SALISBURY, MD - The Wicomico County Office of the Executive has announced new grant funding aimed at making flights from Salisbury to Orlando, Florida a reality.
According to the Executive’s Office, the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded an $800,000 grant to support a new flight route from Salisbury Regional Airport to Orlando International Airport. The funding will help guarantee revenue, cover essential start-up costs, and help in resting a marketing plan to attract and sustain the new route, according to the County Executive.
“This is a milestone achievement for Salisbury Regional Airport and Wicomico County,” said County Executive Julie Giordano. “With the support of the DOT and in collaboration with our local partners, we are excited to bring new flight options to our community, connecting Eastern Shore residents and visitors to one of the nation’s most popular travel destinations.”
The Wicomico County Executive’s office did not specify which airline would be facilitating the new route in a press release Tuesday, but said the expansion is expected to bring more tourism and business investment to the region.
Salisbury Airport Manager Terry Rudy tells WBOC the flights to Orlando are hoped to begin as early as January of 2025.
Rudy also told WBOC talks with a low-cost airline have been encouraging so far.
"I just got back from an air service development forum last week and we did speak with them[airline] and they are still very interested," said Rudy. "We're hoping with the grant announcement now we can make the next steps to lock them in and negotiate the service with them."
Earlier this year, Wicomico County and Salisbury Airport officials confirmed they were in talks to bring additional airlines to the airport to offer more destination options. Currently, Philadelphia and Charlotte are the only available destinations.
Limited options, according to Rudy, has the Salisbury Airport playing second fiddle to larger airports in nearby cities.
"We're losing a very, very large amount of passengers to other airports, and just capturing even some of that back will be a tremendous help," said Rudy. "Plus it'll help with airport revenue."
Bill Chambers, Executive Director of the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce, said a new airline coming to Salisbury would open up doors.
"Improvements to the airport, increased parking, probably another rental car company moving into the airport," said Chambers.
A full-service restaurant at the airport was another possibility Chambers mentioned. He also believes if a new airline is successful, trips to Florida would only be the tip of the iceberg.
"They'll add new routes and who knows what that'll mean," said Chambers. "Maybe a route to Chicago, maybe routes out west, with the expanded runway and other improvements at the airport, this is an opportunity that this region has been waiting for for well over a decade."
Salisbury and Wicomico County Officials feel the sky is the limit. All that's left is solidifying an agreement with a new airline.
