Proposal would set up Orlando flights
Airline interested in twice-aweek service, official says
Commercial flights may be returning to the Reading Regional Airport.
At the monthly meeting of the airport authority Tuesday morning, airport director Zachary Tempesco said he has been approached by an airline about the potential of offering year-round direct flights from the Bern Township airfield to Orlando, Fla., twice a week on a Boeing 737 aircraft.
Tempesco did not publicly reveal the name of the airline, stressing that the proposal is still in the very early stages of discussion. However, authority members were given details about the proposal in an informational packet.
“The reason I wanted to bring this up is because we talk about service all the time and I have heard from people over the years that they want service,” he said. “Airlines can pick and choose where they want to go, and there is always a financial piece to this. When it comes down to it, this is a service to the community.”
Tempesco said there
would be other benefits to offering commercial flights such as increased concession fees and fuel flowage fees, as well as the potential for additional funding from the Federal Aviation Administration. It would also mean the terminal would once again be used for its intended purpose.
But, he warned, the proposal also comes with challenges.
One hurdle is that the airline wants the airport to contribute $75,000 to $100,000 toward an advertising campaign for the service. Another is that the airline would use a larger plane than typically operates at the airfield, which means the airport would need to
buy or rent additional support apparatus.
“They also want a lot of incentives to come in,” he said. “They would like us to waive some of the fees for the first two years, so that would mean the airport wouldn’t really make any money off of the deal for at least the first few years. Eventually it would help, but this is more about providing a community service.”
Tempesco told the authority members that he has asked the airline to present the proposal at an upcoming meeting, but said he thinks it would be wise for them to gauge support from the community first about whether this is something the airport is serious about pursuing.
“This is a prospect at this point, but I think we should take it seriously,” he said. “I’ve been talking with them for the last three months and all indications are that they are still interested. The last time I spoke
with them they said they are thinking that service could start as early as this fall.”
The airport has not had commercial flight services for more than two decades.
Back in 2000, the airport authority borrowed $8 million to renovate the passenger terminal. But right around then, regional and national airlines ended their
commercial service to Reading. Before that happened, local residents could park for free at the airport, catch
a small passenger plane to Philadelphia or Pittsburgh and fly to places around the world.