WILLIAMSTOWN, W.Va. – Air travelers hoping to use the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport’s service to Cleveland will sleep easier as the United States Department of Transportation has ordered flights to continue until a new service can begin.
“The doom and gloom everyone thought was coming when Silver announced the end of service to Cleveland seems to have been abated,” said airport manager Jeff McDougle. “But this is where we do the kabuki dance.”
In February, Silver Airways, which provides four flights per day between the two facilities, announced it will end service within its Cleveland network no later than May 15. According to a press release from the airline, the end of these routes is due to a number of issues, including new pilot regulations, low passenger counts for some airports, rising costs and United Airlines will no longer use the Cleveland airport as a hub after the end date.
To prohibit the termination of service issued by the DOT, it states all five airports on the chopping block must have a stay for at least 30 days beyond the original 90-day notice. This will make the end date now June 14.
The order also requests proposals from air carriers interested in providing the Essential Air Service at one, several or all of these airports…