PITTSTON TWP. — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport Executive Director Carl Beardsley Thursday said air traffic demand in Northeastern Pennsylvania has begun to grow.

“Business is lifting off,” Beardsley said. “For starters, both American and United will be adding additional flights and seats to the AVP market next month. Additionally, American will be adding a third flight to Charlotte (five days a week), while also offering their Chicago flight daily. In addition, United will fly its Chicago flight daily. We are confident that as we move into the summer months, and air traffic demand continues to rise, we will see more daily flights returning to AVP.”

Beardsley went on to say that “circumstances also cause some disruptions.” Recently, Beardsley said Delta Air Lines will be temporarily suspending operations at AVP beginning July 8.

“This temporary suspension, which is occurring at other airports, will help strengthen Delta’s recovery,” Beardsley said. “Ultimately, we will continue to work with their team to bring back air service as soon as possible. In the near term, Team AVP will continue to provide updates to Delta regarding all aspects of Northeast Pennsylvania, whether it be about business or vacationers.”

Beardsley said Delta is making temporary adjustments to its schedule as the airline plans its fall network, and he anticipates the Delta flights will return at that time.

“That is where you all come in,” Beardsley said in a post on the airport’s website — FlyAVP. “Team AVP needs your support now more than ever. Please continue to support your regional airport for your air travel needs so that all of our air carriers see how supportive Northeast Pennsylvanians are.”

In early June, Delta airlines announced it will suspend operations to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International airport and 10 other U.S. markets due to significantly reduced customer volume as the airline looks to reduce costs as it continues to mitigate the crisis due to COVID-19.

According to its website, AVP is served by Delta, American Airlines and United.

Delta has been providing one daily nonstop flight to Atlanta and three daily nonstop flights to Detroit from the local airport.

American connects AVP with Charlotte, Philadelphia and Chicago (O’Hare), while United connects with O’Hare and Washington-Dulles.

While the facility had been enjoying a long run of record-setting passenger numbers, the COVID-19 outbreak has devastated traffic here, as around the globe.

As reported recently by the Times Leader, the most recent numbers show that AVP passenger enplanements for the month of April 2020 decreased 95.1% to 1,306 from 26,546 in the month of April 2019. Enplanements for April 2020 compared to enplanements for April 2018 decreased by 20,520 or 94.0%.

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.

———

©2020 The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)

Visit The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) at www.timesleader.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.