Westmoreland air show drew about 30K each day to Unity airport

The Westmoreland County Airport Authority is still flying high three weeks after the annual air show that attracted massive crowds to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity.

While the net revenue from the two-day event has yet to be calculated, Gabe Monzo, the authority’s executive director, told members Tuesday that 30,000 spectators came to the airport on Aug. 17 and 18.

“It’s an amazing thing,” Monzo said of the process of putting on the show. “Every person who is associated with this airport, we’re all in for the biggest promotion that we do in marketing and putting this airport on the map.”

That included a trip by Valetta Mowry and a fellow air show volunteer to Atlantic City just days before the event. In a pickup truck provided by the authority, they went to an Air National Guard base to pick up hydraulic and oil service units needed for the F-35 fighter jet demonstration team that took part in the air show.

Authority chairman Don Rossi noted the participation in the show of Navy pilot Will Brooks, a 2008 Greater Latrobe High School graduate who flew an EA-18G Growler jet in to display for attendees.

“What a dream come true,” Rossi said, recalling Brooks’ interest in planes at the airport as a youth.

Spirit support

Spirit Airlines, the sole commercial carrier serving the Arnold Palmer airport, recently reported a 2024 second quarter net loss of $192.9 million.

But, Monzo said, the front counter staff at the Unity airport has received high marks from Spirit and from its customers.

That includes a “net promoter score” of 77.1 — a figure that is based on a customer survey that includes asking whether the respondent would recommend that a friend fly on the airline.

“They say that a score above 20 is favorable and above 60 is excellent,” Monzo said, adding, “The guest satisfaction (score) for the year at our (airport) is 94.6.

“As far as Spirit is concerned, who knows what they’re up to with all their maneuvering in the industry, but we’ve got people who are doing a good job for them out front.”

Terminal expansion

Work on the first phase of a $22 million terminal expansion at the Unity airport is tentatively scheduled to begin in October, said authority engineer Scott Kunselman.

The project will expand the terminal by 32,000 square feet and is meant to improve the passenger experience and meet new Transportation Security Administration requirements.

The first phase, which could take more than a year, will construct the shell of the terminal expansion and have a new passenger gate and an expanded TSA screening area operational.

Before construction begins, a vacant hangar that is in the way will be demolished.

Federal Aviation Administration funding is expected to cover $9 million of the initial phase’s $13 million cost. Kunselman said FAA officials on Friday approved a final amount of about $500,000.