US Airways to add several flights

US Airways will increase its service at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, but one of the added flights will be short-lived.

The airline will reinstate a nonstop flight to the Pittsburgh International Airport next week and add weekend flights to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in May.

The Pittsburgh flight however comes with a short turnaround time on the ground and almost as short a stay.

The nonstop flight that was cut last fall will resume on April 17, but will be discontinued on June 3.

US Airways spokeswoman Michelle Mohr said Tuesday the airline is “not planning on reinstating that seasonal service.”

The flight will arrive from Pittsburgh International Airport at 9:06 a.m. and depart for a return trip at 9:34 a.m. starting next week, Mohr said.

The airline will fly a de Havilland Dash 8 turboprop aircraft with a seating capacity of 45.

The addition will make “two solid” daily nonstop flights to Pittsburgh, said Barry Centini, director of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport.

The flight was suspended on Oct. 29, he said.

The new weekend flights begin on May 6 with a 4:50 p.m. departure from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and a scheduled 6:29 p.m. arrival in Charlotte. The Sunday flight aboard a US Airways Express 70-seat regional jet originates in Charlotte at 2:35 p.m. and arrives at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 4:15 p.m.

The following Saturday, May 12, a US Airways Express flight will depart for Charlotte at 2:51 p.m. with a scheduled arrival of 4:45 p.m. The Saturday flight aboard a 50-seat regional jet will depart from Charlotte at 12:44 p.m. and arrive at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 2:22 p.m.

US Airways provides the most service at the airport and the additional flights will bring the weekly departure total to 65. Of that number, 40 are to the Philadelphia International Airport, 16 to Pittsburgh and nine to Charlotte.

Other carriers here are Northwest Airlines, Comair, United Express and Continental.

Mohr said US Airways is “very flexible” with its schedule, moving aircraft around and providing service “where the demand is.”

The airline is in the midst of a fare sale for Pittsburgh. Tickets can be purchased for $49 each way to and from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but a roundtrip purchase is required.

The fares can be purchased through May 4, but travel must be completed by July 11, Mohr said.

By: Jerry Lynott, a Times Leader staff writer. Contact: 829-7237
Via: www.timesleader.com