What: Ribbon cutting for inaugural flight
- Brief program and light refreshments
- Photo opportunity and meet-and-greet
- PIT Airport and Southern Airways team
Where: Pittsburgh International Airport, Gate C52
When: Wednesday, Sept. 5, 3:30PM
RSVP: Alyson Walls, Communications Manager, 412-472-3516
Avoca, PA (Sept. 5, 2018) — Southern Airways Express, the fast-growing regional carrier that operates daily flights to seven Pennsylvania cities, has completed the takeover and expansion of the air service between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Pittsburgh International Airport.
Twice daily service will be offered on nine-seat Cessna caravans with one-way fares starting at just $129.
Southern operates more than 50 daily flights to/from Pittsburgh International Airport and has recently announced record passenger counts in the Pennsylvania cities of Lancaster, DuBois, Franklin, and Johnstown. Southern also recently completed a rarity in commuter aviation by completing 99.3% of all of its scheduled flights for the last 120 days.
"As Pennsylvania's hometown airline, we are proud to add Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to our growing network throughout the Commonwealth and the mid-Atlantic region," said Southern’s Chairman and CEO Stan Little. “We believe these fast, frequent, and affordable flights will be well-received by business and leisure flyers in both Northeast Pennsylvania and throughout the Pittsburgh region."
Southern is providing two non-stops in each direction, with weekday departures from Pittsburgh at 8:15 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. Flights departing from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton are at 10:10 A.M. and 5:55 P.M. There is one flight in each direction on both Saturdays and Sundays. The full flight schedule is available at iFlySouthern.com.
"We know there is a market for this service," said AVP Executive Director Carl Beardsley. "We at the airport will do everything possible to work with the local business community and all of our travel partners to ensure its success."
"We are confident that twice-daily weekday service and reasonable fares will get people out of their cars and into our comfortable and roomy aircraft," said Southern Airways Chief Commercial Officer Mark Cestari. "We not only believe that this route will be popular with the business community, but also with students and sports fans that want easy access to the Steel City.”
Tickets are available for purchase at iFlySouthern.com, on all major travel websites, through travel agents, or by calling 1-800-329-0485.
For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact Todd Smith
([email protected] 615-202-7944) or Southern’s Chief Marketing Officer, Keith Sisson ([email protected] 228-313-9920).
Founded in 2013, Hernando, Miss.-based Southern Airways Express has quickly grown to become one of the largest commuter airlines in the United States. Operating a fleet of Cessna Caravans and Grand Caravans, Southern serves 17 cities with more than 100 peak day departures from hubs at Baltimore, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Memphis, and Pittsburgh.
For more information, go to www.iFlySouthern.com, or visit us on all major social media sites.
About Allegheny County Airport Authority:
Allegheny County Airport Authority, which manages Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport, is committed to increasing air service, improving customer service and inspiring growth in the Pittsburgh region. Its 2017 Annual Report detailing growth and improved financial position can be found at flypittsburgh.com/AR17.
Pittsburgh International Airport serves nearly 9 million passengers annually on 17 carriers. Air Transport World named Pittsburgh International its 2017 Airport of the Year. Travel + Leisure has again named Pittsburgh International a Top 10 Domestic Airport in 2018.