US Airways ~ direct flights Myrtle Beach / La Guardia start in March

Travelers will have another way to fly to New York come March when US Airways becomes the second airline offering direct flights from Myrtle Beach to La Guardia.

• US Airways, Myrtle Beach’s largest airline, will start the daily La Guardia flight March 4, when most carriers step up service for the busy tourist season.

• The airline intends for the flights to continue year round, a goal that’s been tough for carriers to pull off in the beach’s seasonal market.

• Spirit, the beach’s second largest carrier, also flies direct to La Guardia, even during the winter lull.

US Airways added the La Guardia connection to serve tourists from the New York area wanting a beach or golf vacation, said Valerie Wunder, the airline’s spokeswoman.

• New York is one of the Grand Strand’s top five tourist markets behind the Carolinas and Ohio, and the No. 1 golf market, according to the chamber and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday.

US Airways flight details

• Start date - March 4

• Times - Plane departs La Guardia daily at 9:31 a.m. and arrives in Myrtle Beach at 11:36 a.m. The flight to La Guardia will leave Myrtle Beach at 12:10 p.m. and arrive at 1:57 p.m.

• Jet - 50-seat Embraer 145 aircraft

More flight options

• Spirit will start flying Feb. 15 to Fort Lauderdale.

• Southern Skyways will begin service on March 2 to Charleston, W.Va., Allentown, Pa., and Cincinnati.

• Myrtle Beach Direct Air will start service to Pittsburgh, Newark, N.J., and Niagara Falls, N.Y., on March 7.

Source: Dawn Bryant, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, SC