MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Officials are prepared to turn the page on Southern Airways Express as the Essential Air Service (EAS) carrier and move to the first jet air service ever based at the Morgantown Municipal Airport.
EAS is a federal program that subsidizes carriers to offset the actual cost of rural airport operations and ensure smaller communities have access to air services.
On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Airport Director Jonathan Vrabel said the local selection committee reviewed five proposals and selected SkyWest Airlines, an express carrier for United Airlines since 1997.
Now, the final decision will be made by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and if they select SkyWest Airlines, it would be the first jet carrier to operate from Morgantown.
Since 2016, Southern Airways has offered service to Washington Dulles and Pittsburgh International Airport with their fleet of nine-seat propeller-driven aircraft.
“We had two jet carriers, which we have never had before,” Vrabel said. “It was nice to see that a jet carrier is looking at Morgantown and what we can provide our community.”
Vrabel said SkyWest will fly 50-seat jet aircraft and provide service to Washington Dulles, and Chicago O’Hare as United Express Airlines.
“You as a customer will do everything through United Airlines,” Vrabel said. “So, if you’re going to buy a ticket, you would do it through a travel agency, the United Airlines website, or any other option available on the world wide web.”
Because of their relationship with United Airlines and other major carriers, they are able to offer very competitive rates to all three destinations.
“The fares they’re able to offer because of the code share, now they are able to get the deepest discounted tickets,” Vrabel said. “They’ll be offered now in our market that were not offered before.”
Vrabel said passengers move quickly through the Morgantown Municipal Airport without long lines. Parking is much cheaper than major airports, and everything passengers need remains very accessible in comparison to sprawling international airports like the one in Pittsburgh.
“You don’t have to worry about getting here three hours early,” Vrabel said. “Our checkpoint is easy to get through, parking is free, and you don’t have to walk a mile—it’s nice, quick, and easy.”
Southern Airways Express will remain an option in the future for other destinations, according to Vrabel. Additional opportunities in the future could be better suited for Southern Airways Express.
“We never shut off communication; we always keep those lines open because at some point in the future we may have Southern Airways Express here again,” Vrabel said. “We don’t know what the future will bring, and there may be other opportunities that we could do here with a carrier like Southern Airways Express.”