Nothing Beats a Jet2 Holiday

A major commercial airline is interested in bringing service to the Moore County Airport. Delivering this news feels like passing a note to let you know so-and-so “has a crush on you.” We can’t let the rumor soar just yet, though it’s not the first time our airport has offered in-flight entertainment.

Some background: Local commercial air traffic peaked in 1998, with over 50k passengers taking advantage of USAir’s round-trip flight to Charlotte. Delta was the last major airline to service the airport, in 2006 and 2007, but pulled out when numbers barely breached 10 passengers per day each way. Its departure meant the county had to repay the company for subsidies it had offered.

What’s happening now: A consultant has asked county commissioners to consider one flight daily, on something like a 50-seat regional jet, that would connect with Washington Dulles International Airport. The idea is that passengers who would typically fly out of the closest airport (like RDU) could instead go straight to a major connector. Dulles boasts connections to more than 80 cities worldwide.

TLDR: A lot has changed since the last time the Moore County Airport offered commercial service, but local officials are unsure whether it’s worth a fresh investment. Competition among smaller airports for commercial service means subsidies are still very much a thing, and these local incentives could cost a few million dollars.

So, will this idea take off? Time will tell. In the meantime, you can hit reply and let us know if you’d be on board.