34 passengers.

Cleveland was not in the running for the new service because it is no longer available through the Essential Air Service program, of which the local airport receives commercial service. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport lost its EAS flights because it is no longer a hub for any major airline, which makes it difficult for passengers to catch flights for their destination.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today