Weeks after losing its only commercial air service provider, Williamsport Regional Airport in Pennsylvania is close to enlisting a new airline.
Officials in Lycoming County will announce the new carrier at a press conference Wednesday morning, according to NorthCentralPa.com.
The airport’s prior provider, Southern Airways Express, abruptly terminated service last month over what it described as “outstanding payment issues.” Southern had linked Williamsport with Washington Dulles.
The carrier told AirlineGeeks that the Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority gradually fell behind on contributions to a minimum revenue guarantee. When it became clear that the airport authority could not or would not pay on time, it said, it officially dropped its flights to Dulles.
The airport authority did not respond to a request for comment from AirlineGeeks, but in public forums, officials have said Southern changed its invoicing format and failed to explain new, increased charges. They suggested that the airline was looking for a way out of serving Williamsport and deliberately undermined the relationship to make an exit possible.
The airport authority has said that the new airline will operate larger aircraft and longer routes than Southern, though no new destinations were named.
