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MONTOURSVILLE -- Just days after an inaugural flight to Charlotte, N.C., a top official at Williamsport Regional Airport said American Airlines is suspending its service to the airport between Oct. 7 and Nov. 3.
"Yes, we are on the list," said Richard Howell, executive director of the Williamsport Regional Airport in Montoursville, after he read an official news release from the airline based in Dallas, Texas.
He said he'd been in contact with American Airlines when he heard about it Thursday morning and informed the Williamsport Regional Airport Authority and its chairman Christopher Logue.
Numerous news agencies were reporting the American Airlines corporate announcement.
"I want to emphasize the term is suspension and not service discontinuation," Howell said, adding that phrase suspension, while troubling, was not a complete termination.
Howell said it is imperative for the U.S. Congress, including federal lawmakers, to receive telephone calls from airport ticket-buyers.
"If Congress acts maybe there is no suspension," Howell said. "The only way to succeed is through the community. Make that phone call."
Howell said the airlines informed airport directors that the reason for the suspension was economic-based and due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the pandemic relief package for airports expires at the end of September.
As a commercial service airport, the Montoursville-based airport is entitled to $1 million a year and had $20 million invested at a minimum, including the $16 million terminal, which recently opened.
In terms of passengers, in July the airport had a 53 percent load, or in a 50-seat jet it was getting 28 passengers on average, Howell said.
"It's double the national average," he said in this time of the pandemic.
"I have a difficult time that American is truly leaving this market," he said, advising, however, the board has been consistent in marketing to other airlines.
The airline will continue a flight per day with looking at discontinuing the afternoon flight.
"We're looking at discontinuing the afternoon flight," Howell said.
Again, the suspension runs for a month starting in Oct. 7, if the airlines doesn't change its mind and depending on what action Congress takes, he said.
The airport is the only one in the state on the American Airlines list of suspensions, Howell said.
U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-Kreamer, said he is very much aware of the situation regarding the Charlotte flights being pulled back in October.
"We are looking into the situation," he said.