Alexandria International Airport (AEX) is using a federal grant to lure United Airlines back. The airport is receiving one-million dollars through the Small Community Air Service Development Program. England Airpark Executive Director Ralph Hennessy says they’ve wanted to lure United back ever since the airline left in 2022 due to the effects of the COVID pandemic.
“We’ve been working on trying to get them back into the market. However, nowadays it takes incentive dollars to get any new air service,” Hennessy said.
Hennessy says if the airport is successful in bringing United back, the money would be put to good use.
“If they announce they’re coming back into AEX, we’re certainly going to go ahead, work out an agreement to waive some of their landing fees and rents for a period of time. We will also help with advertising the service coming back into the market,” Hennessy said.
Hennessy says it will ask United to operate three daily non-stops to and from Houston. He says United returning to Alexandria will have other benefits for passengers.
“It’s additional competition to help stabilize and lower the airfares on the other two airlines,” Hennessy explained.
American and Delta are the other two airlines that fly out of Alexandria.
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