Arnold Palmer airport gets $2.3M to offset covid-related costs
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport is set to receive a federal grant of more than $2.3 million to help cover covid-19 mitigation costs.
The money from the U.S. Department of Transportation may be used to reimburse pandemic-related expenses including staffing, cleaning costs and janitorial services, U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-Blair County) said in announcing the grant this week.
The grant will support the Unity airport’s “mission to ensure the safe and effective air travel of passengers and cargo while advancing economic opportunities for our region,” Joyce said.
The number of people boarding a plane at the airport was a factor in determining the amount of the grant, according to Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority, which operates the Arnold Palmer airport.
In July, the Arnold Palmer terminal served 31,991 passengers on Spirit Airlines, the airport’s sole commercial carrier. That was the highest figure since March 2019, when 34,651 passengers were served.
Early last year, when the pandemic first reached Westmoreland County, passenger numbers at Arnold Palmer plummeted to a low of 423, in April 2020.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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