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Williamsport Regional Airport Director Richard Howell will meet with officials from nine commercial airlines next week in a bid to ensure passenger flight service continues to serve the area.
Howell told the municipal airport authority this week that he is keeping his "fingers crossed" that the scheduled Air Service Forum will yield benefits for the airport.
Airport officials have been working to bring another airline to serve the Willamsport area.
American Airlines has announced that it will end flights to and from the airport at the end of September.
"American Airlines has treated us rotten," Airport Authority Chairman Frank Pellegrino said.
He noted the $950,000 Federal Small Community Air Service program grant recently awarded to the airport could help attract an airline, the second highest dollar amount given to a total of 22 airports targeted for the those dollars.
Officials noted that issues such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and shortage of available pilots and other airline workers continue to hobble the entire industry.
In other matters, the authority approved a $509,887 contract with HRI, Inc. for construction of the fuel farm delivery road and rehabilitation of a parking area.
The authority also approved a $351,807agreement with Bronder Technical Services for improvements to Taxiway B lighting.
Howell reported that the airport received $8,328 in CARES Act grant funding in July.
That brings the total funding allocation to $1.2 million for 2021 and $3.28 million to date.