Aug. 17--WEYERS CAVE, Va. -- Frontier Airlines of Denver will offer three weekly nonstop flights to Orlando International Airport from Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport starting Nov. 20.
Area airport officials say the flights will be offered on a 138-seat Airbus 319 aircraft that would feature DIRECTV service at each seat.
Individual flights to Orlando will be available for as little as $69 each way through Aug. 25 at FrontierAirlines.com.
Airport and area leaders say the benefits of the service could be substantial, from increased airport traffic to added tourism revenue coming to Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County. In addition, Frontier's arrival in the Valley does not include federal subsidies.
"It took me the four days to get the full grasp of what we are doing," Gerald Garber, chairman of the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission, said Thursday. "For each of the jurisdictions, the spillover to you is enormous."
Augusta County Economic Development Director Dennis Burnett said the added flights can benefit both local tourism and economic development.
He said tourists could come to the Valley and take advantage of the cultural and outdoor amenities.
And perhaps those visitors will offer some chance of bringing jobs to the area, said Greg Hitchin, Waynesboro's economic development director.
"We never know who is visiting us," said Hitchin, who noted that a CEO in town for recreation might take a shine to the region and decide it's a good location for a business.
Airport Executive Director Greg Campbell said his operation now can draw from a large area for the Orlando flights because Shenandoah Valley will feature the only low-fare carrier to that destination in central Virginia.
He estimates the airport will offer the best Orlando flights to passengers as far north as Winchester and as far south as Roanoke.
Campbell and Garber said the Weyers Cave facility was chosen over numerous competitors.
Flights will arrive at the airport Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday mornings, and depart in the early afternoon Tuesdays and Thursdays and in the late morning on Sundays.
Burnett said Frontier's solid financial status makes the announcement even more positive.
The news comes less than a year after a $2 million upgrade to Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport's passenger terminal.
The upgrade offered more seating and lobby space for passengers, modern restrooms, and new mechanical and utility systems.
And air traffic has continued to rise at the airport: It's up 6 percent in 2012.
Frontier officials said the addition of the flights would offer more than just cheap fares.
"Not only will Shenandoah Valley-area travelers enjoy our low fares to Orlando, they'll appreciate amenities other low-cost carriers don't offer, including TVs at every seat and the option of extra legroom," said Daniel Shurz, Frontier's senior vice president, commercial.
Copyright 2012 - The News Virginian, Waynesboro, Va.
