Coming soon to McGhee Tyson Airport: New flights to New York City

Knoxville gets a Valentine’s Day gift from American Airlines: its regional carrier American Eagle will start flying Feb. 14 from McGhee Tyson Airport to New York City’s LaGuardia Airport.

The nonstop flights will leave twice daily, according to a news release from the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority: at 6:05 a.m. and 3:25 p.m.; flights from LaGuardia will arrive in Knoxville at 2:26 p.m. and 11:11 p.m.

“The schedule and frequency of this flight provide business and leisure travelers additional options when flying to the New York metropolitan area, which is the most-traveled destination from McGhee Tyson Airport,” Eddie Mannis, chairman of the airport authority, said in the announcement. “By adding these New York flights beginning in February of 2019 and nonstop flights to Miami starting in December, American Airlines has shown a substantial commitment to our market and the travelers of East Tennessee.”

All American Eagle’s flights to LaGuardia will use Embraer 175 jets with first-class and coach seating, according to the news release. Embraer is a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer; its 175 model was introduced in 2005, and seats about 80.

Tickets are on sale now at www.aa.com. For information on all flights to and from McGhee Tyson, go to www.flyknoxville.com.

Fares listed Tuesday for the first day’s flights ranged from $199 to $1,125.

This is the 22nd nonstop flight offered from McGhee Tyson, though Delta Air Lines already flies from Knoxville to New York City. The airport is also served by Allegiant, Frontier and United airlines.

American already flies from Knoxville to Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Miami, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C.

McGhee Tyson is finishing a runway expansion, which airport officials hope will entice larger jets for longer-distance flights.

In February 2017, United added a second flight from Knoxville to Newark, New Jersey.

In January the airport announced nearly 2 million passengers had used McGhee Tyson Airport during 2017, an all-time record.

In June, Allegiant announced it would base two jets at Knoxville. The move didn’t come with any new routes or flights at the time, but company officials said that was likely in the future.

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel, by Jim Gaines

The East Tennessee Economic Development Agency markets and recruits business for the 15 counties in the greater Knoxville-Oak Ridge region of East Tennessee. Visit www.eteda.org

 

Published October 12, 2018