Airport's Approved to Begin Contour Flights

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has approved the Altoona-Blair County Airport’s entry into the Alternate Essential Air Service program (AEAS) and can begin daily passenger flights to Philadelphia through Contour Airlines.

The airport applied for entry into the AEAS, which differs from the Essential Air Service (EAS) by paying the subsidies directly to the eligible community. The EAS pays the subsidy to the air carrier to provide a minimal level of air service to a major hub airport with twin-engine aircraft.

The approval of Contour was expected after the airport’s current carrier,...