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Excitement soars as ADI, YWRA ready for flights to O’Hare
By KALEA HALL
khall@vindy.com
VIENNA
Video
The roar of an airplane flying through blue sky and white clouds signaled coming excitement Tuesday at Youngstown-Warren
Regional Airport.
Excitement about the new daily Youngstown-to-Chicago air service led visitors to imagine the potential for the region with this connection.
“It’s so pleasant to be on the ground and to see the end in sight for this project,” said Mickey Bowman, vice president of airline services for Aerodynamics Inc., the company bringing the service to the region. “It really is about the fact that we have what the community needs.”
Bowman, others from ADI, politicians and airport officials talked about what the service means to the area. The details were revealed from inside a newly renovated terminal.
By June 1, travelers in the Mahoning Valley and elsewhere will be able to hop on ADI’s 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and connect with the world. Sales for the flights are expected to start between April 15 and 19. Prices will be as low as $99 for a one-way trip and as high as $250.
“We are excited about being your new hometown airline,” said Darrell Richardson, chief executive officer of ADI.
One airplane roar could lead to even more roars. A bustling terminal filled with business people and vacationers utilizing the daily service can be envisioned. Officials said it’s a dream that is now within reach after a lengthy process in obtaining a daily service operation.
The last time the homey, quiet airport saw a daily service was 14 years ago.
While airlines looked at bringing daily service to Youngstown, no airline committed because support for the service didn’t seem apparent to them.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co. came to the Youngstown airport 10 years ago with service to vacation destinations. The only commercial airliner currently in operation offers flights to Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers and Myrtle Beach.
From 2009 to 2010, the number of passengers at the airport increased by 51 percent from 35,087 to 52,526 and continued to rise every year. In 2015, the airport saw 133,927 passengers.
For the past six years, the Western Reserve Port Authority, which operates the airport, has worked with consultant Tom Reich, director of air service development at AvPorts, to attract a daily service operator.
“The Mahoning Valley renaissance is what made this possible,” Reich said. “We can’t stop. Now these flights have be filled.”
The service means more opportunities for businesses here and possibly development of new business.
“It helps [businesses] grow, and it helps grow the overall economy,” Reich said.
The service will launch about two years after ADI initially applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation to offer the service. The DOT tentatively denied the application because of concerns over the airline’s former leadership. The ownership and leadership have since changed. After vetting the airline, the DOT approved the service in late January.
ADI officials are ready to offer what they say is a convenient, reliable and safe route to Chicago. The Beachwood, Ohio-based company has been in the charter business for more than 50 years. This will be the first commercial service for the company.
“This is all about new beginnings,” Bowman said. “It’s a new beginning for ADI.”
The plan for the service is to offer 10 flights a week with round-trip flights offered Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and one-way flights on the other days, Bowman said.
The airline is working to prove to the Federal Aviation Administration that it can operate the daily service.
“It’s sort of like we are taking a driver’s test,” Bowman said.
Other details, including a possible name change for the airline, will be released at a later date, Bowman said.
The port authority has hired PALO Creative to market the air service in a variety of venues from billboards to print.
Dan Dickten, director of aviation at the airport, who was commended by many for his effort to bring the service here, discussed the importance for the community to support the service.
“Why not take a connecting flight right out of your own airport?” Dickten asked.
The airline also will use a variety of means to market the service. Tickets for the service will be sold on the company’s website as well as on sites such as expedia.com.
The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber also is supporting the marketing for the air service with web and newsletter advertisement as well as advertisements in the Wall Street Journal.
The service will be highlighted by the chamber for economic-development opportunities.
Businesses such as the Youngstown-based Cafaro Co. also have expressed their support and need for the service.
“This really opens up a gateway to the rest of the country,” said Anthony Cafaro Jr., president of the Cafaro Co.
The port authority is offering a $1.2 million revenue guarantee to ADI to ensure it makes a profit during the startup phase of the service.
“We have to get people in seats,” Dickten said. “We have to use this airline.”