Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport Flights to D.C. Set to Cease in August

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is losing the United Express flights to Washington Dulles International Airport in August, an airline spokesman said Thursday.

There is not enough demand for the flights, said Jeff Green, a spokesman for United Airlines, the parent company of United Express.

The flights will be discontinued on Aug. 4.

United Express will continue flying two daily, non-stop round-trip flights to Chicago OHare International Airport, Green said. The carrier flies 50-seat Canadair regional jets on that route.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport executive director Barry Centini was out of the office and unavailable for comment.

United Express began flying three daily, non-stop round-trip flights to Washington Dulles on Oct. 4.

The air carrier used a 30-seat, Saab 340 turboprop aircraft for the direct flights.

Fares to the two United Express destinations varied widely from a sample search on the United Airlines Web site on Thursday.

A 7 a.m. flight Monday to Washington Dulles returning to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 11:45 p.m. that day cost $360.40.

The 7:07 a.m. flight that day to Chicago OHare returning to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 9:45 p.m. Monday cost $618.40.

A flight leaving at 6 a.m. Saturday for Washington Dulles and returning a week later to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 6:35 p.m. cost $390.40.

A passenger flying Saturday morning to Chicago OHare and returning a week later at 9:45 p.m. to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would pay $618.40.

The flight departing to Washington Dulles at 6 a.m. on the last day Aug. 3 and returning to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 6:35 p.m. that same day costs $826.40.