Numbers from March, the first month of Sun Air Express providing daily direct flights from Bradford to Pittsburgh, are very encouraging and a cause for optimism at Bradford Regional Airport.
At Wednesday’s meeting of the Bradford Regional Airport Authority, Ryan Dach, Sun Air Express station manager, reported 143 emplanements and 81 deplanements during March.
“Already this month, the number of reservations stands at 150. With this trend, I’m optimistic that we can reach 200 and if we do, that would be great. It’s a good push in the right direction,” Dach said.
“If we don’t count the Pittsburgh passengers, the rest are leisure travelers, a group we never had before. Also, our passengers who travel for business are starting to come back,” Dach added.
Dach said he expects to see an increase in business passenger traffic when the airline soon goes online with travel booking agencies.
Sun Air Express’ one-way tickets to Pittsburgh are $29 when purchased through the airline. The airline offers four daily flights to Bradford on weekdays and two each on Saturday and Sunday.
Dach, who has an airline service background, spoke to The Era about working with the new airline.
“I like not being tied to a legacy airline,” he said. “All our fares are a flat $29 so the passengers know the cost before flying out. I also really like the planes.”
Rob Huber, one of the authority members from McKean County, lauded Dach for his efforts in the transition from Silver Airways to Sun Air Express, saying, “We’re lucky to have you. A large part of our success is due to you and your staff.”
Airport director Alicia Dankesreiter, who shared her optimism, said, “After a long, slow winter, I’m very happy with the trending and seeing the positive booking numbers.”
In a related matter, Dankesreiter reported about a meeting she attended last week in Pittsburgh with representatives of Sun Air Express and other Pennsylvania airports that are part of the PIT Connector, a program that brings safe, reliable and affordable flights from smaller airports in the state to Pittsburgh.
Dankesreiter said the group discussed operational, marketing and customer service matters as well as the use of funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and several other sources for promoting the marketing efforts of the regional airports of the PIT Connector.
In other business, the authority members approved an engineering agreement with GAI Consultants of DuBois in the amount of $10,038.21 for the purchase of the Hayes property, which is adjacent to the airport property, for economic development.
In his report to the authority, facilities manager David Thomas noted that work continues on aesthetics and landscaping continues in preparation for “Wings Over Bradford” slated for this summer.
“In addition, we are selecting one piece of snow removal equipment every month to keep in good operating condition,” Thomas said. “During the winter, we maintain the equipment to be used in the summer.”
Thomas also mentioned plans to reserve the upper parking lot at the terminal building for free parking for airline passengers.
Thomas, who began his duties in December 2014, will attend training for airport safety operational specialists in Buffalo, N.Y., on April 18-19.
The authority members met briefly in an executive session to discuss a personnel matter.
Dankesreiter said since Hertz closed its service at the airport, Zook Motors in Kane has provided rental cars. Cab service is available through JRS Transportation in Bradford.
Jim Campbell of Burns and Burns provided an update on insurance coverage and noted that it is adequate to cover the assets of the airport authority.
