Smooth flight

Shenandoah Regional Valley Airport to get a bigger plane

By Kaleigh Maher, news editor
Posted on November 15, 2007

After spending years in the airline business, Shenandoah Regional Valley Airport decided they’re going to need a bigger plane.

Effective Tuesday, all flights between Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Shenandoah Regional Valley Airport will be on a larger aircraft.

Airport manager Greg Campbell said even with its shuttle service to and from the airport, Shenandoah was not as competitive as other airports.

“Students have other options for airports they can drive to,” he said. “We didn’t have the same type of aircrafts, we didn’t feel it was comparable.”

Professor Perry Neel uses Shenandoah Regional Airport and said he didn’t care how big the plane is, as long as it was still going to Washington. He is glad to hear that the larger plane will provide a smoother flight.

“It doesn’t matter to me how big the plane is,” Neel said. “Even though the little ones scare me to death.”

He said he had some rough experiences on the smaller ones.

 “I was fine with it before,” he said. “They were always on time and it’s really easy, especially security wise, on the small plane.”

Campbell said the JMU community, especially students, make use of the airport.

“Whenever there are holidays or breaks or school is coming in or out [students] represent a significant number of our passengers,” he said, adding that with the larger plane they can accommodate more travelers.

There will be three daily weekday and two daily weekend departures and arrivals to and from IAD. The previous aircraft carrier offered 19, meaning that only 57 travelers could fly in either direction daily.

“We will be able to accommodate nearly twice as many [passengers],” Campbell said.

The aircraft will offer more comfort as well as more seating.

“Passengers will appreciate the newer amenities and smoother flights,” Campbell said.