Surf Air Mobility and Purdue University Enter Agreement for Privately Subsidized Commuter Air Service Between West Lafayette / Purdue University Airport (LAF) and Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD)
08 Dicembre 2023 - 5:00PM
Business Wire
Surf Air Mobility Inc. (NYSE: SRFM) (“Surf Air Mobility”), an
air mobility platform transforming regional flying through
electrification, and Purdue University (“Purdue”) have agreed to
begin scheduled commuter air service between West Lafayette /
Purdue University Airport (LAF) and Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD)
with a target start date in early second quarter 2024. Purdue
University will provide funds to support the establishment and
ongoing operations of the air service. The flight operations will
be run by Southern Airways Express (“Southern”), an airline
subsidiary of Surf Air Mobility.
The goal of this program is to provide Purdue University’s
students, faculty, staff, and families, as well as residents and
businesses of West Lafayette, with easier, faster connections to
the world via the fourth busiest airport in America (ORD) with the
underutilized regional airport immediately adjacent to Purdue’s
campus (LAF). With air service directly into LAF, travelers
arriving via O’Hare will be able to skip the multi-hour drive and
fly directly to West Lafayette on one of up to four daily
flights.
Surf Air Mobility has existing federal contracts through the
Essential Air Service (“EAS”) program, operating subsidized routes
connecting communities that otherwise lack access to minimal air
service. The agreement with Purdue University replicates the EAS
model with a private institution, without the need for federal
funding.
“We’re excited to take the basic principle of the EAS program
and build on its success with Purdue University,” said Stan Little,
CEO of Surf Air Mobility. “We hope this will be a model we can
replicate with other non-urban universities and private companies
in the future. As the growth in Regional Air Mobility continues,
partners like Purdue University will be integral to accelerating a
new kind of mass transportation solution that uses smaller aircraft
connecting smaller regional airports to the nation’s air
infrastructure.”
With 24 weekly round trip flights currently planned, the
agreement will bring scheduled air service back to this route for
the first time in nearly 20 years. Through Southern’s interline and
distribution agreements with United, American, and Alaska, West
Lafayette passengers will be able to have a seamless connection
experience at the hub, including through-bag transfer, and they
will also be able to purchase tickets on United.com, AA.com, and
AlaskaAir.com.
Southern will operate these flights using Cessna Grand Caravan
turboprop aircraft, with nine passenger seats and two pilots. The
flights will be open to the general public, and Purdue will provide
the use of its refurbished passenger terminal, hangar space, and
ramp access for Southern’s personnel. Southern will also offer job
opportunities pre- and post-graduation for qualified students.
Purdue will have the opportunity to recoup some, or all, of its
investment should passenger counts exceed projected levels.
“Today’s announcement is a win for all Lafayette and West
Lafayette area residents,” said Rob Wynkoop, Purdue vice president
for administrative operations. “No longer will we have to deal with
the uncertainty of the long drive to take advantage of all the
flights and destinations that O’Hare has to offer. Passengers will
save money and time while being able to support their local
airport. With new airline service from Southern and the new
passenger terminal coming next year, it is an exciting time for the
Purdue University Airport.”
Surf Air Mobility is also the largest commuter airline in the
U.S. by scheduled departures.
About Surf Air Mobility
Surf Air Mobility is a Los Angeles-based regional air mobility
platform expanding the category of regional air travel to reinvent
flying through the power of electrification. In an effort to
substantially reduce the cost and environmental impact of flying
and as the operator of the largest commuter airline in the US, Surf
Air Mobility intends to develop powertrain technology with its
commercial partners to electrify existing fleets and bring
electrified aircraft to market at scale. The management team has
deep experience and expertise across aviation, electrification, and
consumer technology.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a top public research institution
developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges.
Ranked in each of the last five years as one of the 10 Most
Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News &
World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and
out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online,
real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to
all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has
frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more
students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never
stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at
https://stories.purdue.edu.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231208953926/en/
Surf Air Mobility: press@surfair.com
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