The N&O: In the shadow of RDU, an NC community seeks its own commercial air service

The hundreds of people from the Pinehurst area who catch an airline flight each day must first drive to the closest commercial airport. For most of them, that’s an hour or more up U.S. 1 to Raleigh-Durham International.

Now business and visitors groups are mounting an effort to persuade an airline to begin daily nonstop flights to and from Moore County Airport, about 5½ miles from the front porch of the Pinehurst Resort.

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Airport Makes Progress On Support Fund

The Moore County Airport is one more than one-third of the way toward reaching its funding goal to bring commercial air service back to the area after 20 years.

Through efforts with the Moore County Economic Development Partnership, the airport has thus far raised more than $1.3 million by local businesses and institutions private donations. The Pinehurst Resort and USGA have both contributed to the fund.

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Effort Underway to Restore Commercial Flights

An effort is underway to restore commercial air service to Moore County Airport, beginning with a daily regional flight to Washington Dulles International Airport, a major hub offering connections across the United States and internationally. The service would allow travelers to begin their journeys close to home while maintaining access to destinations around the world.

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Survey Shows Support for Commercial Air Service

A recent survey commissioned by the Moore County Airport Authority may prove to be one of the strongest tools going forward as the airport advocates for the return of commercial service.

In polling 537 voters in Moore County over the weekend of Jan. 9, 79 percent of those responding expressed that they favor bringing commercial service to the airport, with 11 percent opposed.

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Consultant: At Least One Airline Interested in Moore County

A major commercial airline is interested in beginning service at the Moore County Airport, aviation consultants say, but local officials are yet to be convinced the service is worth the investment.

Data presented by Volaire Aviation Consulting concluded that Moore County travelers could fill 12 flights everyday if 8 percent of the passengers who now typically fly in and out of the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) used local service.

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