Spirit Airlines departure leaves $300K revenue shortfall at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport

Officials remain optimistic that a new carrier will offer service.

By RICH CHOLODOFSKY
TribLive

The loss of commercial flights at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport is expected to result in a projected revenue shortfall of as much as $300,000 through the end of this year, a Westmoreland County Airport Authority official said Tuesday.

Spirit Airlines shuttered operations in May, eliminating a substantial cash flow related to landing fees paid by the low-cost carrier and other revenue generators related to its flight schedule at the Unity airport. Last year saw more than 100,000 passengers pass through the gate, according to airport authority Executive Director Maurice Haas.

Prior to it halting operations, Spirit was scheduled to fly nearly daily service to Myrtle Beach, S.C., through the fall and resume seasonal flights to Orlando, Fla., later this year from Palmer airport.

Officials said the termination of commercial service created a major hole in the authority’s $5.1 million operating budget.

Haas said revenue generated from passenger fees, parking, rental cars and other services provided by the airport have flatlined following Spirit’s departure.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration withdrew its personnel from the airport this spring, a move that cost the authority about $8,000 a month in fees paid by the government.

“It’s money we’re losing from a lack of commercial air service,” Haas said.

The authority listed more than $579,000 in revenues it collected in July. Those included rentals of private hangar space at the airport as well as funds from a quarterly subsidy paid by Westmoreland County to cover operating expenses and debt. The county is allocating nearly $2.6 million this year for airport operations.

About $750,000 of the county subsidy initially was earmarked to pay staff for Spirit reservations and support. County leaders said future subsidies will be reviewed as part of the 2027 budget process but payments for now are expected to continue throughout the rest of this year.

The airport authority laid off 25 employees this spring — about half its staff — following Spirit’s departure.

Expenses at Palmer Airport in July totaled more than $405,000. That included payroll expenses for the remaining staff who administer and maintain the grounds and to costs associated with the facility’s remaining operations, including private air traffic, a flight school and independent charter service.

Airplane traffic climbs despite loss of Spirit Officials say that even without commercial service, the number of planes using the airport has increased this year.

Total aircraft traffic during the first seven months of the year is on pace to possibly exceed totals from 2025 that included Spirit’s commercial service.

Officials reported there were more than 27,000 flight operations, takeoffs and landings, through July. The airport saw more than 47,000 flights in 2025.

“There’s still a lot of people going out of here to a lot of places,” said authority board Chairman Paul Whittaker. “This is still a busy airport. We have higher traffic than we’ve ever had, other than Spirit.”

Officials remain optimistic a deal with another commercial carrier is within reach. Whittaker said airport representatives have had talks with two prospective carriers, but no deals have been finalized.

The airport authority has an application pending for a $805,000 Small Community Air Service Development Program grant to subsidize a commercial carrier to operate at least one route from Palmer Airport.

Haas said that grant is a linchpin to attract commercial service. The money would serve as a revenue guarantee for a still unidentified carrier to begin service from Westmoreland County.

“Once we get the grant, we’ll get a carrier on board,” Haas said.

Officials said the county’s grant application has been supported by U.S. senators Dave McCormick, a Republican from Squirel Hill., and John Fetterman, a Democrat from Braddock.

“They’re on board, and it is only a matter of time,” Whittaker said.