CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Vacationers hoping to fly directly from Yeager Airport to Disney World will get the opportunity again after PEOPLExpress Airline on Wednesday announced a new service three times weekly between Orlando and Charleston.
PEOPLExpress CEO Jeff Erickson said his carrier hoped to fill the void created by AirTran’s direct service being canceled.
“Where there have been historic traffic patterns that made sense, but they disappeared for other reasons, that’s why we’re here,” Erickson told reporters in the Yeager terminal Wednesday.
“They saw an opportunity and said, ‘Hey AirTran made money here, we can make money here.'” said Rick Atkinson, Yeager Airport’s general manager. “Doing the same type of service, same type of fares, and we even have lower costs.”
Service is scheduled to start Oct. 16.
A one-way ticket from Charleston to Orlando will cost $79. Like most discount carriers, carry on luggage, larger seats, and checked baggage will be an up-charge, but Erickson said even with the up-charge costs are a fraction of other carriers. As an introductory offer, flights can be booked until midnight Thursday for $49.
The planes will originate from Orlando and fly to Charleston with arrivals and departures slated for mid-afternoon Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Passengers will fly aboard 134-seat 737 aircraft on all flights.