CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Federal Aviation Administration has decided to not go forward with plans to cut hours at Huntington Tri-State Airport’s air traffic control tower.
The agency was considering cutting the hours, eliminating staff from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., applauded the decision in a joint statement on Friday.
“The mountainous terrain at the airport makes the 24-hour coverage critical to the level of safety when managing their operations,” Capito said. “I am glad the FAA decided to maintain the 24- hour operations, which will ultimately have a positive impact on the community and allow the airport to continue to grow.”
Charleston’s Yeager Airport was also being considered for a reduction in hours. The FAA did not move forward with the plan.