US regional carrier Contour Airlines has begun flying to Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB) in Lewisburg, West Virginia. As of November 1st, the airline offers daily flights to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) classes the route as an essential air service, providing vital connectivity to the region. This meant that the previous operator, SkyWest Airlines, was obliged to continue services until an alternative carrier was found or until its contract ran out.

The flight schedule

Contour Airlines will fly daily between Greenbrier Valley Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport, with the following schedule:

• Flight LF3852 – departs Charlotte at 11:55 and arrives in Lewisburg at 13:10
• Flight LF3851 – departs Lewisburg at 15:35 and arrives in Charlotte at 17:00

Flights will be operated by one of the airline’s Embraer ERJ135 aircraft.

Greater connectivity with American Airlines

Contour Airlines has an interline agreement with American Airlines, meaning that passengers can connect to a wide variety of destinations, with baggage being checked through to their final destination, and with protection for delays and cancelations.

From its hub at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, American Airlines operates a significant number of flights across North America, and a handful of Transatlantic services, including to London Heathrow (LHR), Frankfurt (FRA), and a seasonal service to Madrid (MAD).

The director of Greenbrier Valley Airport, Brian Belcher, outlined his hopes for an increase in passenger numbers as a result of the new service, saying,

“I hope that we can attract people not just from this local community, but from farther out. We think we’re the airport that can serve the western part of Virginia because we’re so close. We’d like to see those customers use the airport.”

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About Contour Airlines

Contour Airlines began operations in March 2016, and today flies to 17 destinations across the US. The airline’s fleet of 13 aircraft is made up of Embraer ERJ135 and ERJ145 aircraft.

All Contour Airlines passengers benefit from free seat selection and one piece of checked baggage in all fare classes. Onboard, they also receive a complimentary inflight snack and beverage service. The CEO of Contour Airlines, Matt Chaifetz, highlighted the airline’s comfort, stating,

“I think folks will love our aircraft. We’ve removed rows of seats and re-spaced the rows so that every row has 36 inches of legroom, which is about what you’d get in first class on most domestic flights.”

Contour Airlines’ flights between Greenbrier Valley Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport will continue to provide vital connectivity, offering local residents and businesses a wide variety of one-stop services with American Airlines, and opening up the region to visitors.

Have you flown on Contour Airlines? Did you fly between Greenbrier Valley Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport when the route was operated by SkyWest Airlines? Share your experiences by commenting below.