New grant from U.S. Dept. of Transportation could reopen Arnold Palmer Regional Airport

A new $850,000 Small Community Air Service Development grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation could restart commercial service at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. On Friday, the Westmoreland County Airport Authority said it has been awarded the funding and will begin negotiating to bring air service back to the airport. The grant is expected to support revenue guarantees and marketing for low-cost routes to destinations such as Myrtle Beach and Florida. Service ended in Westmoreland County after Spirit Airlines folded in May. Spirit had been the only airline operating from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport since February 2011, leaving the airport with no commercial flights.