Staff Reports
Last week, Ed Warneck, president and managing partner of Direct Air, attended and spoke at a tourism summit put together by state Sen. George Maziarz whose hope is to find ways to attract more service through the Falls’ new airport terminal. As promised by Warneck during the summit, Direct Air will announce today the start of new air service from Melbourne, Fla., to Niagara Falls International Airport.
Beginning Feb. 4, Direct Air will add the new route and begin twice-a-week flights to Niagara Falls International Airport to Melbourne International Airport and then continue onto Port Charlotte Airport in Punta Gorda/Fort Myers. These flights will operate on Falcon Air MD83, 150-passenger aircraft configured with 12 first-class and 143 coach seats. In addition, non-stop flights from Niagara Falls International will continue no less than two additional days based on seasonality.
The company will begin offering airfares to Melbourne beginning at $99 each way. Direct Air plans to offer special introductory rates to all who register online a Direct Air newsletter announcing special events and sales. Tickets can be purchased by going to www.visitdirectair.com or by calling 1-877-432-DIRECT (3473).
Wednesday’s announcement is good news for the Niagara Falls airport and the region, according to Warneck.
“We are committed and focused to work together with the communities to promote the airports in a manner that maximizes its future potential to generate economic growth and opportunity,” he said.
Mayor Paul Dyster agreed.
“This new air service links two of North America’s great tourist destinations, and will open up a whole range of great opportunities to market our region’s tourism assets to a new customer base,” he said Wednesday night. “This is particularly great news because it comes at a time when we are opening a great new terminal, but the airline industry generally faces great challenges. If we can built market share now during the downturn, the sky will be the limit once the air travel industry starts to recover.”
The City of Niagara Falls has provided $1 million annually from its share of casino revenues for construction of the new airport terminal. The ribbon was cut on the new facility on Sept. 2. Change-over to use of the new facility is expected this winter.
Direct Air’s plans are synonymous with the Niagara Falls Transit Authority to reverse market from the destinations serviced by Direct Air to Niagara Falls. Its goal is to increase traffic and economic impact to the Niagara Falls community. This opportunity will soon be enhanced with the introduction of vacation packages in both directions by Direct Air. The package program is expected to begin in the first half of 2010.
Bill Vanecek,, NFTA director of aviation said, “With this addition, more flights will bring more revenue and opportunities that will mutually benefit the destinations, Direct Air, and our community.”
Direct Air currently provides non-stop service between Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Columbus, Ohio; Newark, N.J., Niagara Falls, Plattsburgh, Pittsburgh, Springfield, Ill., and Worcester, Mass. Additional cities are being considered for early 2010.
Direct Air and has carried more than 500,000 passengers since the start of operations in March 2007.
