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<p>PITTSTON TWP. &#8212; Southern Airways Express, described as a fast-growing regional carrier that operates daily flights to seven Pennsylvania cities, was introduced Wednesday as the new carrier for air service between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and Pittsburgh.</p><p>And the new carrier will offer expanded service in the form of weekend flights to the Steel City.</p><p>Just hours after Regional Sky announced it was ending its Pittsburgh route, airport Executive Director Carl Beardsley said Southern Airways will begin service from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to Pittsburgh International Airport effective Sept. 5.</p><p>Regional Sky began its twice-daily, weekday non-stop flights to Pittsburgh on April 23.</p><p>Beardsley said Southern Airways will assume the route beginning Sept. 5, with twice-daily weekday service, adding that one-way fares start at just $129.</p><p>In addition, there will be one flight in each direction on both Saturdays and Sundays.</p><p>&#8220;Our board and airport staff are pleased to see the evolution of Pittsburgh service through this arrangement with Southern Airways,&#8221; Beardsley said. &#8220;Through this partnership, we&#8217;ve expanded service while enabling our travelers to take advantage of Southern Air&#8217;s airline connecting arrangements that lead to many other great locations.&#8221;</p><p>Southern Airways Chief Commercial Officer Mark Cestari said the airline is confident that twice-daily weekday service and reasonable fares will get people out of their cars and into &#8220;our comfortable and roomy aircraft.&#8221; He said the company uses nine-passenger Cessna Caravans which have large cargo compartments. He said the aircraft are &#8220;good, sturdy planes.&#8221; </p><p>Cestari added, &#8220;We not only believe that this route will be popular with the business community, but also with students and sports fans that want easy access to the Steel City.&#8221;</p><p>A limited-time promotional fare of $129 is available for all seats purchased before Aug. 31.</p><p>Cestari said Southern will provide two non-stop flights in each direction, with weekday departures from Pittsburgh at 8:15 a.m. and 4 p.m. Flights departing from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will be at 10:10 a.m. and 5:55 p.m. The full flight schedule is available at: iFlySouthern.com.</p><p>&#8220;Today&#8217;s announcement fulfills our ongoing commitment of always striving to add better conveniences, better routes and more affordability for the people of Northeastern Pa.,&#8221; said Airport Board Chairman Patrick O&#8217;Malley.</p><p>In a news release from Regional Sky, the company said its business model was designed using corporate charter aircraft to deliver passengers to and from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Pittsburgh.</p><p>&#8220;Even though we have had many satisfied and repeat customers, we believe a different airline model is required to meet the level of enplanements required to maintain the service,&#8221; the release stated.</p><p>Southern Airways was founded in 2013 and is based in Mississippi.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_Southern-Air-Pittsburgh.jpg">
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<div class="neCaption">This is one of the nine-passenger Cessna Caravans that Southern Airways Express will use to get travelers to and from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and Pittsburgh. Southern Airways will take over the Pittsburgh route from Regional Sky in a few weeks. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/web1_Souther-Air-Express.cmyk_.jpg</photo1><caption1>This is one of the nine-passenger Cessna Caravans that Southern Airways Express will use to get travelers to and from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and Pittsburgh. Southern Airways will take over the Pittsburgh route from Regional Sky in a few weeks. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

WBS airport to expand Pittsburgh service with weekend flights by new carrier