TUPELO, Miss. (AP) - Commercial air service has returned to Tupelo after a hiatus.
Contour Airlines provided service Tuesday from Nashville to Tupelo Regional Airport, according to news media outlet reports. There hadn’t been commercial air service in Tupelo for five months.
Consultant David Hazlett was Contour’s first customer to take advantage of the Nashville to Tupelo route. Hazlett has a client in Tupelo. The last time he met with them, he said, he had to fly to Memphis, rent a car and drive the rest of the way.
“Having Contour is great; it’s far more convenient,” he said.
Contour’s Jetstream 31 Aircraft seats nine passengers, but are being converted to seat 19. Two of the planes, both recently renovated, will fly to and from Nashville. Another will be stationed in Tupelo as a backup.
After the airline announced two weeks ago that service would begin Tuesday, Contour CEO Matt Chaifetz said the airline sold more than 1,000 tickets.
Contour is offering a promotional fare of $18.99 for one-way tickets purchased through April 30. After that, prices will be $49 one way.
The airline has hired 10 employees, including a mechanic, in Tupelo to take care of operations.
Silver Airlines and SeaPort Airlines previously operated out of Tupelo Regional Airport. The two airlines tended to be unreliable, said Tupelo airport director Cliff Nash.
Nash said he’s been impressed with Contour’s efforts.
“They’re well aware of our recent air service issues, but they’re doing all they can not to have similar pitfalls,” Nash said.
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