Arnold Palmer airport eyes coronavirus stimulus package for assist with taxiway project

Westmoreland County’s Arnold Palmer Regional Airport soon could be a landing strip for federal cash freed up through coronavirus recovery funding.

A $2 trillion federal stimulus package includes $10 billion designated for airports, according to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s office. Officials at the Unity airport hope that new pool of money will help the facility’s application for a grant of up to $8 million from the Federal Aviation Administration for taxiway renovations.

“The stimulus package might make that a lot easier,” said Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority, which operates the airport. “We’re hoping that covers it.”

Funding already is approved for a $13 million project that will widen the airport’s runway to 150 feet. But, Monzo said, once that work is complete, the authority plans to relocate the taxiways, in accordance with current regulations for airports.

The taxiways will be shifted so they don’t connect directly from the runway to the primary airport ramp, where passengers board and disembark from planes, he explained.

The runway widening project is slated to begin on April 6, with work occurring at nighttime — when flights aren’t scheduled by Spirit Airlines, the airport’s sole commercial carrier.

Monzo acknowledged the impact of coronavirus concerns on airport operations can’t be predicted. “It’s a very fluid situation.” he said.

He expects the total number of both inbound and outbound passengers at the airport will be down this month, dropping from 25,898 in February. He noted a Spirit flight from Arnold Palmer to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., was canceled Wednesday.

While direct flights to Orlando, Fla., have continued, some additional flights to Orlando that would have connected through Fort Lauderdale have been canceled in recent days. Overall, Spirit flights are running at about 20% of full capacity, he said.

A Spirit spokesman couldn’t be reached for comment.

While the airport has boosted its cleaning regimen at the terminal, Monzo said in-person flight bookings have been suspended to help prevent the spread of covid-19. Bookings can be made online.

In response to coronavirus-related restrictions on dining options, DeNunzio’s Italian Chophouse offered free take-out meals at its airport restaurant to on-duty first responders. The offer began March 18, underwritten by a $2,500 contribution from the authority, and ended Wednesday, when the funds were depleted, Monzo said.

DeNunzio’s filled an average of 20 orders per day through the program, according to a restaurant staff member. DeNunzio’s airport location continues to offer takeout orders to the public, as it does through its other locations in Jeannette and Monroeville.