Regular Flights to Charlotte from University Park Airport a No-Go for Now, but Not Off the Table

Regular flights between State College and Charlotte, North Carolina won’t be happening in the immediate future, but hopes for the daily service have not been totally grounded, according to a University Park Airport official.

American Airlines “is unable to commit” to the proposed two flights a day, six days a week to and from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Centre County Administrator John Franek wrote in a letter included in the agenda for College Township Council’s meeting on Thursday.

“During several conversations with the airline and airport officials, American described the challenges of pilot shortages and inconsistent demand outside of peak service periods…,” Franek wrote in the letter to College Township Manager Adam Brumbaugh.

In 2021, the Centre County Airport Authority entered talks with American about establishing the route. County and local municipal governments pitched in with an incentive package of about $300,000 — including $250,000 from the county’s $31 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds — to assist with upfront costs of regular service. (The airport authority cannot use its own operating funds to incentivize airlines.)

The county returned the municipal contributions earlier this month, including the $10,000 provided by College Township. State College contributed $25,000 and Patton Township provided $12,500.

Centre County Airport Authority Executive Director James Meyer said he believes American was unable to commit to the route before the county’s ARPA funds will expire, but conversations with the airline about the Charlotte service are continuing.

“It doesn’t mean it’s not coming down the road,” Meyer said. “It just means that incentive package isn’t available, unless something’s put together later.”

American has spoken about the Charlotte proposal with airport officials “two or three times a year, which is a lot,” Meyer said.

The airline offered seasonal flights between State College and Charlotte in March and April, with service on Saturdays. Those flights were popular, and by the end of April the weekly Charlotte flight “was performing best out of any flight at this airport,” Meyer said.

American has not yet informed the airport if it plans to have the weekly spring flights to Charlotte again in 2024, but Meyer expects a decision by the end of December.

“We’ll also continue to talk about two flights a day,” Meyer said.