News release from the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority:
FWA and American Airlines announce non-stop service to Philadelphia and Charlotte
(May 5, 2014) – Officials at the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority along with community partners, City of Fort Wayne, Allen County, Greater Fort Wayne Inc., the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership (NEIRP), and IEDC are pleased to announce that American Airlines will be launching non-stop service from Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) to two major cities in the United States: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Charlotte, North Carolina. Service will begin on October 2, 2014 to both destinations. American will operate two flights per day to Philadelphia International Airport and one flight per day to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.
“To say that we are excited about American launching service to both Philadelphia and Charlotte is an understatement,” said Scott Hinderman, Executive Director of Airports for the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority. “We are delighted that American is providing the Fort Wayne community as well as the Northeast Indiana region a gateway to the Northeast area of the United States and beyond through Philadelphia International Airport.”
Service to Philadelphia will be operated twice-daily as US Airways Express with a Bombardier CRJ aircraft. There will be a morning and afternoon departure each day.
Obtaining a northeastern hub route has been a goal for the Northeast Indiana region for many years, and today the hard work of many organizations has paid off. The Regional Opportunities Council of the NEIRP identified air service as one of their seven pillars to pursue. “The economic impact of expanded air service will be felt across the region. Thank you to FWA and the over 100 regional leaders who agreed to shine a light on this important Vision 2020 priority,” said John Sampson, president and CEO of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. “Today another piece of our regional vision has become reality.”
“We are very pleased with today’s announcement by American Airlines that they will begin offering new direct flights from Fort Wayne to Philadelphia and Charlotte,” said Mark Becker, CEO of Greater Fort Wayne Inc. “Expanded air service out of Fort Wayne International Airport has been a top priority of GFW and our region’s business community for many years. We want to thank our partners at the Airport Authority, the City of Fort Wayne, Allen County, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) for their collaboration in working to make this announcement with American Airlines possible.”
The addition of Charlotte, North Carolina service is a bonus and offers the flying public a great option to get to the Southeast region of the country as well as to the Caribbean. Service from FWA to Charlotte (CLT) will begin on October 2nd with an evening departure, one time per day, operated by US Airways Express with a Bombardier CRJ.
The Airport Authority, Greater Fort Wayne Inc., and the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership celebrate with everyone the win of new air service to our community. Now these organizations ask the community to support the new routes to Philadelphia and Charlotte by flying American when going to these markets. The success of the routes lies in the hands of northeast Indiana consumers. It is a use or lose philosophy.
About Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority (FWACAA) was created in 1985 and is responsible for managing the Fort Wayne International Airport and Smith Field. Since FWACAA’s inception, Fort Wayne International Airport has undergone an aggressive improvement plan which included expansion of the terminal and parking areas, upgrades to the runways, and the creation of an Air Trade Center and Foreign Trade Zone to promote economic development in Northeast Indiana. As a result of FWACAA’s commitment to customer service, Fort Wayne International Airport was recognized by USA Today as one of the friendliest airports in the nation. The Authority is governed by a six-member board appointed by both the Mayor of Fort Wayne and the Allen County Commissioners. For more information about the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority, visit www.FWAirport.com.
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