Altoona-Blair County Airport reports record flyers in July

Overall completion rate was 100% in July

MARTINSBURG -- Contour Airlines carried a record number of passengers in and out of the Altoona-Blair County Airport in July.

With an overall completion rate of 100%, Contour carried 2,427 passengers outbound and inbound last month at the airport, according to manager Tracy Plessinger, who noted the airport is on track to surpass 11,000 enplanements by the end of 2026.

Last month's enplanements were up 28% from June and up 30% from July, Plessinger said, adding Contour's seasonal flights to Myrtle Beach were nearly 90% full. The service ends next Saturday, Aug. 22, but was a huge success for the airport overall, he said.

In addition, from a volume standpoint, July was nearly a record month for Avis/Budget rental vehicle sales, Plessinger said, adding sales were up 34% from June and up 18% from July 2025.

The airport sold 236 rental vehicles in July -- only one vehicle shy of tying its all-time record of 237, according to Avis/Budget manager Nick Bechtel's written report.

From a total revenue perspective, Avis/Budget reset its total revenue record of $86,016 for rental fees, Bechtel noted.

"As a location, we owe a lot of this to Aero; the large SUVs have been an asset to our location," Bechtel wrote, adding the quality of rental vehicles remains unrivaled in the area because of Aero.

The airport's current fleet is made up of vehicles all under 12,000 miles, Bechtel said, adding he visited businesses from Breezewood to Bedford -- focusing on garages, hotels and car dealerships close to the turnpike -- to spread the word about the airport's services.

"There is a significant amount of potential in Bedford County as there are no car options in Breezewood and very few in Bedford," Bechtel said. "We have already started to see a return on our efforts. Overall, (I'm) very happy with the month."

Aero is offering high-end vehicles at the airport, which is helping the most since the higher rate bumps up sales and the airport's commission, Plessinger said.

"It was an amazing month. We're making out great," Plessinger said, adding the Avis/Budget operations are "absolutely essential" for the success of Contour's flights. The ability to book rental vehicles has attracted people to the Altoona-Blair County Airport in the past, over alternatives such as the Pittsburgh International Airport, he said.

La Fiesta sales were also up 13% from June and up 16% year over year, Plessinger said.

Coffee Coop sales were down slightly by 5% but up 16% from July 2025, Plessinger added, noting June was a "record-high" month for Coffee Coop.

In his report to the board, Plessinger said a recent Federal Aviation Administration inspection went well, with no serious issues reported. The inspector was specifically complementary of the airport's maintenance crew, he said, adding the employees do an "amazing job."

The airport received a completed FAA grant agreement for the terminal restroom remodel project, with work expected to begin as soon as the contractors can mobilize, Plessinger said.

Once that work is complete, passengers will be able to enter the remodeled restrooms from the TSA-secure area.

Nick Barber, the airport's engineer from McFarland Johnson, said the remodeling work won't interfere with TSA's operations as all the work will stay on the backside toward the restrooms.

At the very end, then workers will cut a hole between the wall and the TSA area, Barber said.

"That should be the only time that there should be issues there," he said.

Airport officials previously stated that the work is expected to take about eight weeks once construction begins.

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