“It’s ideal times for the business and leisure travelers,” Chaifetz said.Ĭhaifetz said Contour utilizes Embraer jets, specifically the ERJ135 or ERJ140 jet.
It was tough because it was working and there was a lot of time invested, but Contour has stepped up, and we’re confident it will be successful.”Ĭhaifetz said this flight has the luxury of being overnighted in Bridgeport with an early morning departure five days a week and early morning every day, as well as good inbound times. “It’s also a win for the airport after the situation with United where, after COVID, it just got too crazy for them with their pilot shortage. “For the people of North Central West Virginia, it’s a win for them,” Hinkle continued. In fact, the Charlotte hub has more connections than we had before I think it’s 700-plus connections. The Charlotte hub, through American, has the connections. “We were worried about what we would be able to offer after the bidding because we knew we needed the connectivity. “This is a big home run for us,” said Airport Authority member David Hinkle. The Saturday flight will continue from Charlotte to Tampa, Fla.Contour is the largest airline service provider in West Virginia, and it offers jet service.Ĭontour is also an American Airlines interline partner, and that means it offers travelers the ability to ticket seamlessly from the NCWV Airport (CKB), through Charlotte Douglas International Airport and connect to a variety of destinations worldwide on American Airlines. Their performance at markets in California, Georgia and Mississippi made them appealing to local officials.Ĭontour will provide two flights a day, except on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Both of its 30-seat, turboprop planes were down for maintenance, and the company’s service at the Charlotte airport had been suspended over non-payment issues.Ĭontour’s commercial flight business has focused on “rehabilitating” markets that have suffered from poor service, company CEO Matt Chaifetz said when he visited the area in October. Via was supposed to have continued service at the local airport through Tuesday, but canceled its remaining flights in early November.
But the expansion to multiple Mountain State airports was soon accompanied by flight cancellations due to scheduled maintenance issues, and the reliability that made the Florida-based company so appealing began to diminish, along with enplanement numbers. They supported the decision of the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Authority, the airport’s marketing arm, to recommend Contour over Via this summer as the provider of federally subsidized Essential Air Service.Īirport officials were optimistic when Via arrived in the fall of 2016 with a near-spotless record in 18 months at the Beckley airport. Richardson is a member of the Wood County Airport Authority, which oversees airport operations. “It’s a nice place to lay over and make a connection.” “The Charlotte airport is very modern and very convenient,” Richardson said. From his seat at Contour’s gate, he could see flights posted to Chicago, Dallas and Philadelphia. He noted the numerous connections, including international destinations, available from the airport. Richardson spent time at the airport, which he’s been through before with previous carrier Via, before boarding the return flight Wednesday afternoon. Richardson said the flight on the jet - which has enough space for 37 seats but is configured for 30 - was “very comfortable, very roomy, lots of leg room.”
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