Proposal Under the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program, Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120

City of Morgantown, WV

Morgantown Municipal Airport

DUNS 177686867

West Virginia Congressional District 01
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 2

Contents

Summary Information..................................................................................................................... 3

History............................................................................................................................................. 7

Background.................................................................................................................................. 7

Current Air Service Climate......................................................................................................... 9

Future .......................................................................................................................................... 9

Eligibility........................................................................................................................................ 10

Selection Criteria........................................................................................................................... 10

Priority Selection Criteria .......................................................................................................... 10

Secondary Selection Criteria ..................................................................................................... 12

Project........................................................................................................................................... 14

The Problem.............................................................................................................................. 14

Air Service Needs and/or Deficiencies...................................................................................... 14

Target Market............................................................................................................................ 15

Strategic Plan to Meet Air Service Needs of the Community ................................................... 15

Goals and Objectives............................................................................................................. 15

Financial Plan ................................................................................................................................ 16

Differences From Previous Project ............................................................................................... 16

Designation of Sponsor................................................................................................................. 17

This application is prepared in accordance with USDOT Order 2013-6-14 (Docket DOT-OST2013-0120) to establish the Morgantown community interest in receiving a grant under the 

Small Community Air Service Development Program.

Questions regarding this application should be forwarded to Mr. Michael Clow, Airport Director 

at (304) 291-7461 or by e-mail to mclow@cityofmorgantown.org.
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 3

APPLICATION UNDER 

SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

DOCKET DOT-OST-2013-0120

Summary Information

All applicants must submit this Summary Information schedule, as the application coversheet,

a completed standard form SF424 and the full application proposal on www.grants.gov.

For your preparation convenience, this Summary Information schedule is located at 

http://www.dot.gov/policy/aviation-policy/small-community-rural-air-service/SCASDP

A. PROVIDE THE LEGAL SPONSOR AND ITS DUN AND BRADSTREET (D&B) DATA UNIVERSAL NUMBERING SYSTEM 

(DUNS) NUMBER, INCLUDING +4, EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (EIN) OR TAX ID.

Legal Sponsor Name: Morgantown, City of, 

Inc.

DUNS Number: 177686867

EIN/Tax ID: 556000215

B. LIST THE NAME OF THE COMMUNITY OR CONSORTIUM OF COMMUNITIES APPLYING:

1. CITY OF MORGANTOWN__________________________________

2.____________________________________________________

3.____________________________________________________

4.____________________________________________________

C. PROVIDE THE FULL AIRPORT NAME AND 3-LETTER IATA AIRPORT CODE FOR THE APPLICANT(S) AIRPORT(S)

(ONLY PROVIDE CODES FOR THE AIRPORT(S) THAT ARE ACTUALLY SEEKING SERVICE).

1. Morgantown Municipal Airport MGW 2.

3. 4.
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 4

D. LIST THE 2-DIGIT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CODE APPLICABLE TO THE SPONSORING ORGANIZATION, AND IF A 

CONSORTIUM, TO EACH PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY.

1.WV-01 2.

3. 4.

E. APPLICANT INFORMATION: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

 ☑ Not a Consortium Interstate Consortium Intrastate Consortium

 ☑ Community now receives subsidized Essential Air Service

 ☑ Community (or Consortium member) previously received a Small Community Air 

Service Development Program Grant

If previous recipient:Year of grant(s): 2003/2004

F. PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS: (LIST ORGANIZATION NAMES)

PUBLIC PRIVATE

1. West Virginia Aeronautics Commission 1. Greater Morgantown Convention and 

Visitors Bureau

2. West Virginia University 2. 

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.

G. PROJECT PROPOSAL: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

☑ Marketing Upgrade Aircraft New Route

Travel Bank Service Restoration Subsidy

Surface Transportation Regional Service Revenue Guarantee

Launch New Carrier Start-up Cost Offset First Service

☑ Study Secure Additional Service Other (explain below)
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 5

H. EXISTING LANDING AIDS AT LOCAL AIRPORT:

☑ Full ILS ☑ Outer/Middle Marker ☑ Published Instrument Approach

☑ Localizer Other (specify)

I. PROJECT COST: DO NOT ENTER TEXT IN SHADED AREA

LINE DESCRIPTION SUB TOTAL TOTAL AMOUNT

1 Federal amount requested 400,000

2 State cash financial contribution 20,000

Local cash financial contribution

3a Airport cash funds 0

3b Non-airport cash funds 30,000

3 Total local cash funds (3a + 3b) 30,000

4 TOTAL CASH FUNDING (1+2+3) 450,000

In-Kind contribution

5a Airport In-Kind contribution** 20,000

5b Other In-Kind contribution** 16,000

5 TOTAL IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION 

(5a + 5b)

36,000

6 TOTAL PROJECT COST (4+5) 486,000

J. IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS**

For funds in lines 5a (Airport In-Kind contribution) and 5b (Other In-Kind contribution), please 

describe the source(s) of fund(s) and the value ($) of each.

Airport – Grant Management and Administration - $20,000

Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau – Advertising - $6,000

West Virginia University – Advertising and Web Blasts to 29,000 Students - $10,000
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 6

K. IS THIS APPLICATION SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY STATE UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 12372

PROCESS?

This application was made available to the state under the Executive Order 12372 

Process for review on (date) _____________.

 Program is subject to E.O. 12372, but has not been selected by the state for review.

☑ Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.

L. IS THE APPLICANT DELINQUENT ON ANY FEDERAL DEBT? (IF “YES”, PROVIDE 

EXPLANATION)

☑ No Yes (explain) 

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 7

History

Background

In 1934 and 1935, the City of Morgantown 

purchased a sizable tract of land near the 

Mileground in east Morgantown to construct 

an airfield. Construction began in 1935 and 

the Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW) 

opened on November 9, 1937. Even before 

construction was complete, Tri-State Aviation 

Corporation began regularly scheduled flights 

to Pittsburgh and Charleston. Morgantown 

has enjoyed continuous commercial air service 

ever since.

Air Service at MGW has declined in recent 

years. In the late 1990’s, service to Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) and Washington DC 

National Airport (DCA) were offered by US Airways. Enplanements averaged approximately 

25,000 per year during this period. With the economic recession of the late 1990’s and the 

terrorist attacks of 2001, air service declined at MGW and is currently approximately 10,000

enplanements per year. Figure 2 shows the decline that began in 1998 and the stabilization in 

enplanements that started in 2003.

Figure 2. MGW Enplanements 1996 to 2017

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

1996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017

Historical 1996 to 2012 

Forecast 2013 to 2017

Figure 1. Morgantown Municipal Airport Terminal
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 8

The decline necessitated the City of Morgantown applying for, and being granted, status as an 

Essential Air Service market in 2004. That contract was awarded to Regions Air, flying as 

continental Connection, in 2005, providing service to Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport

(CLE) in Beech 1900’s. This service was not well received. Regions also had financial difficulties 

and declared bankruptcy and ceased flying in 2007, leaving MGW without air service for several 

months in 2007. The EAS contract was then awarded to Colgan Airlines, flying as United 

Express, with service to Washington DC Dulles International Airport (IAD) in 2007. Colgan, 

which was bought by Pinnacle Airlines in 2007, chose to drop from the EAS market in 2012 and 

the EAS contract for MGW was awarded to Silver Airways, also flying as United Express. That 

service continues today.

Prior to 9/11, MGW enjoyed service to both PIT and DCA via US Airways Express. With the 

extended shutdown of DCA following 9/11, that service terminated and only service to PIT 

remained. This is reflected in the steady decline in passengers as shown in Figure 2. When US 

Airways de-hubbed PIT in 2004, MGW lost that service as well. Air service was then offered by 

Regions Air, flying as Continental Express with service to Continental’s hub in Cleveland. This 

service resulted in most of MGW’s traffic opting to drive, also reflected in Figure 2. Regions Air 

declared bankruptcy in 2007 and ceased all flying to MGW in March of that year. Colgan Air, 

operating as United Express, was awarded the EAS contract in May 2007 and service was 

resumed, with flights to IAD. As can be seen from Figure 2, passenger counts rebounded to 

approximately 10,000 per year. In 2012, Colgan (now part of Pinnacle Airlines) also declared 

bankruptcy and announced that flights to MGW would cease after May of 2012. As the only 

carrier in the market, Colgan/Pinnacle was required to remain in the market until a new carrier 

could be found. In July of 2012, the EAS contract was awarded to Silver Airways, who has 

continued the service as United Express to IAD.

Today, MGW requires subsidies under 

the USDOT Essential Air Service Program

(EAS). Service is provided by Silver

Airways to Washington DC Dulles 

International Airport (IAD) with 18

flights weekly in 34 seat Saab 340 

aircraft.

With four airlines offering service to 

three different hubs in the past ten 

years, it has become difficult to 

convince residents of the Morgantown 

area to fly from MGW. There are still 

members of the community that believe 

the service is offered to PIT, although 

that has not been true for over eight 

years. There are others that believe the 

service still continues to CLE and refuse Figure 3. MGW Service Area
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 9

to fly the route. And, there are many that believe that competitive airfares cannot be found 

here. The Airport needs to be able to inform the public of the service provided and convince 

them to use it.

Current Air Service Climate

Today’s air service climate in Northern West Virginia is significantly different than it was 15 

years ago. In the late 1990’s, PIT was a US Airways “fortress” hub with numerous domestic and 

international flights. Fares were also higher and the incremental cost of flying from MGW to 

PIT was nominal. Today, low cost carriers have moved into the market within a three hour 

drive of MGW. Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways, Southwest’s wholly owned subsidiary, 

serve PIT. Southwest is also available at Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI), at 

both Reagan National (DCA) and Dulles (IAD) in Washington DC, and at Columbus International

Airport (CMH). As can be seen in Figure 3, all of these locations, with the exception of PIT, are 

at the 200 mile “drive” limit for most people. PIT is only 88 drive miles from MGW. In the ultralow cost market, Allegiant Air flies from Tri-State Airport (HTS) in Huntington and Spirit Airlines 

flies from Latrobe Airport (LBE) in southwest Pennsylvania. All of these are well within the drive 

area for Morgantown residents.

MGW’s catchment area is very diverse. It contains the northern tier of counties in West 

Virginia, the southern tier of counties in southwest Pennsylvania, extreme western Maryland, 

and several counties in northeast Ohio and includes some 2.8 million residents. Within 100 

miles of the Airport lie the cities of Pittsburgh and its southern suburbs. Except for a 5,200 foot 

main runway and the limits on this program imposed by being an Essential Air Service Airport, 

this grant application might have been for attracting low cost or ultra-low cost service to MGW. 

However, it is for marketing and promotional activities to convince the people of the catchment 

area to fly from this airport vice one of the others in the area.

Future

Even with the population and economic growth in this region, air travel from MGW continues 

to decline. The forecast for 2013 and beyond, as seen in Figure 2, is for a gradual decline. Only 

a reintroduction to the community of the air service provided at MGW and the marketing of 

this airport and its air service to those who could come to this area, offered by this grant, can 

arrest this slide.
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 10

Eligibility

MGW is eligible for this program.

As of calendar year 1997, MGW was, and continues to be, a Non-Hub Primary Service 

Airport.

While MGW’s airfares are reasonable, our service is only to Washington Dulles 

International Airport, which has third highest fares in the United States. The cumulative 

effect of IAD fares added to MGW’s fares makes our fares among the highest in the 

FAA’s Eastern Region.

The City of Morgantown was to receive a SCASDP Grant in 2003 in consortia with the 

City of Athens, OH and Ohio University. This grant was cancelled when the Athens 

Airport could not participate. The grant was re-issued the following year to a 

consortium of the City of Morgantown and the City of Clarksburg for both MGW and the 

North Central West Virginia Regional Airport (CKB). That grant was completed and 

closed in 2007. That grant was to market the service from CKB and MGW to DCA. This 

grant is to market the service to and from MGW to the Midwest US via Washington 

Dulles, thus is a completely different project than the previous grant awarded to this 

Airport.

MGW is a recipient of subsidized service under the Essential Air Service program. As 

such, this project will only be used to market and promote the existing carrier.

Selection Criteria

Priority Selection Criteria

1. Airfares are higher than the national average air fares for all communities.

Mead and Hunt, Inc. analyzed air fare data for all airports that reported passengers for 

Calendar Year (CY) 2012. For the CY ending December 31, 2012, MGW had the second 

highest fares in the FAA’s East Region. MGW’s fares averaged $266 for the year against an 

average for all 57 airports in the region of $198. This equates to a fare from MGW being 

over 34% higher than the average.

2. The community or consortium will provide a portion of the cost of the activity from local 

sources other than airport revenue sources.

The community has pledged the following

State of West Virginia Aeronautics Commission - $20,000 cash
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 11

Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau - $30,000 cash and $6,000 inkind

West Virginia University - $10,000 in-kind

Morgantown Municipal Airport Staff will provide in-kind service to manage and 

administer the grant - $20,000 in-kind

3. The community or consortium has established or will establish a public-private 

partnership to facilitate air carrier service to the public.

The City of Morgantown/Morgantown Municipal Airport has an established Air Service 

Committee made up of individuals representing:

City of Morgantown

Greater Morgantown Chamber of Commerce

Greater Morgantown Conventions and Visitors Bureau

West Virginia University

West Virginia University Athletics

West Virginia University Hospitals

4. The assistance will provide material benefits to a broad segment of the traveling public, 

including businesses, educational institutions, and other enterprises, whose access to 

the national air transportation is limited.

The target audience for the project to be completed under this grant includes:

Local business people that are driving to another airport to travel or are driving long 

distances for their business.

Government workers traveling for their work.

Students and staff from West Virginia University traveling for study and recreation.

University researchers traveling to accomplish studies that support their research.

Hospital staff and management.

Tourists visiting the Morgantown area.

Student-athletes, coaches, trainers and boosters traveling from WVU for 

competition and other university teams traveling to Morgantown to compete with 

WVU teams at home.

This broad audience covers most of the travelers in the Morgantown region and provides 

the material benefits to the community that air service affords.

5. The assistance will be used in a timely manner.

The time frame for completion of this project is three years.

6. Multiple communities cooperate to submit a regional or multistate application to 

consolidate air service into one regional airport.

This project is to promote air service from MGW.
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 12

Secondary Selection Criteria

1. Innovation

This project will be innovative in that it is intended to target more than just the local 

market. Our intent is to target a specific group of potential visitors to Morgantown, 

specifically travelers coming to Morgantown as visitors for athletic competition from the 

Midwestern US. This group was chosen in part to attract visitors as part of WVU’s recent 

transfer to the Big 12 conference and, by coming for athletic competition, to show visitors 

the attractions of the Greater Morgantown area and convince them to return for other 

activities. Additionally, we intend to be innovative in our use of media, with electronic 

media such as web sites and other means being a significant part of the project.

2. Participation

This project is supported by a variety of local groups including:

US Senator Jay Rockefeller

US Representative David McKinley

The State of West Virginia

Monongalia County

The City of Morgantown

West Virginia University

The Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau and its members

The Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce and its members

These groups have either pledged monetary support or community support via a letter of 

support to US DOT.

3. Location

This grant is for the Morgantown Municipal Airport, located in the north central part of 

West Virginia.

The closest medium or large hub airport is Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) – a medium 

hub, commercial service airport – which has low cost service with Southwest Airlines and 

AirTran Airlines. PIT is 88 road miles from MGW. Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in 

Latrobe, PA (LBE) – a primary, non-hub airport – has ultra-low cost service with Spirit 

Airlines. LBE is 61 driving miles from MGW.

The Morgantown Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) continues to grow. As can be seen in 

Figure 4, while the population of Morgantown itself has remained flat, Monongalia County
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 13

Total Population: Morgantown, Monongalia County, and MSA, 1970-

2013

Year Morgantown Monongalia County MSA1

1970 29,431 63,714 NA

1980 27,605 75,024 NA

1990 25,879 75,509 NA

2000 26,809 81,907 111,200

2010 29,660 96,189 129,709

2013 NA 100,332 134,164

Source: US Census; 1Includes Monongalia and Preston Counties

Figure 4. Population Growth in the Morgantown MSA

has grown by almost 60% in the past 40 years and over 22% just in the past 13 years while 

the MSA population has grown over 20% in the same 13 years. It should be noted that 

these figures do not include the almost 30,000 students at West Virginia University.

The Morgantown region has been a bright spot in the state’s economy over the last five 

years, having grown rapidly despite the recession. Though the Great Recession slowed 

economic growth nationally, the Morgantown region never experienced the large declines 

in output or employment seen elsewhere in the state and nation. Indeed, in some sectors, 

Morgantown grew exceptionally fast over the last five years. However, a more modest 

growth is expected over the next five years.

Source: 2013 Morgantown Metropolitan Statistical Area Outlook, WVU College of Business and Economics Bureau of Business and 

Economic Research

In the past three years, Latrobe, PA and Parkersburg, WV received grants under the SCASDP. 

This project should have no effect on their projects.

Other Factors

The proposed project addresses the problem within the limits of the Essential Air 

Service restriction.

Air service in this community has declined since 1996 and is forecasted to continue

to decline over the next five years.

The Airport has an annual budget that will allow for continuing marketing after the 

grant. The Airport also plans to continue this program for up to three years 

following this grant.
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 14

Project

The Problem

Air service usage has declined over the past 20 years from approximately 25,000 enplanements 

to approximately 10,000 enplanements. Usage is forecast to gradually decline over the next 

five years. This lack of usage affects MGW’s ability to provide quality air service that supports 

the needs of this community.

MGW requests assistance to implement measures appropriate for an Essential Air Service 

Airport under this program including, but not limited to:

An air service market study to determine the best way to present this Airport to those in 

the catchment area and those that are likely to fly here from other locations across the 

country.

Marketing of the existing Air Service to Morgantown and the surrounding area and to 

areas from which we would like to attract inbound passengers.

Promotion of Air Service.

Promotion of a new EAS carrier. Silver Airways began service to the community on 

August 1, 2012.

Air Service Needs and/or Deficiencies

Air service at MGW is not deficient. The Essential Air Service (EAS) contract requires Silver 

Airlines to provide three (3) flights per day on weekdays and three (3) flights on weekends. 

That equates to 936 flights per year, and at 34 seats per flight, to 31,824 available seats in the 

market. Even if we were to match the best year for enplanements in the past 17 years of 

24,812, we would only have an average load factor of 78%. The deficiency at MGW is people

who choose to fill those available seats.

Although a formal leakage study has not been done, as Figure 2 demonstrated, the drop in 

enplanements from 1996 to 2012 from approximately 25,000 to approximately 10,000 

demonstrates that close to 60% of the travelers from the Morgantown area are flying from 

another airport. The question is why these people are making that choice? The bigger question 

is how do we re-introduce MGW to these travelers and convince them to use this Airport vice 

the others?

The air service need at MGW is passengers. The best way to convince the people in this 

community to fly the service from MGW is a marketing campaign that introduces the new 

service, demonstrates the reliability of that service, demonstrates the benefits of Dulles 

International Airport as a hub, and shows that the service is affordable and competitive to 
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 15

service offered in other nearby airports. There is also a large untapped market of people that 

are expecting to come to Morgantown as fans for their teams. . West Virginia University joined 

the Big 12 conference just a year ago. The people coming to Morgantown to cheer their team 

as they compete with WVU should be explored and marketed to convince those people to use 

MGW as their gateway. Once those people fly to this area for a game, they will see the 

opportunities to enjoy the region and become potential visitors for other purposes.

Target Market

The target market includes:

Local businesspeople

University students, faculty, and staff

University researchers

Federal government staff

Hospital staff

University athletic boosters, students, and fans

Strategic Plan to Meet Air Service Needs of the Community

Goals and Objectives

There is only one goal for this project – To increase ridership on the existing airline.

Objectives:

o Establish a three year marketing program in a variety of media.

o Engage a marketing consultant to assist in development and oversight of the 

program

o Establish the program to be self-sustaining over the following three years.
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 16

Financial Plan

This project consists of Marketing and Promotion of the existing air carrier. The expected costs 

are as follows:

Marketing Consultant

o $40,000/year for three years $120,000

Development of a new Airport Website

o $16,000 $ 16,000

Advertising in a variety of media

o Radio/TV/Print/Electronic/Billboards

o $110,000 per year for three years $330,000

Grant Administration

o $8,000 per year for first year

o $6,000 per year for second and third years $ 20,000

Total $486,000

Revenue Sources

SCASDP Grant $400,000

State of West Virginia Aeronautics Commission $ 20,000

Greater Morgantown Conventions and Visitors Bureau $ 36,000

West Virginia University (In-Kind) $ 10,000

Airport (In-Kind)

o Grant Administration $ 20,000

Total $486,000

Differences From Previous Project

In 2003, Morgantown was awarded a SCASDP Grant in consortium with Athens, OH for joint 

marketing of the two markets. Athens Airport was unable to take advantage of the grant, and 

the grant was deferred. In 2004, the 2003 grant was re-awarded to a consortium of 

Morgantown and Clarksburg, WV to market service from the two communities to Washington 

Reagan National Airport. 

This grant request is to provide marketing and promotional assistance to market the air service 

provided from Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW) to various communities in the United 

States via Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). The difference is that IAD is not the 

ultimate destination most members of this community fly to. Most use IAD for its through 
Morgantown Municipal Airport

2013 SCASDP Grant Application Page 17

connections allowing the citizens of the Greater Morgantown area access to IAD’s 104 

worldwide destinations. Therefore, the marketing efforts should not stop with IAD, but 

continue to a variety of destinations, also raising awareness of people at those destinations to 

the availability of air service to MGW.

Designation of Sponsor

The sponsor for this grant will be The City of Morgantown, a legally chartered government 

under the laws of the State of West Virginia. The City is legally, financially, and otherwise able 

to administer the grant, including having the authority to assume and carry out the 

certifications, representations, warranties, assurances, covenants, and other obligations 

required under the grant agreement with the Department of Transportation and to ensure 

compliance by the grant recipient with the grant agreement and grant assurances.