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April 28, 2007

New airport opens amid great fanfare

Plattsburgh International Airport opens amid great fanfare

By JOE LoTEMPLIO

PLATTSBURGH -- As the actual opening of the new Plattsburgh International Airport gets closer, Clinton County legislators hope to land some more airlines to provide service.

They have one on the line now.

"We are negotiating with some airlines and we are hopeful," Legislature Chairman Jimmy Langley (R-Area 7, Peru) said at Friday's ceremony celebrating the end of construction of the $12 million terminal at Plattsburgh International.

One of the potential tenants is Big Sky Airlines out of Montana.

Although Langley could not discuss details he did say that he hopes some kind of agreement is in place by July.

Big Sky is based in Billings, Mont. and serves 21 cities in seven states. They operate out of Watertown and Ogdensburg.

Langley said there is room for at least three airlines to operate out of the counter and he is hopeful air service will quickly increase.

CommutAir, the airline operating out of the Clinton County Airport, will continue to fly out of Plattsburgh International for two more years.

CommutAir is the recipient of federal essential air funding and must provide service here for the next two years as part of the program.

About 400 invited guests attended Friday's ceremony at the 32,000-square-foot terminal.

Legislator Robert Heins (R-Area 10, City of Plattsburgh) who chairs the county's Airport Committee, showed off the giant window at the south end of the terminal that provides a panoramic view of the area.

"Is this a first-class facility or what?" Heins said.

"We wanted a signature building and we wanted an open-air feeling with a great view of the mountains, and we wanted the ability to expand and we have that."

The county built the new airport with about $30 million in federal funds over the past five years.

Langley called the decision to move from the Route 3 airport to the base, one of the boldest the legislature has ever made.

"This is a gift from Washington really because the county portion of all this was only 2.5 percent and where are you ever going to get a gift like that," Langley said.

Congressman John McHugh (R-Pierrepont Manor) who was instrumental in obtaining much of the federal funding, said the new airport will reinvigorate the area.

"Not in my wildest dreams would I have ever expected to see a terminal of such beauty," McHugh said.

"Today is where tomorrow begins."

McHugh said he hopes airlines will look at the new airport as a great chance to break into a new market.

He said airlines will look at the isolation of the airport as a potential bonus.

"Yes it would be a big investment for an airline to come here, but there is a lot to be saved here," McHugh said.

"Time is money and you won't be sitting on the runway burning fuel waiting for a chance to take off."

Assemblywoman Janet Duprey (R-Peru) said legislators should be congratulated for developing the airport instead of giving the entire flight line over to Precision Jet Management in 2004.

The Syracuse-based company wanted to take over the flight line and run the airport, but legislators nixed the deal.

"I salute the County Legislature for their courage and vision," Duprey said.

"They stood united and put politics aside and had this great vision to develop this most valuable piece of real estate for the benefit of the entire North Country."

Langley said he hopes the first planes start flying out of the new airport in July.

jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com

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