View source for Owensboro–Daviess County Regional Airport

{{Short description|Small airport in Kentucky}}
{{Infobox airport
| name              = Owensboro–Daviess County Airport
| image             = File:Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport Logo.jpg
| image2            =
| IATA              = OWB
| ICAO              = KOWB
| FAA               = OWB
| type              = Public
| owner             = Owensboro City & Daviess County
| operator          =
| city-served       = [[Owensboro, Kentucky]]
| location          = <!--if different than above-->
| elevation-f       = 407
| elevation-m       = 124
| website           = {{URL|https://flyowb.com/}}
| coordinates       = {{coord|37|44|20|N|087|10|01|W|region:US-KY|display=inline,title}}
| image_map         = KOWB Airport Diagram.svg
| image_mapsize     = 200
| image_map_caption = FAA airport diagram
| mapframe          = yes
| mapframe-zoom     = 10
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
| r1-number         = 18/36
| r1-length-f       = 8,000
| r1-length-m       = 2,438
| r1-surface        = Concrete
| r2-number         = 6/24
| r2-length-f       = 5,000
| r2-length-m       = 1,524
| r2-surface        = Asphalt/Concrete
| stat-year         =
| stat1-header      = Aircraft operations (2018)
| stat1-data        = 19,991
| stat2-header      = Based aircraft (2019)
| stat2-data        = 49
| footnotes         = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name="FAA">{{FAA-airport|ID=OWB|use=PU|own=PU|site=07308.1*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. effective June 20, 2019.</ref>
}}
'''Owensboro–Daviess County Airport''' {{airport codes|OWB<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.iata.org/publications/Pages/code-search.aspx | title = IATA Airport Code Search (OWB: Owensboro / Daviess County) | publisher = [[International Air Transport Association]] | accessdate = June 7, 2014}}</ref>|KOWB|OWB}} is a public use airport located three miles southwest of [[Owensboro, Kentucky|Owensboro]], in [[Daviess County, Kentucky]], United States. The airport is owned by both the city and county.<ref name="FAA" /> One airline schedules passenger flights, subsidized by the [[Essential Air Service]] program.
[[Federal Aviation Administration]] records say this airport had 23,537 passenger boardings (enplanements) in [[calendar year]] 2016.<ref name="FAA-2016-enplanements">
{{cite web
| url = https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/media/cy16-commercial-service-enplanements.pdf
| title = 2016 Primary, Non-primary Commercial Service, and General Aviation Airports (by State)
| work = CY 2016 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data
| date = October 5, 2017
}}</ref> The [[National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems]] for 2017–2021 categorized it as a ''[[FAA airport categories|primary commercial service]]'' airport.<ref>
{{cite web
|url         = http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/2013/npias2013AppendixA.pdf
|title       = 2013–2017 NPIAS Report, Appendix A
|work        = National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
|publisher   = Federal Aviation Administration
|date        = September 27, 2012
|url-status     = dead
|archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140501134703/http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/2013/npias2013AppendixA.pdf
|archivedate = May 1, 2014
}}
</ref>
==Facilities==
[[File:Ticketing at Owensboro Regional Airport.jpg|left|thumb|OWB ticketing facilities]]
Owensboro–Daviess County Airport covers 880 [[acre]]s (356 [[hectare|ha]]) at an [[elevation]] of 407 feet (124 m). It has two [[runway]]s: 18/36 is 8,000 by 150 feet (2,438 x 46 m) [[concrete]] and 6/24 is 5,000 by 100 feet (1,524 x 30 m) [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]]/concrete.<ref name="FAA" />
[[File:OWB Baggage Claim.jpg|left|thumb|Baggage claim at OWB]]
In the year ending April 30, 2018 the airport had 19,991 aircraft operations, an average of 55 per day: 76% [[general aviation]], 13% [[air taxi]], 10% military, and 1% commercial airline. In June 2019, 49 aircraft were based at this airport: 35 single-engine, 6 multi-engine, 7 jet and 1 [[ultralight]].<ref name="FAA" />
==Airlines and destinations==
===Passenger===
<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and airlines itself are not independent sources. -->
{{Update section|date=January 2022}}
{{Airport destination list | 3rdcoltitle = Refs | 3rdcolunsortable = yes
| [[Contour Airlines]] | [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]] | <ref>{{cite web |title=Contour Airlines August 2023 Chicago Network Expansion |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230609-lfaug23ord |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=9 June 2023}}</ref>
}}
===History===
Eastern Airlines landed at Owensboro from 1951 to 1964, and Ozark Airlines from 1955 to 1975 (including DC-9s circa 1972).
[[RegionsAir]] operating as [[AmericanConnection]] flew to St. Louis until March 2007. The next EAS contract was awarded to [[Big Sky Airlines]] ([[Delta Connection]]), with service to [[Cincinnati, Ohio|Cincinnati]] scheduled to begin in June 2007. Big Sky began service in November 2007 and abruptly ended operations in January 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://mattweafer.blogspot.com/2008/01/airline-departing-flights-expected-to.html |title=Airline Departing, flights expected to continue |author=Lee Denney and Matt Weafer |publisher=Messenger-Inquirer |date=2008-01-10 |accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref> [[Great Lakes Aviation]] was awarded a contract but ultimately cancelled.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080204/NEWS01/80204009 |title=Air service awarded to Great Lakes; flights may be to St. Louis |publisher=Jackson Sun |date=2008-02-03 |accessdate=2008-02-03}}{{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Owensboro was without scheduled air service from January 7, 2008, until August 31, 2009, when [[Pacific Wings]] operating as [[KentuckySkies]] was awarded the [[Essential Air Service]] contract offering flights to Nashville. On June 30, 2011, Pacific Wings notified the [[USDOT]] of their intent to end service at OWB, saying that they were "unable to procure counter or gate space at Nashville International Airport on reasonable terms," and on October 20, 2011 [[American Airlines]] [[code-share]] partner [[Cape Air]] was selected to operate flights to their hub at [[Lambert–St. Louis International Airport]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-2000-7855-0134|title=Docket DOT-OST-2000-7855 ORDER TENTATIVELY SELECTING CARRIER|publisher=USDOT|date=2011-10-20 |accessdate=2011-11-02}}</ref> with service beginning on December 5, 2011.
[[File:Contour Airlines inaugural flight out of Owensboro.jpg|alt= Contour Airlines inaugural flight from Owensboro to Chicago O'Hare on August 1st, 2023|thumb|Contour Airlines' inaugural flight from Owensboro to Chicago O'Hare on August 1st, 2023]]
On February 19, 2009 [[Allegiant Air]] began flying Owensboro to [[Orlando Sanford International Airport]]; it flew to [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] as well. The airline ended flights to Las Vegas on August 13, 2012, but resumed them later. After 14 years, they discontinued the operations on May 29, 2023.
Due to inflation, Cape Air opted in late 2022 to cease operations out of Owensboro before the end of their contract, which was scheduled to end in 2023. Contour Airlines was chosen to replace Cape Air and commence operations to and from [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=Ryan |date=January 18, 2023 |title=OWB board recommends jet service to Charlotte; flights to Nashville and St. Louis would cease |url=https://www.owensborotimes.com/news/2023/01/owb-board-recommends-jet-service-to-charlotte-ditching-flights-to-nashville-and-st-louis/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |website=The Owensboro Times |language=en-US}}</ref> However, both Contour Airlines and Owensboro Airport later decided to change the twelve Owensboro flights per week to go to [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]] instead of Charlotte, as Charlotte was already served by the nearby [[Evansville Regional Airport]], but service to Chicago has been suspended from Evansville Regional Airport since 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watkins |first=Monica |last2=Mehling |first2=Steve |date=2023-06-06 |title=Chicago flights announced from Owensboro |url=https://www.14news.com/2023/06/06/owb-make-big-announcement-about-contour-airlines/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=www.14news.com |language=en}}</ref> Department of Transportation approved this change on May 30, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ORDER APPROVING ALTERNATE SERVICE PATTERN |url=https://downloads.regulations.gov/DOT-OST-2000-7855-0210/attachment_1.pdf |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=downloads.regulations.gov}}</ref> The service started on August 1, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=Ryan |date=June 7, 2023 |title=OWB to offer daily jet service to Chicago starting August 1 |url=https://www.owensborotimes.com/news/2023/06/owb-to-offer-daily-jet-service-to-chicago-starting-august-1/ |access-date=June 8, 2023 |website=The Owensboro Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Statistics===
{{Bar graph
| title = Carrier shares (September 2023 - August 2024)<ref name="transtats.bts.gov"/>
| bar_width   = 28
| width_units = em
| label_type  = Carrier&nbsp;&nbsp;
| data_type   = Passengers (arriving and departing)
| data_max    = 16,000
| label2      = [[Contour Airlines]]
| data2       = 15,360
| comment2    = 100.00%
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Top domestic destinations (September 2023 - August 2024)<ref name="transtats.bts.gov">
{{cite web
| url = https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=OWB&Airport_Name=Owensboro,%20KY:%20Owensboro%20Daviess%20County%20Regional&carrier=FACTS
| title = Owensboro, KY: Owensboro Daviess County (OWB)
| publisher = [[Bureau of Transportation Statistics]] (BTS), [[Research and Innovative Technology Administration]] (RITA), [[U.S. Department of Transportation]]
| date = 2 July 2019
}}
</ref>
! Rank
! Airport
! Passengers
! Airline
|-
| 1
| [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago O'Hare (ORD)]]
| 7,670
| Contour
|}
==See also==
* [[List of airports in Kentucky]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Other sources==
{{refbegin}}
* Essential Air Service documents ([http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=DOT-OST-2000-7855 Docket OST-2000-7855]) from the [[U.S. Department of Transportation]]:
** [http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-2000-7855-0048 Order 2005-6-14 (June 15, 2005)]: reselecting RegionsAir, Inc. d/b/a American Connection, formerly known as Corporate Airlines, to provide subsidized essential air service (EAS) at each of the above communities (Burlington, IA; Cape Girardeau, MO; Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; Jackson, TN; Marion/Herrin, IL; Owensboro, KY; Kirksville, MO) for a new two-year period from June 1, 2005, through May 31, 2007, for a combined annual subsidy of $7,306,249. Also by this order, the department is terminating the show-cause proceeding tentatively terminating subsidy at Kirksville, Missouri, as RegionsAir's selected proposal is below the $200-per-passenger cap.
** [http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-2000-7855-0065 Order 2007-3-5 (March 9, 2007)]: selecting Big Sky Transportation Co., d/b/a Big Sky Airlines, and Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. to provide subsidized essential air service (EAS) at the above communities (Burlington, IA; Cape Girardeau, MO; Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Jackson, TN; Marion/Herrin, IL, Owensboro, KY) for the two-year period from June 1, 2007, through May 31, 2009, using 19-seat Beech 1900D turboprop aircraft as follows: Big Sky at Cape Girardeau, Jackson, and Owensboro for a combined annual subsidy of $3,247,440; and Great Lakes at Burlington, Fort Leonard Wood, and Marion/Herrin for a combined annual subsidy of $2,590,461.
** [http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-2000-7855-0075 Order 2008-2-1 (February 1, 2008)]: selecting Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. to provide subsidized essential air service at Cape Girardeau, Missouri and Jackson, Tennessee and Owensboro, Kentucky for the two-year period beginning when the carrier starts full EAS at all three communities.
** [http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-2000-7855-0108 Order 2009-6-17 (June 22, 2009)]: selecting Pacific Wings, LLC to provide essential air service (EAS) at Owensboro, Kentucky, and Jackson, Tennessee, at a combined annual subsidy rate of $2,294,401 ($1,068,773 for Owensboro and $1,225,628 for Jackson), for a two-year period beginning when Pacific Wings inaugurates service.
** [http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-2000-7855-0134 Order 2011-10-14 (October 20, 2011)]: tentatively selecting Hyannis Air Service, Inc. d/b/a Cape Air to provide subsidized essential air service (EAS) at Owensboro, Kentucky, for a four-year period. The four-year period will begin when Cape Air inaugurates full EAS and will run through the end of the 48th month thereafter. This tentative selection of Cape Air will provide Owensboro with 18 nonstop round trips per week to Lambert–St. Louis International Airport using 9-passenger Cessna 402 aircraft at an annual subsidy rate of $1,529,913.
** [http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-2000-7855-0136 Order 2011-11-5 (November 3, 2011)]: making final the tentative findings in Order 2011-10-14.
{{refend}}
==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* [http://msrmaps.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=12&lat=37.7399&lon=-87.1669&w=500&h=700&lp=---+None+--- Aerial image as of February 1997] from [[USGS]] ''[[The National Map]]''
* {{FAA-diagram|00707}}
* {{FAA-procedures|OWB}}
{{US-airport-ga|OWB}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport}}
[[Category:Airports in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Essential Air Service]]
[[Category:Owensboro, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Daviess County, Kentucky]]