A Contour flight lands at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport in October. (File photo)

PARKERSBURG – Contour Airlines will begin offering two direct flights a week to and from Myrtle Beach at the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport on July 1.

Airport Manager Ben Auville told Wood County Commissioners the flights could be booked during their meeting on Thursday.

“That’s exciting to have two different destinations out of here,” commission President Blair Couch said.

Contour was recently selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide federally subsidized Essential Air Service at the local airport for the next four years. That decision came nine months after another company, Air Wisconsin, was chosen but withdrew a few weeks before it was scheduled to start. Contour continued to provide flights in the interim.

“We’re very excited to be part of the community,” Contour President Ben Munson said in a phone interview Thursday.

Seasonal flights to Myrtle Beach, the popular South Carolina vacation destination, were included in Contour’s bid. They will be offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays from July 1 to Aug. 15.

Munson said the cost for a ticket one way is $99.

“Myrtle Beach has long been one of the most requested leisure destinations for travelers in this region, and we are thrilled to bring this nonstop service to the community,” Munson said in a press release announcing the flights. “This route provides families, vacationers, and travelers throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley with an easy and stress-free way to reach the South Carolina coast. We are proud to continue investing in communities like Parkersburg and expanding access to reliable, convenient air service.”

Although the service is only scheduled to last through mid-August, Munson said the plan is to offer it again in future years.

Auville said the flights will be on the same 30-seat jets as Contour’s regular service to Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

“If people want to go, book early,” he said.

In other updates, Wood County Airport Authority member Andy Daniel said the airport did not make the cut for a U.S. Economic Development Authority grant to improve water lines and sewer infrastructure to attract larger industrial facilities to the airport. However, he said there is no cost to resubmit and he spoke to the state’s new EDA rep about some changes they can make to possibly make their application stronger.

“We should resubmit within two weeks. We feel very positive about that,” Daniel said.

He noted the county helped make the application possible by providing the airport $25,000 to hire a grant writer.

Auville told commissioners longtime authority President Bill Richardson will be stepping back now that the Essential Air Service carrier has been selected. Couch said the commission would need to appoint a Democrat, independent or unaffiliated member to replace him.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.