Wednesday, November 12, 2014VIENNA TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Word could come soon on whether scheduled daily air service will return to the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, its aviation director said Tuesday.
A decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation whether to update Aerodynamics Inc.’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity could be “perhaps a week out,” Dan Dickten said. Dickten provided an update to members of the Western Reserve Port Authority’s board of directors at a meeting of its aviation committee Tuesday afternoon.
The permit upgrade would allow scheduled air service between the regional airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport, a major hub airport.
At its meeting last month, the port authority board of directors passed a motion approving the airline route and connecting hub destination, and authorizing Dickten to make a joint announcement at the airport terminal, contingent on DOT’s approval of the route and the airline’s concurrence on the timing to make such an announcement.
At the Oct. 15 meeting, Dickten and port authority officials said they hoped to have the service approved in time for this year’s holiday travel season.
Dickten described Aerodynamics Inc. as a “nationally renowned” carrier with interlines agreements with airlines including Alaska, American, Delta and US Airways. Fares will be competitive with competing airports in the region, which he said are becoming less attractive as they offer fewer direct flights to destinations.
Service likely would start with two round-trip flights serving the hub airport on the busiest days -- Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday -- and a single round-trip flight on the remaining days. The goal is to build service to three round-trip flights daily within a year.
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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