43
When Chicago ‘proving flights’ are complete, new Youngstown airline will begin selling tickets
By Ed Runyan
VIENNA
Aerodynamics Inc., the airline hoping to begin flights June 1 between Youngstown and Chicago, carried out “proving flights” this week, a part of the Federal Aviation Administration-approval process.
If the flights are finished at the end of the week, the airline, known as ADI, will be ready to sell tickets Tuesday on the ADI and Silver Airways websites and May 1 on all the major travel sites, Dan Dickten, director of aviation at the Youngstown Warren Regional Airport said Wednesday.
Dickten said the airline and Western Reserve Port Authority, which runs the local airport, will need 30 days to market the new service. The marketing plan through Palo Creative is ready to go and waiting for final approval, Dickten said.
The ADI flights, which will use Chicago O’Hare International Airport, will be the first daily air service at the local airport since 2002.
Meanwhile, Dickten announced the airport’s mainstay leisure airline, Allegiant, will be suspending its Punta Gorda, Fla., flights during the second half of this year.
The flights generally go on hiatus from mid-August until sometime in October, but this year they will be suspended until sometime after Jan. 1, 2017, Dickten said.
He is traveling this week to an Allegiant conference in Florida and will be discussing the suspension with the company, Dickten said.
Dickten also announced J.J. Cafaro, former Cafaro Co. vice president, is in discussions with officials about building a new hangar at the airport. The 100-foot-by-100-foot building will be to house Cafaro’s new aircraft.
The board approved financing and sales-tax benefits for the NYO Property Group’s Stambaugh Hotel project at 44 E. Federal St. in downtown Youngstown, which will be converted into a 136-bed hotel with a restaurant and banquet facility.
The port authority also approved the issuance of $4 million in bonds by the Summit County Development Finance Authority for energy-efficiency improvements for that project.
It also approved the NEO Development and Finance Authority’s issuance of tax-free bonds of $2 million for an expansion of the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics facility at the airport. PIA is an aviation-mechanics school.