Trending
MONTOURSVILLE -- Passenger jet service returned to Williamsport Regional Airport on Monday, marking the first such flights from the facility in five years.
Contour Airlines Flight LF3501 departed shortly after 6 a.m. for Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, restoring a connection that airport officials and regional business leaders have worked to secure.
The airline will offer daily departures to Charlotte at 6:15 a.m., with return flights arriving in Williamsport around 5:45 p.m. The flight takes approximately 90 minutes.
The new service follows the unexpected suspension of passenger flights Aug. 1 and marks the return of jet service to the airport for the first time since 2021.
Williamsport Regional Airport Executive Director Eric B. McKitish Sr. said restoring service has been a priority since he assumed the position last year.
“I’m ecstatic. This is something this community and region has wanted since I came on last year, and to finally see it coming to fruition is beyond words,” McKitish said.
The partnership began when McKitish contacted Contour Airlines, which specializes in connecting smaller communities to major transportation hubs.
Andrew Chevalier, Contour’s vice president of airport operations, said initial discussions focused on providing service during the Little League World Series before expanding to regularly scheduled flights.
“We see a demand in Williamsport, so it definitely seemed like a great opportunity and fit for both of us to be able to provide jet service down to Charlotte,” Chevalier said.
The airline’s jet service offers additional legroom and onboard refreshments, while the flight schedule allows passengers to make same-day trips between Williamsport and Charlotte.
Officials said the connection will benefit business travelers, residents visiting family and visitors to northcentral Pennsylvania.
“You don’t have to drive 2, 3, 4 hours to catch flights, you could do that right here at your hometown airport,” McKitish said.
Lycoming County Commissioner Mark Mussina, who was among the passengers on the inaugural flight, described the return of jet service as a relief.
Mussina said the service will make the region more attractive to business travelers while helping families maintain connections with relatives living elsewhere.
Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jason Fink said the lack of regular air service had been an obstacle to attracting workers and businesses.
“We hear from people who are looking at jobs here in the market, and they really like Williamsport and Lycoming County, but the fact of the matter is not being able to have regular air service was a hindrance to us,” Fink said.
Fink said the airport’s free parking also provides an advantage for travelers throughout the region, including those in Union and Northumberland counties who otherwise might travel to Harrisburg or Wilkes-Barre to catch flights.
He said Contour has already reported encouraging booking numbers.
For frequent traveler Carol Fausnaught, vice president of development at The Veritas Forum, the restored service means fewer trips to airports in Harrisburg and State College.
Fausnaught, who flies several times a month for work, said the convenience will make a significant difference.
“I’ve been flying out of Harrisburg and State College a lot, and after a long day of flying, and then adding on another hour or two of driving, it gets pretty taxing,” she said.
Airport officials hope the new route will eventually lead to additional destinations and airline partnerships.
“This is just the beginning. It’s one destination right now, but expanding that destination, adding other ones and potentially adding other airlines is something we’re always looking at,” McKitish said.