After almost 20 years without service from a major air carrier, Naples, Florida, is getting reconnected.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina announced Monday that American Airlines will start service between Charlotte and Naples Airport on Dec. 2. Flights will operate twice per week using Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft, according to airport officials.
American did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AirlineGeeks.
The airline pitched flights between Naples and Charlotte to a meeting of the Naples Airport Authority last month. American representatives said there is unmet demand for local travel options; at present, most Naples residents and tourists rely on Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers.
Meeting attendees split on the issue, with some favoring Americana’s return to Naples and others raising concerns about aircraft noise and motor vehicle traffic around the airport.
Naples Airport is mainly used for general aviation. It has one commercial operator, JSX, which offers seasonal flights to White Plains, New York.
American previously served Naples via American Eagle until pulling out in 2001. US Airways terminated service there in 2003, and Delta, which offered Delta Connection flights via Atlantic Southeast Airlines, withdrew in 2007.
