Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport offers flights to Chicago

MOSELLE, Miss. - The Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport had its inaugural Chicago service flight Friday.

The airport used to only service Dallas/Ft. Worth flights; but, now, the airport will have both services running through Meridian, and will operate seven days a week.

Executive director, Tom Heanue said, "One of the great things about this is the community our size is pretty much unheard of to be going to two hubs. So we're real excited about it. Of course there's going to be some hiccups, some problems, but we hope people will take advantage of it. It's a great way to get to where you want to go now."

Heanue said the Chicago flights will depart every day from the airport at 2:30 and will come back around 9:30.

The passengers who were on this inaugural flight did not know this was the first flight ever to Chicago.

"My final destination is Newark, New Jersey. I'm celebrating my sister's 50th birthday. So me and my son will be flying out, and I'm so excited to be amongst the first," said passenger, Joyce Bailey.

"I want this airport to do well. I live ten minutes away and it's such a convenience. I'll always fly from here. It's a little more, but I don't mind," said passenger, Joy Lee.