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Arnold Palmer Regional Airport reopens with extra precautions in place

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — Flight resumed Sunday at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Westmoreland County, but extra precautions will continue to keep passengers and employees safe.

Spirit Airlines is back up and running after suspending all flights about a month ago.

The sole commercial carrier at the airport stopped service after bookings dropped dramatically, causing the airport to lay off 60 of its employees.

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Spirit has its own procedures in place like staggering passengers, sanitizing after each stop and will require face masks come May 11.

The airport here is implementing its own safety measures.

Executive Director Gabe Monzo said extra safety measures will be taken to prevent the spread of the virus, starting with increasing the frequency of cleaning routines.

“The plexiglass screens between the people, the sanitizing is the big thing. We actually completely disinfect the terminal building after each flight," Monzo said.

Both passengers and airport workers are excited to get back in the air and back to normal.

Spirit is expected to resume mid-day flight from Latrobe to Orlando, Florida, on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays.

"About the middle of June, early June, we’re going to go to a full Orlando schedule, the aircraft will be direct out of and to Latrobe. That’s a good sign,” Monzo said.

The airport is anticipating more flights to return eventually.