The Johnstown-Cambria County Airport Authority has finally secured for fliers early-morning departures and late-night arrivals. The new schedule begins April 6.
We congratulate the authority members because we know how much time and work has gone into booking the additional flights.
To some, it might appear to be no big deal. The authority says otherwise – and we agree.
“This opens up a bigger window of opportunity to connecting flights and for finding lower airfares,” airport authority member Larry Hoover said.
Two very important points.
“Some of the better airfares may be sold out in the afternoon out of Dulles (International Airport).
“Some of the markets out of Dulles only operate in the morning and then much later in the day,” Hoover said.
Business and vacation travelers alike should welcome the additions. Only time will tell whether it translates into greater numbers of passengers.
We hope so.
Under the new schedule, United Express commercial flights will leave Johnstown at 6:40 a.m., nonstop to Dulles. The final inbound flight is scheduled to arrive at 11:05 p.m., also nonstop from Dulles.
Business and defense travelers will be able to be in Washington for meetings or events and then return to Johnstown the same day, authority Chairman Richard Weaver said.
Not being able to do that has been a frequent complaint we’ve heard, a prime reason why many area businesses have avoided bookings out of the local airport, instead choosing terminals such as Pittsburgh, Latrobe and State College.
While we welcome authority members’ most recent conquest, they better than anyone else realize much work remains.
Until fliers are assured of convenient flight schedules, good connection possibilities and, most of all, comparable costs to what they can find elsewhere, the Johnstown airport will continue to struggle.
For airport officials, we once again urge: Make it easier for perspective travelers to learn about flight schedules and costs. Make telephone numbers and Web site addresses easy to find.
For fliers: Give the Johnstown airport a chance. Before going elsewhere, check to see if it meets your needs.
You might be surprised.
If nothing else, round-trips from the Richland Township airport are more convenient than driving to, say, Pittsburgh.
In the end, we’re all in this together, financially and otherwise.
We should all want the local airport to be a success.
