Surf Air Mobility and Williamsport, Pennsylvania Enter Agreement for Subsidized Commuter Air Service Between Williamsport Regional Airport (IPT) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
January 08 2024 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
Surf Air Mobility Inc. (NYSE: SRFM) (“Surf Air Mobility”, “Surf
Air”), a company that aims to transform regional flying through
electrification, and the Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority
of Williamsport, Pennsylvania have agreed to launch scheduled
commuter air service between Williamsport Regional Airport (IPT)
and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) with a target
start date in May 2024. Williamsport will provide funding and
services to subsidize and support the establishment of the program.
The flights will be operated by Southern Airways Express
(“Southern”), an airline subsidiary of Surf Air Mobility.
The goal of this program is to provide the city of Williamsport
and the surrounding Lycoming County community with easier, faster,
and more affordable connections through their local airport. By
bringing consistent weekly service to this underutilized regional
airport adjacent to the city’s center, travelers arriving or
departing via Washington Dulles will be able to skip the multi-hour
drive and fly directly to or from Williamsport Regional Airport on
one of ten weekly flights. This scheduled service will be the first
commercial flights at Williamsport in over two years.
This announcement comes a few weeks after another similar
agreement with Purdue University that will privately subsidize
flights connecting West Lafayette Airport and Chicago O’Hare. These
agreements resemble Surf Air Mobility’s numerous Essential Air
Service contracts which provide federal subsidies to connect
communities which would otherwise lack access to minimal air
service. The agreement with Williamsport establishes a funding
stream from the use of locally acquired grants coupled with
community donations to mitigate risk to Surf Air.
By partnering directly with the city of Williamsport, Surf Air
believes it can expand on the successes of the federally funded EAS
program in locations not presently eligible for that program.
“Williamsport, Pennsylvania is at the forefront of a new era in
regional mobility. Their forward-thinking approach helps to expand
access to convenient air travel that connects their community with
the larger commercial air service networks,” said Stan Little, CEO
of Surf Air. “There are hundreds of underutilized yet incredibly
convenient airports across the U.S. Our mission at Surf Air is
clear: we’re finding innovative solutions to the lack of viable
regional connectivity. We plan to continue exploring these types of
partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, with private
institutions, and with international partners.”
Through Southern’s interline and distribution agreements,
passengers flying to and from Williamsport will have a seamless
connection at Washington-Dulles on United, American, and Alaska
Airlines, including through-bag transfer. Tickets will be available
for purchase on United.com, AA.com, AlaskaAir.com and
iFlySouthern.com.
Southern will operate these flights using Cessna Grand Caravan
turboprop aircraft, with nine passenger seats and two pilots.
“The Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority and I welcome this
commitment on the part of our new airline partner, Southern Airways
Express. We believe connecting to the Dulles hub and the access to
multiple major carriers through Southern’s interline and
distribution agreements will offer our community more travel
flexibility that ever before. We look forward to a long
relationship and thank Southern Airways Express for the confidence
in our community,” said Richard C. Howell, A.A.E., Executive
Director Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority/Williamsport
Regional Airport.
Surf Air Mobility, with its Southern Airways and Mokulele
Airlines subsidiaries, is the largest commuter airline in the U.S.
by scheduled departures.
About Surf Air Mobility
Surf Air Mobility is a Los Angeles-based regional air mobility
platform expanding the category of regional air travel to reinvent
flying through the power of electrification. In an effort to
substantially reduce the cost and environmental impact of flying,
and as the operator of the largest commuter airline in the US, Surf
Air Mobility intends to develop powertrain technology with its
commercial partners to electrify existing fleets and bring
electrified aircraft to market at scale. The management team has
deep experience and expertise across aviation, electrification, and
consumer technology.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, including statements regarding the anticipated benefits of
the transaction; Surf Air Mobility’s ability to anticipate the
future needs of the air mobility market; Surf Air Mobility’s future
growth strategy and growth rate and its ability to access its
financings and grow its fleet. Readers of this release should be
aware of the speculative nature of forward-looking statements.
These statements are based on the beliefs of the Company’s
management as well as assumptions made by and information currently
available to the Company and reflect the Company’s current views
concerning future events. As such, they are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among many
others: Surf Air Mobility’s future ability to pay contractual
obligations and liquidity will depend on operating performance,
cash flow and ability to secure adequate financing; the inability
to maintain and strengthen the Surf Air, Southern and Mokulele
brands and their reputations as regional airlines; the inability to
accurately forecast demand for products and manage product
inventory in an effective and efficient manner; the inability to
execute business objectives and growth strategies successfully or
sustain Surf Air Mobility’s growth; the inability of Surf Air
Mobility’s customers to pay for Surf Air Mobility’s services; the
inability of Surf Air Mobility to obtain additional financing or
access the capital markets to fund its ongoing operations on
acceptable terms and conditions; the outcome of any legal
proceedings that might be instituted against Surf Air, Southern or
Surf Air Mobility; changes in applicable laws or regulations, and
the impact of the regulatory environment and complexities with
compliance related to such environment; and other risks and
uncertainties indicated in the prospectus. These and other risks
are discussed in detail in the periodic reports that the Company
files with the SEC, and investors are urged to review those
periodic reports and the Company’s other filings with the SEC,
which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, before
making an investment decision. The Company assumes no obligation to
update its forward-looking statements except as required by
law.
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Media Contacts: Surf Air Mobility: press@surfair.com
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