VIENNA TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Following a recent tour, Trumbull County commissioners voiced their support for the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
The commissioners Wednesday approved a letter of support for the airport’s application for funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program.
The application seeks grant funding to support the launch of a new network air service at the airport by offsetting initial costs and risks of reintroducing commercial airline service. The grant would support a revenue guarantee, allow for deeper marketing analysis and provide financial stability for a successful launch of service.
Allegiant stopped service after 11 years in January 2018. There has not been commercial air service at the airport since that time.
After the meeting, Commissioner Rick Hernandez said the Western Reserve Port Authority’s executive director, Anthony Trevena, has been working with a major carrier interested in returning commercial air service to the airport. Hernandez and the other commissioners wouldn’t say at this time which carrier it is.
Hernandez said he is confident it will happen but believes progress is being slowed as the region awaits large employers to begin hiring the thousands of workers reportedly expected, as well as the ongoing conflict in Iran and its impact on gasoline prices, which he said is affecting all airlines.
“The Valley deserves a major carrier, and just hats off to the port authority,” Hernandez said during Wednesday’s meeting.
“They have done a lot of data, a lot of studying,” Commissioner Tony Bernard said. “They have a lot of numbers which justify us getting a new carrier there. … Hopefully we’ll see a new carrier there soon, which will just enhance the growth of Trumbull County.”
Commissioner Denny Malloy said the tour of the airport, which commissioners did with their counterparts in Mahoning County, gave them all a better picture of the economic importance of the airport and the operators there, which include the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, the private crafts that use the airport, the Youngstown State University YNG Flight School and the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics’ repair operation.
“I think on the weekends there’s over 2,000 employees there, and 400 to 500 at any given time,” Hernandez said.
Malloy said millions have been invested in the airport, but after climbing into the flight control tower, he sees a need for upgrades to the facility.
“Hats off to everybody out at the base out there and the people around the airport and our port authority,” Malloy said. “We will have a new airline soon. We don’t know when, but they’re working hard.”