Toledo-area travelers will soon have another option for passenger air service out of Toledo Express Airport.
Officials announced the start of direct daily, nonstop flights by American Airlines to Charlotte, N.C., beginning Aug. 22, seven days a week, twice daily.
Paul Toth, president and chief executive officer of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, announced the new passenger flights today at the airport near Swanton. He said the airport received a $750,000 grant from the federal government in 2011 that would help subsidize the cost of the flights. The grant was extended three times with the help of the northwest Ohio congressional delegation.
“This new nonstop service to Charlotte provides Toledo and northwest Ohio with a multitude of new connecting flight options,” Mr. Toth said. “This service is a testament to the continued growth of the local economy and American’s belief in this region.”
The flights will go to Charlotte Douglas International Airport on a 50-seat regional jet. Flights, of about 80 minutes in duration, will depart Toledo at 7 a.m. and 1:37 p.m., and arrive at Toledo at 1:02 p.m. and 11:47 p.m.
The new service by American Airlines is expected to increase total traffic at the airport by as much as 30 percent.
Mr. Toth said deregulation of the airline industry, and changes made since the 2001 terrorist attacks, have caused Toledo and other small cities to lose passenger carriers, but he said the port authority has been working to gain new passenger service.
Mr. Toth said fares are hard to predict, but a staff member estimated likely fares at $270 to $280, round-trip.
He credited the $750,000 Small Community Air Service Development grant and the support of the U.S. Department of Transportation and American Airlines in making the announcement possible. The port authority will match the $750,000 with a $250,000 grant to guarantee American Airlines revenue of at least $1 million in the first year.
Charlotte Douglas is American Airlines’ second largest hub and the third largest airline hub in the world, with 650 daily departures to more than 150 destinations in 24 countries.
Wendy Gramza, president of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber will encourage local businesses to use the service to serve their offices and customers in the Charlotte area.
Toledo Express currently has daily flights to Chicago O’Hare International Airport by American and to Orlando/Sanford Airport, Punta Gorda Airport, and St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport by Allegiant.
Also on hand for the news conference were U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) and Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson.
Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058 or on Twitter @TomFTroy.
First Published April 17, 2017, 2:25 p.m.
