Contour Airlines Launches Seasonal Altoona-Myrtle Beach Route

Event summary

  • Contour Airlines adds seasonal nonstop service between Altoona-Blair County Airport (AOO) and Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), starting July 1, 2026.
  • Route operates twice weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays) through August 22, 2026, using 30-seat regional jets.
  • Service aims to capture summer travel demand, reducing driving time for Central Pennsylvania residents.
  • Altoona-Blair County Airport reports record enplanements in 2025 for Contour's existing Charlotte route.
  • Contour partners with Alaska, American, JetBlue, and United for seamless connections.

The big picture

This expansion reflects Contour's strategy of serving underserved regional markets with nonstop flights, capitalizing on summer leisure travel demand. The move comes as regional airlines increasingly focus on point-to-point routes to differentiate from legacy carriers. Success here could validate Contour's business model of operating smaller aircraft on niche routes.

What we're watching

Demand Validation
Whether the seasonal route achieves sufficient load factors to justify potential year-round expansion.
Competitive Response
How legacy carriers or other regional airlines react to Contour's new offering in this market.
Airport Growth
The pace at which Altoona-Blair County Airport can develop into a more significant regional hub.