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‘Cleared for takeoff’: Commercial flights to resume at Williamsport Regional Airport starting Oct. 19

Beginning Oct. 19, the sight of passengers embarking at the Williamsport Regional Airport (IPT) will return, following the announcement Wednesday that Contour Airlines will be offering daily service between here and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Declaring that the local airport is "officially reconnected to the Global Aviation Network," Executive Director Eric McKitish, revealed Contour's plan to offer daily nonstop jet service carrying up to 30 passengers from IPT directly to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

"This is a monumental win for our entire region and we aren't just talking about a single flight to North Carolina. We're talking about unlocking a premier gateway in the world," McKitish said.

"Charlotte is a global powerhouse of aviation, a bustling crossroads of international commerce and travel through Contour's partnership with American Airlines - the world is now at your doorstep," McKitish said.

McKitish pointed out that with the Contour's service local travelers can now book a single ticket, check their bags and connect to hundreds of destinations both domestically and internationally.

"But the true magic of this global hub is that it works both ways. This isn't just an exit ramp for our residents. It is a welcoming front door for the rest of the world," he said.

He noted that investors, corporate leaders, tourists and families from all over the world can now touch down directly at the local airport, doing away with the amount of time spent in driving to the area.

"For our local business leaders, this means efficient travel to keep your companies growing. For our families it means a stress-free start to your vacations," he said.

Contour is bringing in regional jets that have the capacity to seat 50, which has been reconfigured to carry 30 passengers, which, according to Liam Mackay, chief financial officer for Contour, offers 38 inches of legroom at every seat.

"We're excited to introduce reliable jet service to this community...we're an airline set up to serve communities like this," Mackay told the group gathered at the airport terminal.

"We're not a United Airlines that is more focused about flying to Africa or Asia. We solely serve communities exactly like this. And the way that we do that is by partnering with the local communities," he said.

Contour's daily flight schedule will include a 6:15 a.m. departure from Williamsport with an arrival time of 8:10 a.m. at Charlotte. Departure from Charlotte in the afternoon will be at 4 p.m. with an arrival time in Williamsport of 5:45 p.m.

Other speakers at the event also stressed the importance of community support, not only through partnership with local officials and businesses, but also in terms of passenger numbers in helping the air service to succeed.

Frank Pellegrino, chair of the Airport Authority, noted that last year the airport had seen about 10,000 passengers fly out of Williamsport. When Contour begins air service in October, a target goal of 20,000 passengers is expected.

"I will be the first to tell you that this target would be changed and would be challenged if within six months we hit 50 percent of that," Pellegrino said.

"So, if by April, we're on target for 10,000 passengers, our goal would be to increase this goal by adding a second flight and increasing the running 12-month goal to 40,000 passengers," he said.

He emphasized that in order to do this the community-meaning the some 560,000 potential flyers in the 12-county region serviced by the airport, including businesses, educational institutions and healthcare providers-needs to use what Contour offers.

"I challenge you to use this airport. The convenience of early departure with arrival seven days into Charlotte with jet service on Contour, seamless connection on American, United, Delta, Alaska, JetBlue and all of the discount travel ticket services...free parking, world-class TSA equipment and TSA agents like no other," Pellegrino said.

"Rural America's growth is dependent upon reliable air transportation...whether it’s rail, bus or multimodal transportation, Lycoming County needs this and this 12-county region needs it," he said.

Representing the business community, Jason Fink, president and CEO of the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, stressed the importance of air service in terms of economic growth.

"Air service is critical to our business community. It's an important factor for companies that are here needing to have access to air service for their employees. That's an easy one people can readily see and understand," Fink said.

"One that they might not think about is that it is also a key factor when companies are looking to recruit new employees to the area. Talk to any of the hospitals, colleges or larger manufacturers in the community-they will tell you that being able to fly from here is something that is factored in someone taking a job offer over taking one in another community," he said.

Several of the speakers cited the partnerships with local, state and federal legislators which helped to bring about the return of air service to IPT.

On the local level, the county will be supporting the airport through funds taken from Act 13 monies in an amount yet to be determined and voted on by the commissioners, according to Scott Metzger, board chairman.

Metzger too, stressed the importance of using the air service now that it's here.

"Use our airport. We've got jet service here. It's a great airline affiliated with American Airlines. You've got plenty of legroom.. You've got free parking and you know you're not traveling on a turnpike. You're not traveling with extra tolls or gas expenses. Now it's here. It's up to you to use it," he said.

A member of the Airport Authority and a state representative, Joe Hamm, also encouraged the community to utilize the services being offered by Contour.

"We will continue to try to grow air service, but we need your help. We need our business owners to support this air service, but we need our community to support this air service. And if our community gets behind this air service, we can grow our air service," Hamm said.

"We can get more flights. So we need your help to support this airport and continue to see it flourish," Hamm added.

In 2021 American Airlines ended service to the Williamsport airport and then in 2024 Southern Airways took over the route. They ended service this year at the beginning of August. The TSA staff had been reduced due to Southern's departure from the airport, but according to McKitish with the advent of Contour and the anticipated increase in passengers, TSA will be increasing their staff.

Reservations for flights can now be made at Contour's website for the October commencement of service.