SALISBURY, Md. - The CEO of Piedmont Airlines Eric Morgan vowed the company's steadfast commitment to being headquartered in Salisbury, as the airline industry sees changes.
Morgan noted to the audience at a Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Wednesday that PSA Airlines, another subsidiary of American Airlines recently announced a move from Dayton, Ohio to Charlotte, North Carolina. While that company may be moving from a smaller community to a major city, Morgan says he's committed to keeping Piedmont headquartered right here in Salisbury.
Morgan told WBOC "If we can have connections in the community that allows us to identify good candidates and find the job spots, that allows us then to be able to be a stable company that believes we can stay here and sustain our business."
Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano was in attendance during Morgan's presentation to the Chamber. Giordano says Piedmont's presence in Wicomico County is vital. "I just really hope they understand how much community support they really do have from the county level and just various stakeholders around," she said.
Chamber President Bill Chambers says he hopes American never relocates Piedmont's HQ. "If we ever lost commercial service here, the signal that would send to any other carrier would be this isn't the place to plant roots," he said.
Morgan stressed to WBOC there's no indication Piedmont will be moving HQ, and a Piedmont spokesperson tells WBOC any move would be a major project that would take years.
When American announced PSA Airlines' relocation from Dayton, Ohio to Charlotte, it said Charlotte is where most of PSA's daily departures and training take place. But that it would keep a presence in Dayton.
WBOC reached out to American Airlines to see if there are any plans to move its other regional carriers, like Piedmont, to a larger city. We have not yet heard back.