Airline Seeking Approval For Commuter Flights From Latrobe To Pittsburgh
LATROBE (KDKA) – Commuter flights from Latrobe to Pittsburgh could be added soon if a carrier's plan is approved.
Imagine being able to fly over the Parkway East, around the Squirrel Hill Tunnels and right past all that traffic during your morning and evening commutes.
That dream could soon become a reality. An airline carrier wants to turn that hour-plus commute into just 25 minutes.
Officials at Palmer Regional Airport say they have two types of travelers flying out on a regular basis. They have the vacationing suitcase crowd; Spirit Airlines takes care of them.
Airport officials say there's a good chance another carrier will be on the tarmac on the wing to closer destinations in a few months. The new operation will be catering to the briefcase crowd.
"It's Southern Airways Express, and it's a small aircraft providing service back to Pittsburgh," said Arnold Palmer Regional Airport executive director Gabe Monzo.
Southern Airways Express has niche market customers with business not pleasure on their minds. The objective is to get them there quick.
"It allows the passenger to park in front of the building, usually 100 feet away from where the aircraft is located, come through 20 minutes prior to departure time instead of an hour at the major hubs, and board the plane without the TSA security hassle," Southern Airways CEO Stan Little said.
And Pittsburgh International is only one planned destination for Southern Airways Express.
"It will be doing Harrisburg, Dubois, Franklin, Bradford, Altoona, Johnstown, and it's all interconnected, so we're excited," Monzo said.
If all goes as planned, Southern Airways Express will have its first flight out of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport sometime around Thanksgiving.
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