ALTOONA, Pa. -- The Blair County Airport will offer free round-trip flights from Altoona to Johnstown in order to boost ridership for federal funds.

If the airport reaches the 10,000 passenger mark, it will get $1 million from the FAA. But, with less than two months to go, and 1,700 passengers short, officials said they will offer a deal simply to get folks in the sky.

Airport officials are still working out the details, but said they will be kicking off the free flight campaign soon.

“We're willing to spend some money to get some. What it means to us is that $850,000 out of that million bucks,” said Don Rugger, of the airport authority.

Rugger said the airport has dozens of open acres but still needs money from the Federal Aviation Administration to build more hangars. When that happens, private planes can get off a waiting list and in turn pay the airport rent and fuel surcharges.

He said television ads for the airport have been paying off, and so far, they’ve had more passengers on flights this year than last.

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