Business View Magazine - January 2024

Interestingly, the shift away from scheduled commercial services has made way for the airport to offer more support to the notable corporate presence in the area. Now, it’s positioned itself as more of a reliable center for business activity with ample space for hangar support and full-service FBO fuel and maintenance accommodations. Energy Aviation, the full-service Fixed Base Operator (FBO), stands at the forefront, ensuring smooth operations. From comprehensive services to rental options, the FBO, aptly named for its forward-looking vision, is a cornerstone in the airport’s pursuit of excellence. Currently, Williamsport plays a role as an economic catalyst for the city and its surroundings, and corporate flights have been playing a significant part in this vision. The airport is steadily returning to the estimated $170 million economic impact it once had in the pre-COVID era. Additionally, in the background of the airport’s corporate operations, Howell and his team have been actively marketing Williamsport to new carriers to renew the airport’s scheduled flight services. Ideally, scheduling two daily flights to the region would be a perfect starting launch pad and would allow an instant return to service without an overwhelming rate of expansion. BALANCING SPACE AND REGIONAL DEMAND Williamsport’s robust array of facilities and spaces serve as a strong indicator that it will once again appeal to the airlines to which it’s currently being marketed. It has a little over 30 T Hangars that host both small and large aircraft for things like maintenance and storage. Any prospective airline would have to notice, as those facilities still manage to see a high level of activity one would expect to see at only the largest and busiest authorities. This is done thanks to the many local relationships that have been formed between Williamsport Regional Airport and its surrounding region. “We’re completely supportive of what goes on in the city and its recruitment efforts for new companies and business coming into the area…we can still support [their] corporate jets and aircraft transitioning through,” Howell says, referring to the fact that the community consistently leverages Williamsport’s 30 hangars, which are open to local general aviation partners to rent and use. Williamsport also has several non-aeronautical 293 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 01 WI LL IAMSPORT REGIONAL AI RPORT