PGD Continues Serving as Staging Area for Emergency Responders
PUNTA GORDA, FL (Oct. 4, 2022) – Allegiant’s flight operations have resumed at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) effective Monday, October 3. Passengers traveled through the Bailey Terminal for inbound and outbound flights for Cincinnati, OH; Allentown, PA; Flint, MI; and Indianapolis, IN from Monday afternoon into the evening. The Bailey Terminal sustained minimal damage, so during the last week staff and contractors have been working to clean the facility and make minor repairs. Passengers should check directly with Allegiant’s website, app or email for potential changes to their itineraries.
Quickly after Hurricane Ian passed through Charlotte County, PGD staff worked quickly to inspect its property and ready the airfield for aircraft landings and takeoffs. In addition to getting the Bailey Terminal ready for Allegiant flights, staff worked to position thousands of emergency responders from national and state organizations in staging areas throughout airport property.
The PGD Air Center, the airport’s new FBO that recently opened in August 2022, has been the ideal place to welcome response aircraft from the Air National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, Federal Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Coast Guard, medical helicopter services, and law enforcement agencies throughout the state providing assistance. The PGD Air Center is still primarily being used for fueling such essential air-based responders.
The Southeast Airport Disaster Operations Group has also responded to Hurricane Ian by providing much needed supplies to PGD like fencing material, and have even sent staff from other airports to help with maintenance, temporary repairs and cleanup.
While the Bailey Terminal and PGD Air Center are actively operating, visitors are encouraged NOT to come to PGD unless they have an Allegiant travel itinerary, or are essential workers/responders, or have a business onsite to inspect/repair/operate.
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