Commercial Flights Take Off At SVRA
October 15, 2018
By LAINE GRIFFIN
Daily News- Record 10/12/18
HARRISONBURG — Don’t be alarmed if the sound of airplanes passing overhead increases in the Valley.
On Oct. 4, nonstop service began from Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport through SkyWest Airlines.
SkyWest began serving the Weyers Cave airport in April, but until last week, the flight to Chicago included a stop in Lewisburg, W. Va.
“Chicago offers the most connections of any hub in the U. S., and we now have nonstop service to them,” Greg Campbell, SVRA’s executive director, said during a presentation to the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday.
Since SkyWest, a St. George, Utah, regional carrier flying under the United Express banner, became SVRA’s commercial carrier this spring, traffic has significantly increased, Campbell said.
And the nonstop Chicago flights at the airport have been at full capacity since the route became available, he said.
From January through March, when Via Airlines served as SVRA’s commercial carrier, between 302 to 405 passengers fl ew each month at the airport. In July, that number was 2,843.
On April 3, SkyWest replaced Via. The 17 months that SVRA contracted with the Orlando, Fla.- based airline were plagued with service problems, including cancellations and delays. That prompted SVRA to seek a new carrier.
To help promote the new service, SVRA created a “true cost calculator” for its website that compares the cost of its flights to other airports hours away. The aim of calculator, according to the airport, is to help potential travelers compare the money spent, including ticket price and distance traveled.
“any people don’t realize that when you add the cost of gas to go to Dulles International or Charlottesville, it actually ends up being more expensive than flying out of Shenandoah airport,” Campbell said.
Supervisor Bill Kyger said there’s an “incredible difference in service now” and considers the Valley’s airport to be his airport of choice.
“I think the cost is also what is keeping people coming here,” Kyger said.
Supervisor Sallie Wolfe- Garrison asked Campbell where he saw the airport in the next five to 10 years, noting she wanted to ensure SVRA stayed away from “going dark.”
“Airlines are in business to make money,” he said. “There’s a scarcity in pilots, but if we continue to fill the airplanes, we’ll be in good business.”
Daily News- Record 10/12/18
HARRISONBURG — Don’t be alarmed if the sound of airplanes passing overhead increases in the Valley.
On Oct. 4, nonstop service began from Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport through SkyWest Airlines.
SkyWest began serving the Weyers Cave airport in April, but until last week, the flight to Chicago included a stop in Lewisburg, W. Va.
“Chicago offers the most connections of any hub in the U. S., and we now have nonstop service to them,” Greg Campbell, SVRA’s executive director, said during a presentation to the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday.
Since SkyWest, a St. George, Utah, regional carrier flying under the United Express banner, became SVRA’s commercial carrier this spring, traffic has significantly increased, Campbell said.
And the nonstop Chicago flights at the airport have been at full capacity since the route became available, he said.
From January through March, when Via Airlines served as SVRA’s commercial carrier, between 302 to 405 passengers fl ew each month at the airport. In July, that number was 2,843.
On April 3, SkyWest replaced Via. The 17 months that SVRA contracted with the Orlando, Fla.- based airline were plagued with service problems, including cancellations and delays. That prompted SVRA to seek a new carrier.
To help promote the new service, SVRA created a “true cost calculator” for its website that compares the cost of its flights to other airports hours away. The aim of calculator, according to the airport, is to help potential travelers compare the money spent, including ticket price and distance traveled.
“any people don’t realize that when you add the cost of gas to go to Dulles International or Charlottesville, it actually ends up being more expensive than flying out of Shenandoah airport,” Campbell said.
Supervisor Bill Kyger said there’s an “incredible difference in service now” and considers the Valley’s airport to be his airport of choice.
“I think the cost is also what is keeping people coming here,” Kyger said.
Supervisor Sallie Wolfe- Garrison asked Campbell where he saw the airport in the next five to 10 years, noting she wanted to ensure SVRA stayed away from “going dark.”
“Airlines are in business to make money,” he said. “There’s a scarcity in pilots, but if we continue to fill the airplanes, we’ll be in good business.”
