ViaAir (Orlando International) cancelled all remaining flights from Charlotte International to both Parkersburg, WV, and Beckley, WV, which it was due to operate under the Alternate Essential Air Service (AEAS) contract through the end of November 2018, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel has reported.
The airline said it had both its E120s used for the services grounded for technical reasons, Parkersburg Airport Manager Glen Kelly relayed.
According to Flightradar24 ADS-B data, N650CT (msn 120.198) was grounded at Charlotte between October 19 and November 9, 2018, and was subsequently ferried to Orlando Sanford. N652CT (msn 120.289) operated the AEAS routes through November 2 and was subsequently ferried from Parkersburg to Sanford on November 5. The carrier's third E120, N653CT (msn 120.243) is a long-term storage.
ViaAir itself denied it had experienced technical issues with the E120s and said the decision was due to business factors.
"Via Airlines’ fleet of Embraer EMB-120’s were not and are not grounded. As we continue to grow and develop our business model, it is important that each aircraft and market generate as much potential revenue as possible. In the case of the EAS communities of Parkesburg and Beckley, our bid to continue the service into the next term was higher than at least one other carrier, so we were not awarded an additional term. Nevertheless, we wish Parkersburg, Beckley, Charlotte and the new carrier well, and will redeploy our EMB-120 fleet to other, higher yielding markets," Director, Planning and Business Development Don Bowman told ch-aviation.
In addition, the carrier came under scrutiny at Charlotte Int'l due to an alleged debt.
"The City of Charlotte (Charlotte Douglas International Airport) has been working with ViaAir to resolve their non-payment issues," a spokesperson for the North Carolinian airport added. The airport has also stripped ViaAir off its gates.
ViaAir did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.
The airline was providing 12 weekly roundtrips on each of the AEAS routes under a two-year contract awarded in September 2016. ViaAir was due to receive a total subsidy of USD4.77 million for two years of flights to Parkersburg and Beckley.
Contour Airlines (LF, Tupelo) is due to take over both routes as of December 1, although the actual service is not expected to commence before December 5. The carrier will continue to provide 12 roundtrips per week on each of the routes using 30-seat E135s. The two-year contract is worth USD4.96 million.
ViaAir continues to operate six E145s on scheduled regional services out of Orlando Sanford and Austin-Bergstrom International. The carrier's flights are technically operated by its subsidiary, Via Airlines.
