Skip to main content
Monday, November 9, 2026Nov 9
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

Chattanooga Airport service hits ups and downs with changes to planned flights

Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / Marc Guarino reorganizes his bags to get both under 50 pounds before flying to Sacramento, Calif., on July 1 at the Chattanooga Airport.
Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / Marc Guarino reorganizes his bags to get both under 50 pounds before flying to Sacramento, Calif., on July 1 at the Chattanooga Airport. Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / Marc Guarino reorganizes his bags to get both under 50 pounds before flying to Sacramento, Calif., on July 1 at the Chattanooga Airport.

By Mike Pare 3 min read

Air service at Chattanooga Airport is undergoing some turbulence as travelers experience ups and downs.

On the upside, the airport is adding a third daily flight between Chattanooga and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on United Airlines, an official said.

But on the downside, discount carrier Allegiant Air is furloughing service between Chattanooga and St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida, from Sept. 6 to Nov. 17, according to the airline.

Also, hopes for nonstops between Chattanooga and Denver hit a bump when the city’s airport failed to win a $750,000 federal grant to help land the service. The airport additionally had secured pledges from local businesses of $372,000 for the hoped-for flights to the United hub, said Terry Hart, the Chattanooga Airport’s chief executive, in an interview Monday.

Hart said the added Chicago service is a win because that city is a key business market. He said the existing United flights between the cities are carrying a large amount of passengers.