Meridian Regional Airport will be adding a second hub to its commercial flight schedule. Beginning on June 2, passengers will have the option to fly to Dallas-Ft. Worth, the current hub, or to O’Hare Airport in Chicago. Dallas-Ft. Worth and O’Hare are two of the largest hubs in the country.
“This additional hub will offer the passengers in our region many more options when making their travel reservations,” said Tom Williams, president of the Meridian Airport Authority. “We are extremely proud that the addition of the Chicago hub will make our airport only the second small airport in the country to offer the advantages of two hubs to the traveling public.”
The service will be offered by SkyWest, which stepped in when ExpressJet decided to eliminate the CRJ 200 from its fleet. The CRJ 200 is the 50-seat jet used in flights to and from Meridian. The services to Dallas-Ft. Worth and Chicago will continue to operate under the American Airlines banner. Under the new schedule, one round-trip flight a day will be between Meridian and Dallas-Ft. Worth and one flight a day will be round-trip between Meridian and Chicago. Currently, the schedule includes two flights per weekday between Meridian and Dallas-Ft. Worth, and one flight per day on Saturdays and Sundays.
“While we will lose one flight a day to and from Dallas,” Williams said, “we will gain weekday flights to and from Chicago and an additional flight on Saturdays and Sundays, which should benefit business travelers who leave on Sundays and had to fly out early in the morning. The addition of a flight later that afternoon to Chicago will give them more flexibility.” In addition, Williams said, the new schedule will give passengers more flexibility and, also, better access to the east coast through Chicago.
“I want to thank SkyWest for stepping in and developing this new travel plan that will be good for our entire region,” he said. “I have no doubt this is a major, positive development for our community and region.”
Meridian Mayor Percy Bland commended the airport authority and staff for constantly monitoring developments in the volatile world of commercial aviation, and making sure that Meridian always has a voice in any changes.
“Our airport authority is second to none in its commitment to securing and keeping the best possible service for our region,” Bland said. “Now being one of only two smaller cities with two hubs is a real plus for us.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT TOM WILLIAMS AT 601-482-0364 OR 601-917-4944.
