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MOV Regional Airport eyes marketing

The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Authority met Tuesday morning to discuss marketing plans after Contour Airlines provided an update which will make it easier for customers to book flights through American Airlines. (Photo by Candice Black)

The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Authority met Tuesday morning to discuss potential marketing plans after an announcement from Contour Airlines which would make bookings easier for customers.

Contour Airlines partners with American Airlines and has allowed travelers to book a trip from Parkersburg to various spots around the country and the world without having to re-check baggage while connecting through Charlotte.

Previously, booking a trip through American Airlines out of Parkersburg was only available through travel sites but Contour said customers will now be able to book directly through the American Airlines website and Contour will offer bookings on its site within a few weeks.

Airport manager Glen Kelly met with the authority to discuss whether or not the group wanted to market this update with a $12,500 grant received from the state.

“What I’m concerned about is with the vaccines and how it affects travel in the future,” he said.

Kelly discussed the previous marketing strategy and how much viewership the digital billboards received, especially the one that was by Chick-Fil-A in Vienna which has had increased traffic in their drive through since the pandemic started.

“The return on the investment from the marketing, I think, is very good. The COVID effect has made the one billboard an awesome billboard to have,” Kelly said.

As announced in last week’s Wood County Airport Authority, the $12,500 grant is able to be used for other improvements or updates around the airport.

Kelly asked the authority for their input on whether the funds should be used to market the announcement from Contour or whether they should be used to meet other needs.

Wood County Commissioner and authority member Blair Couch made a motion to use half of the grant for marketing and use the other half for other purposes.

“I think marketing lets Contour know we’re serious about them and we want to support them,” Couch said. “(If) we spend half of it trying to find the ideal billboards for a while and let the other half go towards needed expense, either way I’d say that’s a safe play.”

The motion was accepted to spend half of the grant on marketing and to re-evaluate in March to assess the COVID-19 situation at the time to see how those funds can be best used. After the items on the agenda were addressed, Washington County Commissioner Ron Feathers made a motion to dissolve the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Authority.

“I think it very strange that there are three voting members on the board from Ohio who make suggestions who are not all that valid for West Virginia,” Feathers said. “The Wood County Airport Authority and County Commission are the real ones in that. I understand it’s good intentions (but) for approximately 17 years, I haven’t seen anybody on my side of the river take it seriously.”

Couch responded by talking about some of the reasons the Mid-Ohio Valley authority formed 17 years ago.

“Seventeen years ago we formed this group to increase the demographic,” he said.

A motion was made to table Feathers’ motion and for the authority to meet early next year to discuss dissolving the group and to review the bylaws involved with the authority to see what the requirements are.

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