Chris Logue, center, chairman of the Williamsport Regional Airport Authority, chats with Matt McDermott, left, director of administration for the county, and Lycoming County Commissioner Tony Mussare, right, as construction of the airport’s passenger terminal building continues in the background.The Williamsport Regional Airport is getting its first jet service.
Chris Logue, chairman of the airport authority’s board of directors, relayed an announcement from American Airlines that the growing airport would be serviced by the Embraer 145 Regional Jet starting Nov. 29.
The 50-passenger jet will replace the 34-seat Dash 8 turbo prop aircraft to provide service to the Philadelphia International Airport, he said.
“It is the first time in our history that our region will be regularly serviced by a true jet aircraft,” Logue said. “It’s a big step. It’s going to be more efficient for the airlines.”
To prepare for the change, he added, the size of the terminal’s hold room has been increased to accommodate the larger aircraft — a temporary fix until the new terminal is completed.
Logue made the announcement Thursday during the airport’s ceremonial ground breaking celebrating the ongoing construction of the new passenger terminal building. The new building will be about 30,000 square feet with state-of-the-art passenger processing and security systems.
“The current facility has become functionally obsolete and no longer serves current aviation-related services,” said Tom Hart, executive director of the airport. “We are confident that a new facility will assist us with our efforts to recruit additional air service.”
Improvements will include the automated baggage conveyer system, a hold room with comfort facilities capable of holding 175 to 200 passengers, a canopy out front that extends beyond the curb for passenger comfort during inclement weather and more, Logue said.
“It’s a historic day. We’re really looking forward to having the building complete,” Logue said.
Substantial completion of the terminal is slated for Aug. 26, 2018.
As Logue and Hart spoke to the crowd of local officials who gathered for the ground breaking, construction for the new terminal continued in the background. Upon its completion, the current terminal, built in 1947, will be demolished and turned into parking, Logue added.
“It’s been a long process,” Logue said. “A lot of people have put forth extreme efforts to make this happen.”
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