The Bradford Regional Airport board is looking at a new carrier to provide commercial air service through the Essential Air Service program.
The board voted unanimously to recommend Cape Air of Hyannis, Mass., as the new carrier, Airport Manager Alicia Dankesreiter.
She talked to The Era about the decision after Wednesday’s meeting of the Bradford Regional Airport.
The airport’s current contract with Southern Airways Express ends this fall. With Southern, the Bradford airport offers daily flights to Pittsburgh International Airport.
Dankesreiter said it was not an easy decision for the board, as the airport worked well with Southern Airways.
“The Authority has had lengthy and honestly painful discussions regarding this decision for the last two weeks,” she explained. “We had Zoom meetings and visits from the leadership at both Southern Airways and Cape Air. It was a really difficult decision.”
Southern Airways Express has served as carrier since 2016, when Southern Airways bought the airport’s then-carrier, Sun Air Express.
The U.S. Department of Transportation provides subsidies through the EAS program so the airport can continue its commercial air service. A waiver allows the Bradford airport to stay in the program despite not meeting the required number of enplanements.
Dankesreiter talked about the ways Southern Airways has supported the Bradford Airport over the years.
“Our enplanements have increased during our 5 year partnership with Southern and they have provided us with truly unseen community support. The team at Southern has been dedicated and responsive to our needs and we wish them continued success,” she said.
“Ultimately the decision wasn’t about relationships but what we think is best for the community,” Dankesreiter continued. “Cape Air is really the leader in regional air service. They have been doing this for over 30 years and have a stellar reputation for safety and customer service. I called over 10 airports they currently service and everyone had good things to say.”
According to Dankesreiter, Cape Air would be bringing new aircraft and new airline partnerships.
“Cape Air will be bringing brand new twin engine aircraft to Bradford and there’s no doubt travelers will be pleased with them,” she said. “The Tecnam PT2012 Traveler is a very sharp looking aircraft. Not only is the aircraft new but Cape Air will also be bringing with them airline partnership agreements with American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Condor and Alaskan. That will be a game changer for the business traveler. No more checking bags in BFD and gathering them at PIT only to check them again.
“This is a great opportunity for the community and the airport. Not only will (we) be unveiling a beautiful new airport this fall but we will also be showing off new aircraft,” she said.
Dankesreiter explained that the airport authority cannot choose its carrier, but it can make a recommendation. In the fall, the U.S. Department of Transportation will announce which carrier will serve the Bradford airport for the next two years.
“In the meantime we will continue to promote and book travel with our colleagues at Southern Airways Express to ensure a seamless transition for our passengers,” she said.
“You absolutely can and should continue to book and fly from BFD.”
Dankesreiter also gave an update to The Era on ongoing improvements at the airport.
There are four projects currently underway, she said.
One, an obstruction removal, will take about a week to finish and will be completed as soon as the weather is consistently good.
They are also in the middle of the airport master plan, with projects that include milling and overlay of the terminal parking lot and renovation of the terminal. Renovations inside the airport itself are about 90 percent complete, she said.
Changes inside the airport include the installation of a PA Wilds retail shop. Elements of PA Wilds marketing design are being used in the renovations.
