WEYERS CAVE - The first month was a great success for the new flight service offered at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport.
April 3 marked the start of the airport using SkyWest Airlines to make daily flights using United's global network to Chicago O'Hare and Washington Dulles hubs.
The switch to SkyWest comes nearly a year after SHD made started using ViaAir, which had weekly arrivals to and from Charlotte Douglas International Airport and then down to Orlando on a 50-seat Embraer 145 regional jet by airliner.
ViaAir's service had seen multiple complaints of unreliability, so much so the airline was threatened with replacement by the U.S. Department of Transportation in early 2017.
It was announced last fall SkyWest would take over.
According to Greg Campbell, the airport's executive director, the new service is off to a "fantastic start."
"United powered by their partner SkyWest is delivering exactly as promised and consist with their reputation, of providing reliable, well connected service," Campbell said.
For the first 27 days of operation, of the scheduled 95 flights in and out of the Valley, performance was "exceptional," he said. There was only one flight cancellation, on April 15 when the area was under a tornado warning and dangerous weather conditions.
The new service has also been popular, Campbell said. United/SkyWest reported a little over 1,400 passengers for the first 27 days of operation in April.
"This represents nearly a five-fold increase in traffic compared to the previous month of service with ViaAir," Campbell said. "The reliability of United/SkyWest coupled with access to two major United Airlines hubs, Washington Dulles and Chicago, are opening of hundreds of one stop connections domestically and internationally all within the United network."
Bookings for SkyWest are also strong heading into the summer and fall and customers seem to be happy with the new line, Campbell said.
"Feedback from passengers has been extremely positive," Campbell said. "We have received great feedback on almost all aspects of the operation including great customer service, both at SHD and in flight experience, the jet aircraft being used and the ease and convenience."
The airport is also ahead of schedule for runway work, which will be finished by the end of May. The nearly $2 million project is funded 90 percent by the FAA and the balance by the Virginia Department of Aviation and the Airport Commission and included significant airfield paving, which has been done during the overnight hours.
About SkyWest
Headquartered in St. George Utah, SkyWest Airlines is a leading air service provider offering global access to millions of people each month, the release said. SkyWest partners with the world’s largest network carriers including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
With a fleet of 423 aircraft, SkyWest’s more than 12,500 aviation professionals operate more than 2,000 flights each day to 237 destinations throughout North America, the release said. Visit Skywest.com for more information.
SHD Customers may book flights immediately at United.com or by calling United reservations at 1-800-864-8331.
Follow Laura Peters @peterslaura and @peterpants. You can reach her at lpeters@newsleader.com or 213-9125.