(GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA) — Pitt-Greenville Airport is getting a fresh push to add another airline, and the move could change how eastern North Carolina flies in and out of the region. The state budget directs $4.5 million to PGV, money airport leaders plan to use as a revenue guarantee to recruit a second commercial carrier.

The funding gives the airport a financial backstop as it tries to convince an airline to open service at Pitt-Greenville Airport. If projected revenue falls short, the guarantee covers the gap. If the airline meets the target, the money is not spent on the route.

The North Carolina House and Senate have already approved the budget. It now sits on the governor’s desk, with signing expected next week in early July 2026.

Once the governor signs the spending plan, airport officials will begin negotiations with potential airline partners. Those talks will determine which carrier, if any, is willing to add service and on what schedule.

PGV currently has just one commercial airline. That leaves travelers with fewer nonstop options than larger airports in the state, and it makes the airport more dependent on a single carrier’s network, fares and schedule decisions.

The goal is to land a second airline and widen the list of destinations available from Greenville. Airport backers say that matters for business travel, student travel and leisure trips, especially as the city continues to grow.

The request for state support was made on May 6, 2026, when Greenville leaders traveled to Raleigh to make the case for added commercial air service. The budget language that followed turned that request into funding.

That is the basic structure of a revenue guarantee deal. Airlines use the arrangement to limit early risk on new or underperforming routes, and airports use it to improve the odds of landing service that might not pencil out on day one. The money is usually tied to performance targets, not guaranteed profit.

Travelers would feel the effect in practical ways if a second carrier arrives. More competition can widen the schedule, add destination choices and put pressure on fares. It can also give frequent flyers another place to earn miles, redeem points or protect elite status runs if the new airline serves cities already in their network.

At the moment, there is no announced airline, route map or start date. The next milestone is the governor’s signature, followed by negotiations between PGV and potential carriers. If a deal is struck, the airport could use the state-backed guarantee as the hook for a route that changes the region’s air options.

Regional airports across the country have leaned on similar incentives to attract service, especially when they are trying to break a one-carrier setup. A second operator at PGV would not only add more choices from Greenville. It would also give travelers more leverage when booking, since airlines tend to respond when another brand enters the market.

That makes the next few weeks worth watching. Once the budget is signed, PGV officials can start the real work of selling the airport, the market and the revenue guarantee to airlines looking for a foothold in eastern North Carolina.