Contact: Beckie McKinley
Marketing Director
Tri-State Airport Authority
304-453-6165 ext. 15
bmckinley@tristateairport.com
Airport Awarded $500,000 Marketing Grant
Seeking Non-Stop Route to the Northeast
Huntington, WV---- The United States Department of Transportation announced today that Huntington Tri-State Airport has been awarded a $500,000 grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program. The Airport will be using the funds to pursue non-stop air service to a major hub in the northeastern U.S.
Tri-State Airport was one of 16 airports chosen from 66 grant applications. Collectively, the sixteen airports were awarded a total of $6.8 million. “We are thrilled to have been one of the few airports chosen to receive an award,” stated Airport Director Larry Salyers. “These are challenging times for all small community airports, as we are all competing to maintain our air service.”
Currently, Tri-State business passengers have flight options through two major hubs – Cincinnati and Charlotte. Therefore, any passengers destined to major cities east or northeast of the Huntington area, must first go west or south to get to these points. Airport authorities believe that the lack of direct service to the northeast market is the most pressing service deficiency facing the airport today. The Airport’s proposal to the Department of Transportation cited four cities – New York, Washington D.C., Boston, and Philadelphia – as having a combined population of approximately 45 million people and accounting for about 15% of the total population of the U.S. “Lack of direct service to this major commerce corridor is clearly a problem for our business passengers,” stated Salyers, “and one we hope to soon address, with the assistance of funds provided by the SCASD grant.”
In addition to the awarded funds, the DOT stipulates that the Airport must raise an additional $100,000 from local sources, including area businesses and private donors within the tri-state area. “The DOT believes that a commitment from the community is important to the success of the proposed project,” stated Beckie McKinley, Airport Marketing Director.
Tri-State Airport was previously awarded a $500,000 SCASD grant in 2005, and received matching funds from the community totaling $125,000. The combined funds of $625,000 were used to implement a successful fare reduction program as well as an aggressive marketing campaign in support of the airport’s newest low cost leisure carrier, Allegiant Air. “We have no doubt that our community will step up once again and assist us with this effort,” added McKinley.
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