Commercial Airline Services
While not currently served by any commercial airline, the Hickory Regional Airport has had such service for much of its history.
On August 2, 1941, Pennsylvania Central Airlines which later became Capital Airlines, brought the first scheduled air-carrier service to Hickory. This service was interrupted by World War II, and was suspended in May, 1942. Capital Airlines resumed scheduled service in August 1951, and continued until August 1952, at which time Piedmont Airlines (1948–1989) began to serve Hickory. From 1952-1980, Piedmont Airlines provided direct and non-stop service to various destinations such as Asheville (NC), Charlotte (NC), Winston-Salem (NC), Tri-Cities Area (TN) and Atlanta (GA). Aircraft varied from the Douglas DC-3, Martin 404, Fokker F27, Fairchild Hiller FH-227, and the NAMC YS-11.
After the airline deregulation of the late 1970s, the nature of commercial service would change for Hickory. Now smaller, commuter airline service would be offered to feed large hubs of aviation activity.
Atlantis Airlines (1979–1985) was one small airline of this type, offering up to 6 daily direct flights to Charlotte and Atlanta. The period of 1978-2002 would also see Sunbird Airlines (later CCAir) operate up to 10 daily flights using Cessna 402 and Cessna 404(s), Beechcraft Model 99 Airliners, Shorts 330 and Shorts 360 Skyvans, DeHavilland Canada Dash 8, and BAE Jetstream 32 Turboprops. These aircraft would operate under the marketing names of Sunbird Airlines, Piedmont Commuter, and finally US Airways Express. CCAir would be later acquired by Mesa Airlines who would, in the wake of the September 11th 2001 attacks, decide to suspend its daily US Airways Express commuter flights to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in April 2002.
Most recently, in 2005, Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines operated Bombardier CRJ200 Regional Jets on their direct service to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, before ceasing this service in the fall of the year.
Local officials hope to attract and continue to aggressively pursue future commercial airline service, despite challenges caused by the relatively close proximity of the large Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. Nonetheless, the airport has maintained a relatively high traffic volume due to its corporate, air charter, air cargo, and local and itinerant general aviation activity.
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