WASHINGTON, D.C. — A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Wednesday at Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) to welcome DuBois Regional Airport (DUJ) passengers to the leading international hub through Southern Airways, the local Essential Air Service.

To celebrate the new relationship, several local officials boarded a nine-passenger Cessna Caravan from DuBois Regional to Washington Dulles for lunch and a tour hosted by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). Those attending included DUJ Manager Bob Shaffer, Clearfield-Jefferson Counties Regional Airport Authority members Jay Chamberlin, chairman, and Scott North, Southern’s Station Manager Mary Fridley, Greater DuBois Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jodi August and Visit Clearfield County Executive Director Josiah Jones, as well as Courier Express reporter Elaine Haskins. The round-trip flights took approximately 60 minutes each way.