MOUNT ALTON — An ad hoc committee is assisting the Bradford Regional Airport Authority in preparing a marketing package for Southern Airways Express’ pending service from Bradford to Washington’s Dulles International Airport.
The committee, which has been meeting monthly for the past several months, consists of representatives of airport and local business and tourism representatives, as well as Southern’s Mark Cestari, chief commercial officer, and Ryan Dach, Bradford station manager.
Airport Manager Alicia Dankesreiter said Southern’s flights to Dulles are to begin no later than June 1.
During Wednesday’s airport authority meeting, Dankesreiter said Bradford is one of 166 non-primary airports, those that provide commercial service to between 2,500 and 10,000 passengers annually, that is eligible for funding from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act — for funding at $17.99 per passenger, retroactive to 2019. In 2020, Bradford recorded 4,293 paying passengers.
This money will be allocated for truck repairs.
Dankesreiter also reported that the airport will apply for a $100,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. If this application is OKd, application will be made to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Aviation for a grant. If both requests are granted, the funding is to be used to install utilities in the airport’s industrial park.
Southern’s airline report for January showed 165 enplanements and 178 deplanements for a daily average of 6.6 passengers. Of the 105 scheduled flights, 89 were completed, a completion factor of 85 percent. Fifteen flights were cancelled due to weather and one was listed as “operations.”
While these figures are low due to the weather and pandemic, authority member Ken Kane said, “They’re not a total catastrophe,” citing no business and little leisure traffic. Add to this the decreased travel of University of Pittsburgh at Bradford students due to the pandemic.
Cestari and Dach both said many passengers are visiting families and relatives or second homes.
Cestai noted that in Southern’s eastern routes, business and UPB student travel “could be slow to recover, possibly by May or June.”
Additionally, Cestari said, “Planes in our mid-Atlantic fleet are now being renovated with new interiors. I’m looking forward to the customer response.”
In another matter, Cestari noted past efforts by airlines serving Bradford have emphasized outbound destinations. “Due to the increased potential, we want to start encouraging inbound passengers because of attractions such as the PA Wilds.”
Airport engineer Brian Wolfel reported that the public will soon have an opportunity to comment on the airport’s master plan, which outlines economic and physical changes for the next ten years. Information will be listed on the airport’s website.
The airport plans to use a Federal Aviation Administration grant to purchase snow removal equipment.
A vacancy still exists on the authority. Authority Chairman Cliff Lane stated his opinion, saying, “It would be helpful if the appointee had financial experience.”
