By Abegail Murphy, Sandhills Sentinel
Moore County travelers may soon be able to catch a commercial flight closer to home if the Moore County Airport can succeed in raising $3 million to help secure commercial airline service.
At a community event held at Pinehurst Resort Wednesday evening, airport officials outlined a plan to raise a $3 million minimum revenue guarantee required by an airline considering a daily flight between Moore County Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. Many local leaders attended the meeting, including Senator Tom McInnis, Representative Neal Jackson, Moore County commissioners Adams and Ritter, and a slate of business owners and stakeholders.
The guarantee would act as a reserve fund during the first two years of service, when airlines typically assess whether a new route can become self-sustaining. If ticket sales fall short of certain revenue thresholds, the fund would cover the difference. If the route performs well, the money would not be used.
“This is no longer speculative,” said Adam Kiker of the Moore County Airport Authority. “We have an airline that has expressed interest. The simple equation is that if we come up with the funds they need, they will deliver air service to Moore County.”