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May 31, 2007

Increased air service is possible

Senator foresees full air service at PIA

By DAN HEATH

PLATTSBURGH -- An airport created from a former Air Force Base just north of New York City shows the potential for Plattsburgh International Airport.

Sen. Charles Schumer made the comparison to Stewart International Airport as he visited Plattsburgh's new airport Wednesday afternoon.

"I believe Plattsburgh International is poised to help northern New York become a new center for aerospace manufacturing and as a vibrant hub for air travel," he said.

Stewart International is in Newburgh, about 55 miles north of New York City. It is built on the former Stewart Air Force Base, which closed in 1970.

"It has made the transition," Schumer said.

The airport handles hundreds of thousands of passengers a year and is in the process of becoming New York City's fourth airport.

Schumer said he has been able to help attract Jet Blue, AirTran and Delta airlines to Stewart airport within the last six months.

Plattsburgh should be able to have similar success, he said, because of its proximity to the nearly 4 million residents of the greater Montreal area. Schumer said it takes longer to get from his house in Brooklyn to Stewart than it does to get from downtown Montreal to Plattsburgh International.

"Plattsburgh can and must become Montreal's U.S. airport," Schumer said.

He said he's worked with other upstate airports in Albany, Buffalo and Syracuse to attract new air service. The results were cheaper fares, increased service and spikes in passengers.

Schumer said he's arranged meetings with representatives from Delta, JetBlue and Big Sky airlines for Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas, and those representatives were intrigued by Plattsburgh's possibilities.

He will try to arrange meetings with US Airways, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines and AirTran in the future.

"We've found if you can get one to say yes, the others come too," Schumer said.

Douglas said Schumer's leadership role in the Senate allows his constituents great access to opportunities such as those meetings.

"He's also helping us with our aerospace ambitions here," Douglas said.

ASSETS

Schumer said CommutAir's recent decision to give up its Essential Air Service contract is an opportunity to attract a new carrier to that program. He has heard interest is strong in providing that service.

Again, Montreal is the key, he said. It has only one airport, which can be difficult to get to and has higher fares due to its cost structure.

Plattsburgh is an easy, low-volume highway drive south. The 11,759-foot runway and 12 million-square-foot apron means it can accommodate any aircraft flying today, Schumer said.

Present and future aviation-related businesses, such as Pratt and Whitney and Laurentian Aerospace, can only help attract air service, he said. The creation of Plattsburgh Aeronautical Institute shows a qualified workforce will be available.

NEIGHBOR'S IMPACT

Plattsburgh and Clinton County are experiencing growth that demands additional air service, Schumer said. Also, Canadian firms are constantly seeking a location in the U.S. market.

Schumer said Canada's economic impact on the county has grown from $784 million in 1994 to $1.53 billion in 2004 and that 15 percent of the area workforce is employed at a Canadian or border-based employer, up from 7 percent in 1994.

That makes it even more important that the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative -- which is poised to demand that land travelers show passports as early as 2008 -- gets changed. He has introduced legislation that would prohibit that requirement until 2009.

"I've always believed you can have security and commerce," Schumer said. "We didn't open up this beautiful new checkpoint up there (Champlain) to slow things down."

dheath@pressrepublican.com

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