Charlotte Flights Begin at State College Regional Airport

The inaugural American Airlines flight from Charlotte, North Carolina to State College Regional Airport touched down Monday afternoon, receiving a ceremonial water cannon welcome as it arrived in Centre County.

The arrival marked the start of American Airlines’ new twice-daily nonstop service between State College and Charlotte Douglas International Airport, giving local travelers another connection to one of the airline’s largest hubs.

Airport officials said the Charlotte route opens access to more than 170 destinations and provides State College with a second American Airlines hub connection in addition to Philadelphia. United Airlines also operates daily service to and from Chicago and Washington, D.C. at State College Regional.

The new service was years in the making. Local officials had previously attempted to secure a Charlotte route, while the State College Air Service Alliance raised nearly $200,000 from more than 75 contributors through the Fly State College Fund to support expanded air service. Nearly 4,000 bookings have already been recorded in and out of State College on the Charlotte route for October.

Among the passengers on the inaugural flight was Laurie Dillman, who was traveling from Florida to State College with a connection in Charlotte. She said she had no idea she was on the first flight until passengers were told after landing.

“I was really happy that I wasn’t going through Philly,” Dillman said.

Dillman, who lives in California, has close ties to State College. Her husband, Brad Dillman, is a Penn State alumnus and owner of Penn Steaks on South Pugh Street, and their children attend the university. She said getting to the area has often meant figuring out connections through Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.

This time, she was traveling with her student, Simone Woods, who had come from Australia and was visiting State College to attend her first Penn State football game.

“That’s the hardest thing about living here, is, you know, having kids that go to school here, and I live in California,” Dillman said. “It’s like, how do I get them either to Philly or to Pittsburgh? How do we get them here? It’s so hard.”

For Dillman, the new Charlotte service offers another way to make those trips easier.

“It’s just another bridge,” Dillman said.

That additional connection is one airport officials have been pursuing for years, according to Ralph Stewart, interim executive director of the Centre County Airport Authority.

“There’s been a couple attempts in the past, and the timing didn’t work out or, you know, just didn’t work out,” Stewart said. “But this time around, it fell into place.”

Stewart said Charlotte was particularly attractive because of its location and the number of connections available through the American Airlines hub. State College previously had only one American Airlines hub connection through Philadelphia.

Ahead of the inaugural flight’s arrival, airport officials, local leaders and community partners gathered at the airport Monday afternoon for a celebration marking the launch of the new service.

Stewart opened the program and introduced speakers representing the Centre County Airport Authority, Centre County government, the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County and the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau.

As the flight approached State College, the program paused and a group of speakers and attendees headed through security and out to the airport ramp to watch the inaugural arrival.

The group watched as the plane arrived from Charlotte at about 4:20 p.m. and passed through a ceremonial water cannon salute. Attendees remained outside as arriving passengers exited the aircraft and passengers for the first State College-to-Charlotte flight began boarding.

The program then reconvened inside the terminal. The first State College departure for Charlotte was scheduled for about 4:53 p.m.

During the program, speakers focused on what the new service could mean for the airport and the broader Centre County region.

The addition of Charlotte gives State College Regional Airport four nonstop destinations and brings the airport to 13 daily flights. Airport officials also pointed to infrastructure improvements planned for the future, including a passenger boarding bridge project expected next year that would allow travelers to board and exit planes without lining up outside in rain, snow or wind.

Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins described the new service as both an economic development and quality-of-life investment, saying during his remarks that stronger air service can help the county compete for businesses, investment, jobs, visitors and talent.

“I remember meetings five years ago, during COVID, where we were wearing masks,” Higgins said. “It took a plan and it took a lot of people.”

Higgins also pointed to Penn State and the surrounding regional economy as potential beneficiaries of expanded air service.

From a tourism perspective, Happy Valley Adventure Bureau President and CEO Eric Engelbarts said the Charlotte route provides another gateway for visitors coming to Centre County for Penn State weekends, sporting events, conferences and meetings.

Engelbarts said the additional service could help the bureau market Happy Valley beyond its traditional drive markets and attract visitors during the week and outside the region’s busiest weekends.

Airport officials are already looking at where State College’s air service could expand next.

Stewart said another southern route, particularly one serving the Florida market, is among the airport’s priorities. Denver has also been explored as a possible future destination.

For now, Stewart said the focus is on making the new Charlotte service successful. The twice-daily flights are expected to operate year-round, but he said their long-term future will depend on maintaining respectable passenger loads.

Higgins also emphasized that the community’s role in supporting the new service does not end with its launch.

“It sounds like we’re off to a great start, but book a flight, tell a friend, choose State College first,” Higgins said.

“Every seat we fill makes the case for the next route after this one.”