Sandhills leaders are mounting a fresh push to bring scheduled commercial flights back to Moore County Airport, lining up private money, federal grants and a proposed daily route to Washington Dulles. Supporters say the flight would shave hours off trips for Pinehurst visitors, corporate recruits and tournament crowds that now trek to Raleigh-Durham International, reviving an idea that fizzled after seasonal regional service ended more than a decade ago.
The Moore County Economic Development Partnership has been corralling airlines and consultants and is helping raise a $3 million minimum revenue guarantee meant to lure a regional carrier, according to the Moore County Economic Development Partnership. Consultants working with local officials described an offer from a regional airline for daily Dulles service and warned that community funding and marketing will be key to making it stick.
Backers pledge millions
Businesses and individual donors, led by Pinehurst Resort and the U.S. Golf Association, have already pledged $1.5 million toward the effort, as reported by The News & Observer. Organizers say those private commitments, combined with the revenue guarantee and a federal grant, would help absorb early losses while the route builds a loyal customer base. Backers argue Moore County punches above its weight on amenities, particularly around golf and tourism, but still has no scheduled commercial flights to show for it.
Runway, schedule and the terminal
Moore County’s single runway is roughly 6,502 feet long, which is enough to accommodate regional jets, per AirNav. Planners are pitching a "midday turn" schedule with mid-morning arrivals and mid-afternoon departures, a setup local officials described with that same phrase, according to The News & Observer. Supporters say the general-aviation terminal will need interior upgrades and more parking before it can smoothly handle ticketed passengers.
Grants and the revenue guarantee
County officials have gone after federal help through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program, which can back revenue guarantees and other perks to attract airlines; program details are outlined by the U.S. DOT. A recent county quarterly report shows the airport applied for roughly $950,000 in SCASD funding to help seed the minimum revenue guarantee and cites a catchment-area study that concluded the region could support multiple daily flights, according to the Moore County Economic Development Partnership.
Why business leaders say it matters
Supporters contend local flights would give companies an edge in recruiting skilled workers, draw more conferences and keep golf-tournament traffic starting and ending closer to home instead of at big-city airports. Local reporting and a community poll point to broad backing: one roundup found roughly 79% of respondents favored restoring commercial service and many said they would likely use it, according to the Sandhills Sentinel.
What stands in the way
The numbers are still a hurdle. Airlines want firm guarantees, and travelers routinely choose larger hubs for better schedules and cheaper fares. Organizers say they plan to keep meeting with carriers, pushing their grant applications and courting more private pledges. If the financial package lands and an airline signs on, backers hope limited service could start as soon as next spring.
For now the project is a test of money and resolve: the county has to turn verbal support into cash and carrier contracts. Local officials say they will keep pressing until the pieces fall into place or market realities make the decision for them.
