Airport still seeking service to Florida
May 28—The local airport will aggressively pursue new flights, including service to Florida, as airlines recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, its director promised Thursday.
During a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport board meeting, executive director Carl Beardsley Jr. responded to a question about expanding service from Cameron Snipes, of Binghamton, New York. Snipes asked specifically about attracting Breeze Airlines, a new, low-cost carrier that completed its first flight Thursday — one between Tampa, Florida, and Charleston, South Carolina.
Beardsley said he and other administrators are "highly motivated" to attract new service, either from a new airline or American and United airlines, which already fly out of the airport.
"Now the airlines, just like airports, are starting to shake the pandemic issues that really hammered their profitability in many markets. And because of that, it's going to take some time," he said.
He said Breeze has focused so far on larger airports. In Pennsylvania, Breeze flies only to Pittsburgh International Airport from Charleston, Hartford, Connecticut, and Norfolk, Virginia, according to its flight list. The smallest airport they fly to is in Huntsville, Alabama, Beardsley said.
"I wish I could tell you exactly when those those new flights are coming our way. But I can only say that we will be going after them aggressively," he said.
Reached afterward by telephone, Snipes, 33, a former Scranton resident who sells real estate in Florida, said he thinks Florida service would be popular.
"I was very fascinated with Breeze Airlines," Snipes said. "I have a good feeling."
The airport lost service to airports in Tampa and Orlando, Florida in January 2018 when Allegiant Air pulled out to focus on larger markets. Allegiant's local flights regularly flew better than 80% filled, but the airport has been unable to attract Florida service, despite Beardsley's efforts.
Last year, because of the pandemic, the airport lost Delta Air Lines as carriers scaled back service. American's and United's passenger departures from the airport rose sharply in March compared to the first two months, but only slightly in April.
Departures remain well below half that of pre-pandemic years. Beardsley reported 11,732 departures in April, up dramatically from 1,306 last year, but way off the 26,546 in April 2019, a record for that month.
Airport officials aren't blaming Beardsley for the declines or the inability to attract the new service. The board awarded him a new three-year contract Thursday, effective July 1. The salary that day will rise to $130,520 with 2% raises the next two Julys. Under Beardsley, who began in the job in January 2015, the airport regularly broke monthly departure records before the pandemic.
"I want to thank the board for your support, not only with this contract, but of course, every day of the week when we're out here making the airport the best it can be," he said.
Board member David Pedri praised Beardsley profusely.
"I've seen the airport grow in my five years here on this board, and it's your leadership through the pandemic, in very, very difficult circumstances has been exemplary," Pedri said.
Afterward, board chairman Tim McGinley cq-Merlinsaid no one blames the airport's recent struggles on Beardsley, who works hard to gain more flights.
"The airlines were so messed up because of the pandemic, everybody's being super cautious about their next steps," he said.
Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147; @BorysBlogTT on Twitter.
