HUNTSVILLE, AL. -

will use a $1 million federal grant announced Thursday to help lure a low-fare carrier provide service to and from the Washington area and Orlando.

Huntsville has had the most expensive average airfares in the nation for the past nine months, according to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Huntsville's average airfare for the third quarter of 2009 was $492.

Airport officials have said that competition from a low-fare carrier would encourage other airlines flying out of the airport to lower their fares.

"We are very pleased at getting the $1 million grant," airport spokeswoman Laura Gipson said Thursday afternoon. "That will go a long way to attracting a low-fare carrier to our market."

The airport, which sought a $1.5 million grant, will use the money for an incentive package to woo a low-fare carrier to serve Baltimore-Washington International Airport and Orlando International Airport.

Baltimore-Washington was chosen because it is near Washington, which is the airport's top market, Gipson said. Orlando is its No. 2 market.

Baltimore-Washington would offer travelers to Washington a third choice of airports, Gipson said.

Orlando is a popular destination for NASA workers and leisure travelers, she said. The airport lost its nonstop service to Orlando last year.

The grant money will be used in an incentive package that could include such things as waiving landing fees and operating costs, and advertising for the carrier, Gipson said.

Huntsville has had three low-fare carriers in the past, but none lasted longer than 16 months. The last, Allegiant Air, pulled out in May 2008 after less than a year.

Huntsville's grant was among 19 grants totaling $6.4 million announced Thursday by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The grants are from the department's Small Community Air Service Development Program.

The grant program is designed to help small communities address such things as high air fares and insufficient levels of service.