WILLIAMSTOWN - More changes are in store at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport as the flight schedule is expected to change in November.
"I think this is a good thing," said airport manager Terry Moore.
The new schedule drops the 10 a.m. flight in exchange for a 6 a.m. departure as well as the change from one flight each Saturday and Sunday to two flights Saturday and no flights Sunday.
"There were some complaints when the 6 a.m. flight was dropped earlier this year," Moore said. "Hopefully some people will come back for that flight."
Moore said the changes may help the airport build up enplanements, which have been dropping.
Enplanements for July were 327, compared to June enplanements of around 500.
The new schedule will begin the first week of November, according to an e-mail from carrier Colgan Air's parent company Pinnacle Airlines Corp. to Moore.
A message left with Phil Reed, Pinnacle vice president of marketing and in-flight services, Tuesday afternoon was not returned.
Moore said he is not sure why the flight schedule was changed because there has been no communication between the airport and Pinnacle.
"There has been no communication," Moore said. "I found out about the change from the airline employees at the airport."
Moore also said the new schedule will allow travelers some more flexibility because they can now leave on the 6 a.m. flight and come back on either the 7 p.m. or 11 p.m. flights.
"In reality, it doesn't look too bad," Moore said. "People can go out of the morning and come home in the evening and they aren't pressured to cut their day short."
As for the absence of a Sunday flight, Moore said he doesn't think it will be a problem.
"I'm sure if that flight had passengers, the airline would have kept it," he said.
A message left for Larry Steinel, Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Authority member and owner of Global Travel in Marietta, was not returned by deadline Tuesday.
