Ivock, alongside her relative Maggie Ivock, originally intended to fly out of the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport near Latrobe but had to change plans whenever Spirit Airlines ceased its operations. The two then considered flying from the Pittsburgh International Airport but opted to book with Contour at the Martinsburg-based airport instead.

Ivock said her brother owns a home in Myrtle Beach, so she visits the area every year.

On this particular trip, Ivock said she plans to stay for three weeks to celebrate her birthday, taking advantage of the airport’s free parking.

Passengers wait before going through TSA prior to Contour Airlines inaugural flight from Altoona-Blair County Airport to Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Wednesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“We used to fly out of Latrobe, but this was super convenient,” Ivock said of the Altoona-Blair County Airport, moments before entering the TSA-secure area for the flight. “There’s free parking, so it’s going to be nice.”

Since Contour’s seasonal service to Myrtle Beach was announced in June, nearly 70% of the available tickets have been sold already, airport manager Tracy Plessinger said, noting only one seat remained aboard Contour’s 30-passenger jet during Wednesday’s inaugural departing flight from the airport.

A last-minute decision, Rita Thomas of Meyersdale Borough, Somerset County, bought one of the last two remaining seats after her daughter was involved in a head-on vehicle accident Saturday evening near Conway, about 15 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach.

Thankfully, Thomas’ daughter wasn’t seriously hurt in the accident, but she has a dislocated wrist and is “banged up a little bit,” Thomas said.

“I’m so grateful that she wasn’t hurt badly because it could have been much worse,” Thomas said, adding her daughter has an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon Thursday morning to find out whether she needs to have surgery.

Passengers make their way to Contour Airlines inaugural flight from Altoona-Blair County Airport to Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Wednesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“Hopefully not, but I just need to get to her and help her out,” Thomas said. “I want to hug her.”

Thomas said she is grateful for the airport’s convenience, adding her brother-in-law lives nearby and was able to drop her off for the flight, because her husband is using her vehicle while his is at a mechanic shop for repairs.

“It always has to be more than one problem at a time, but it was so convenient that it worked out so well,” Thomas said.

Julie Kensinger of Tyrone flew to Myrtle Beach with her grandson, Aiden Kensinger, who came up from Fort Worth, Texas, to visit and take the flight with her.

“When my mom heard the commercial on TV that (Contour was starting season service to Myrtle Beach), she called me because we were going to drive,” Kensinger said, noting she planned to meet up with a friend who lives down there.

Passengers board Contour Airlines inaugural flight from Altoona-Blair County Airport to Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Wednesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Plessinger said taking a nearly two-hour flight at the airport beats driving nearly 10 hours to get to Myrtle Beach, especially during days like Wednesday, when temperatures exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit and there was an extreme heat advisory in effect.

It’s the first time in history the Altoona-Blair County Airport has had a nonstop flight to a vacation destination, Plessinger said.

“We’re really happy that Contour agreed to do this, and the response from the community has been absolutely fabulous,” Plessinger said, adding he hopes Contour might agree to offer the seasonal service again next year, possibly extending the number of available dates or traveling to other destination spots.

“I just know that Contour is very pleased with the response we’ve received so far with the presales,” he said.

Susan Skees, Contour Airlines’ vice president of customer success, said the idea of possibly continuing the service to Myrtle Beach next year isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

“We would absolutely be thrilled if we could extend it out into the future and make it more than just seasonal or extend the season,” Skees said, adding Contour officials are “thrilled to continue our wonderful partnership with the folks at the Altoona-Blair County Airport.”

Skees called the service a win-win for the communities of Altoona and Myrtle Beach, adding Myrtle Beach International Airport officials are “genuinely thrilled” about the service, which also gives people in South Carolina an opportunity to come up the mountains and explore Pennsylvania.

“I was there for a previous station launch, and Myrtle Beach is so excited to have this flight coming in,” Skees said. “They’re so excited to be hosting folks from Altoona.”

Aboard Wednesday’s inaugural flight, passengers reportedly participated in a celebratory champagne/mimosa toast and received a swag bag with exclusive Contour merchandise, including a beach ball, a luggage tag and a keychain, Skees said.

The route to Myrtle Beach will operate twice a week, every Wednesday and Saturday, through Aug. 22. One-way tickets start at $139 and are available through Contour’s website, www.contourairlines.com.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.