The event, with heavy hors d'oeuvres, was sponsored by the Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Moore County Airport Authority and Task Force, Moore County Chamber of Commerce, Pinehurst Resort and the village.
"I'm very, very happy, but I'm also glad the first day is over," said Airport Customer Service Representative Gale Vencill, who relaxed with her husband Tony at a table with her co-workers. "From here on out, it'll be simpler."
The airport hired Vencill and four other new customer service representatives for the Delta service, which offers one daily (except Tuesday) round-trip flight to Atlanta.
Except for a "couple of little glitches," she said, the first day of airline service by a major carrier in four years went very well. The passengers and simply curious sightseers alike seemed cheerful, despite an hour-long delay in the arrival of the first flight by Delta's Connection carrier, Atlantic Southeast Airlines. A malfunctioning weather reporting system failed to clear the pilot from leaving Atlanta on schedule.
Airport Manager Ron Maness and Caleb Miles, president and CEO of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, spoke during the celebration, which included a drawing won by Rebecca Ballard for two round-trip tickets on Delta from Southern Pines via Atlanta to any destination of her choice in the United States.
Miles and Airport Authority Vice Chairman John Owen have their fingers crossed that the service will be expanded next year when Delta learns that this market can be profitable at other times of the year besides the normal tourist season.
"The community deserves an airline, and there's a value added to the Delta ticket here," Owen said.
Having air service in Moore County makes travel simpler for local residents, he said. Passengers can drive to the Moore County Airport and park for free, to catch an 11:10 a.m. flight, saving time and money from having to travel to Raleigh or Charlotte.
Owen's wife, Margaret, is a native of Manchester, England, who travels twice a year to visit her elderly mother.
"There is a very convenient flight nonstop from Atlanta," she said.
John Owen added, "The time saved, the cost, and the flight schedule allows you to arrive earlier in the day instead of late at night as we've experienced."
The airport has 118 parking spaces. They were all filled well before the expected arrival time of 10:45 a.m. Thursday for the first Delta Connection flight.
"People have been very nice," Vencill said. "Many people just came out of curiosity, to look around. Everyone, even the delayed outbound passengers, were very nice and polite."
There has been some grousing about an extra overnight stay or early morning "red eye" flights that passengers must take for the return flight to Moore County, which leaves Atlanta at 9:30 a.m. That problem could be eliminated next year with a change in the flight schedule, Owen hopes.
"The people from Delta have been very impressed at the large showing of community support," Maness said.
Owens' sister-in-law, Megan Kerrigan of Manchester, was bemused by the jollity.
"I can easily understand why the local community is excited about getting the service," she said.
Sara Lindau can be reached at 693-2473 or by e-mail at slindau @thepilot.com.
