Southern Airways Express (9X, Memphis International) will switch from Washington Dulles to Baltimore Thurgood Marshall on two of its Essential Air Service (EAS) routes, due to an increase in gate fees which are set to double in price.

The United States Department of Transportation has approved Southern Airways Express to shift its 14x weekly Morgantown – Washington service to Baltimore, effective July 31, 2017. The airline has also applied to move its 14x weekly Johnstown – Washington service to Baltimore, with the support of the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport Authority. Both routes are served using 9-seater Cessna (single turboprop) Grand Caravan 208B equipment.

As part of the move, Southern Airways Express is finalising an interline arrangement with American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth) to allow greater connectivity for Johnstown and Morgantown passengers through Baltimore, reports The Tribune Democrat.

Southern Airways Express operates a number of EAS routes in southern and eastern USA, with hubs at Memphis International, Pittsburgh International and Baltimore.