Arnold Palmer Regional Airport struggles to survive following Spirit’s grounding

The air traffic control tower remains active and is staffed 6 days a week.

By RICH CHOLODOFSKY
TribLive

Spirit Airlines’ signs have been removed from the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport terminal, the reservation counter sits empty and unbranded ticketing kiosks are offline.

The abrupt operational freeze follows the carrier’s May 2 bankruptcy and global shutdown, which left the Unity airport without commercial service.

Before the closure, the airport held the unique distinction of being the lone site in the United States exclusively served by the discount carrier. The airport now relies on private aviation, a flight school and De-Nunzio’s Italian Chophouse and Sinatra Bar — which was open and serving patrons Wednesday — for its remaining terminal activity.

The decline in traffic forced the airport authority to lay off 25 employees in May, reducing its staff by roughly half.

While many operations have ceased, some essential services continue at the complex.

The air traffic control tower remains active, staffed by a private contractor from 6:15 a.m. to 10 p.m. six days a week under a program funded and directly paid for by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Airport Executive Director Maurice Haas said Wednesday he has received no indication from the federal government that changes are planned for tower operations.

Charter flights in limbo

The lack of commercial service has thrown upcoming private commuter charters into doubt as local officials deal with the fallout.

Preferred Casino Tours LLC, based in Aliquippa, was forced to relocate its planned May, June and July trips to Reno, Nev., and Atlantic City, N.J., to other regional airports.

Charters for August and September remain scheduled to depart from Palmer airport, though those trips remain uncertain.

“We’re holding out hope,” John Mitchell, co-owner of Preferred Casino Tours, said last week.

Mitchell said the lack of an active security checkpoint prohibits his company from operating flights out of Palmer airport.

The Transportation Security Administration withdrew its staff from the Westmoreland County airport in May, shortly after Spirit ended its run as the sole commercial carrier since 2011.

TSA screening equipment remains at the airport behind locked fences, but the federal government no longer provides staff to man the checkpoint. The Westmoreland County Airport Authority has asked the agency to return or provide options that would allow local officials to install security measures so charter service can resume.

“We’re still waiting for them to review it,” Haas said. “It has to be their decision if they’ll support it, but we’re looking to find a way for them to come back or find another option.”

Projects halted, terminal expansion continues

The ongoing disruptions prompted the authority board last month to cancel a $4.4 million plan to install solar panels at the airport. The board had approved the project in April.

“With everything else going on, they decided it just wasn’t the time to do it,” Haas said.

Meanwhile, a $22 million expansion project to double the size of the passenger terminal is ongoing, with work expected to be completed by August.