Feb. 15--James and Laurie Oliver took a connecting flight north on their way to South Carolina on Thursday, but for them, it beat driving to Raleigh to catch a plane.
The Olivers were among 26 people on the first United Airlines flight from Fayetteville Regional Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport. From there, they were flying to Greenville, S.C., where their son, Bryan Farr, was to posthumously receive the civilian equivalent of the military's Purple Heart.
Farr was killed in May 2010 while working as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan.
James Oliver said they didn't realize they were on the inaugural United flight until they arrived at the terminal, where airport and city officials were celebrating.
"It's good to fly straight here, instead of flying to Raleigh and driving," Laurie Oliver said before the couple boarded the 37-passenger Q200 airplane for the hour-and-20-minute-flight.
United will offer three daily flights between Fayetteville and Washington. US Airways started nonstop flights to Washington's Reagan National last year.
Airport Director Bradley S. Whited said the United flights are timed to offer easy connections to the West Coast, Europe and the Middle East. Future flights to additional destinations are possible, depending on the number of passengers who use the service to Washington, Whited said.
"United is looking for the community's response," he said.
United is now the third carrier at Fayetteville Regional Airport. The airline also offers local travelers a third major hub to connect with other flights. The airport's other two hubs are Charlotte and Atlanta, serviced by US Airways and Delta.
Fayetteville Mayor Pro Tem Jim Arp said the new flights make it easier for people flying out of Fayetteville to go anywhere in the world.
"That's a real asset to have," he said.
Minht Dandeneau was flying to Washington on her way to visit her daughter in Alaska. She said she looked at other options before deciding on the United route, which included a stop in Denver.
Eva Langrehr, who was visiting family in the area, reached the same conclusion for her trip back to Berlin. On previous trips, she had to fly to Charlotte, then Newark, N.J., before getting a flight to Europe. She was flying to Frankfurt, Germany, from Washington on Thursday.
"This is much easier," she said.
Staff writer Steve DeVane can be reached at [email protected] or 486-3572.
Copyright 2013 - The Fayetteville Observer, N.C.
