Allegiant Air is the only commercial airline going in and out of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. But one group is hoping to change that.
"You know, I've been a part of this area my whole entire life," YNGAir Partners Founder Doug Kibby said. "I've grown up here in this area. I feel it's important to help the area grow."
The Young Air Partners is a community group that thinks Youngstown and Warren are on the verge of a comeback and now is the time to strike.
"With all the business that's going on, all the expansion, espcially with V&M Star and with the Youngstown Business Incubator, we need to have an airport that supports daily flights," Kibby said.
The airport is already in talks with Delta to bring two daily flights to Detroit. The airport said the success of Allegiant Air is proof it can be competitive.
"We can show the other airlines that this is a viable airport," Kibby said. "It has been in the past and it can be again."
Director of Aviation Dan Dickten said the airport doesn't only offer flights for business professionals.
"It's for the local community who would rather drive a few miles from home to their local airport rather than an hour or two to another airport," Dickten said.
Delta and other airlines that might be interested in flights to and from Youngstown usually want to know what community support there is for the airport. Kibby says he's confident they now have a good answer.
"Now, we can come to them and say, 'Hey, we have a non-profit organization that's a community voice for the airport.'"
There's no word on when Delta could decide to add Youngstown to their flight list.
