Fla. (WCTV) – The Tallahassee International Airport (TLH) is set to receive $1.5 million to attract new flights
This is a federal grant directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Leaders said the money will be used mainly for things like start-up costs and marketing for flights between Tallahassee and Houston.
TLH first started flights to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) back in 2020.
Director of Aviation David Pollard said that several factors played a role in the route ending in less than a year, including pilot shortages and low profitability.
Pollard said the airport had addressed these issues and is now in talks with United Airlines to bring the route back.
He said community demand is there, but they still need time to determine how much money the airport will need to sustain the route long-term.
“What we have to do first is work with that airline, have more conversations, establish the parameters of an operating agreement, and, at the same time we’re doing that, we’re also working to finalize and accept the grant award itself,” Pollard said.
Pollard said they are hoping to make an official announcement for the Houston route within the first half of 2027.
TLH was one of 14 airports selected to receive this grant.
Pollard also said that the airport is making strides with some projects, while others are not performing as well as expected. He said the goal is still to keep expanding its services as much as possible for customers.
The airport reported just under 4,00 flights with recently added Breeze Airways in August. The company currently offers flights to Fort Lauderdale and Raleigh-Durham three days a week, with more flights set to be added to the Florida route.
Pollard said that, so far, the North Carolina route is not performing as well as expected.
“We hope to raise those Raleigh-Durham numbers as much as we can,” Pollard said. “We ask the traveling public to please consider using this service. It’s very important that we use this service once it’s established.”
Tallahassee resident Yaquanda McCall said she’s pleased to see more options for flights at the airport, but she said there are still very limited options for non-stop flights.
“I had to go to Atlanta, then Orlando,” McCall said. “I would love a straight shot from here to Orlando.”
Leaders expected the airport’s international processing facility to be complete earlier this year.
Pollard said U.S. Customs has visited the facility to give an update on what’s left to finish the project by the end of the year.
The airport is also set to receive more than $828,000 from FEMA through the hazard mitigation program to purchase a new backup generator for the terminal.
Pollard said this will prove beneficial when bad weather sweeps the area.
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