Flights from Johnstown Airport to D.C. will depart earlier during the holiday season, allowing for morning flights to Florida.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Travelers flying south from Johnstown for the holidays will be able to get an early start in December.

Johnstown-Cambria Airport commercial carrier John Murtha has moved daily departures at Washington Dulles International Airport to an average of 6:25 a.m. to better prepare travelers for flights to Florida, airport manager Corey Cree said. Some flights depart at 6:10 am.

The move is temporary, with the schedule running from Dec. 13 to Jan. 6, but airport officials require it, Cree said.

The revised average departure time will be more than four hours earlier than the current departure schedule. And this will allow for a connection that will take travelers to Florida around 11 a.m. that day.

SkyWest Airlines’ United Express-branded flights will arrive in Washington, D.C., by 7:30 a.m., in time for morning flights to Florida cities such as Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville, United Airlines’ website shows.

That means southbound travelers will be able to land at their destination anywhere from four hours and 20 minutes (Jacksonville) to just over five hours (Fort Lauderdale and Orlando) after their plane prepares to take off from Johnstown.

“We are very pleased with our holiday schedule,” Cree said. He added that he hopes local travelers will be pleased as well.

By comparison, Johnstown area residents flying out of Pittsburgh International Airport often spend the same amount of time or more traveling to Moon Township Airport, parking, and going through the screening process.

Recent advisories urge travelers to arrive at the Pittsburgh airport three hours before departure, especially during busy periods.

By comparison, Johnstown Airport passengers with printed boarding passes are advised to arrive for their flight 45 minutes before departure if they do not have bags, or 60 minutes before departure with bags. Johnstown Airport officials often tout the convenience of flying locally, with the airport offering free parking and short security screening times.

United Express service has allowed annual passenger numbers at the airport to more than double over the past few years, to more than 28,000 arriving and departing passengers annually.

But Cree said airport officials acknowledged that the current daily departure time at Washington Dulles – shortly before 11 a.m. – often does not coincide with the main window to catch flights to some of the most sought-after travel destinations, especially Florida.

Johnstown airport officials are still working with SkyWest Airlines on potential solutions for more permanent early flights from Johnstown to Washington, Cree said.

The 2025 schedule will also change.

As of now, SkyWest’s 2025 schedule for Johnstown will bring other changes effective Jan. 7. Cree said it would also mean earlier departures than the airport currently offers.

The difference is that the early flight will be to Johnstown’s other direct destination, Chicago O’Hare International Airport. According to the current schedule, the flight to Chicago will depart at 8:33 a.m. from Johnstown.

The Johnstown-DC flight will depart at 3:22 p.m.

Cree said the change will provide travelers with a second departure window from Washington while also providing locals with an improved flight to Chicago.

O’Hare is not only United’s largest hub, but also serves as a hub or focal city for American, Frontier and Spirit airlines, contributing to many of the airport’s nearly 1,000 daily departures from the United States and 111 daily flights to international destinations, as shown in its website.

“This will allow our passengers to arrive in Chicago at 9:40 a.m., which is what we have asked for in the past,” Cree said, “and we think these changes will provide many opportunities for connections. I am confident that SkyWest did its due diligence before making these changes.”

Cree praised SkyWest’s willingness to work with local officials as well as the support of the Johnstown community to help position the airport for continued success.

“I think improved ridership has helped” justify the schedule changes, he said. “These numbers help SkyWest’s business as much as they help us. … And we really appreciate the support we receive from the community, business travelers and tourists for (increasing) our passenger numbers.”