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July 26, 2008

County to fix baggage-claim area of new airport

'These are growing pains, but it shows we made the right decision"

By JOE LoTEMPLIO

PLATTSBURGH -- Clinton County legislators will seek bids to enlarge the baggage-claim area of Plattsburgh International Airport.

The existing baggage area has proven to be too small for the amount of business the airport has generated in the one year that it has been open.

The airport has done well with Allegiant Air and Myrtle Beach Direct offering direct flights to Florida and South Carolina, respectively, this past year.

Each of those chartered flights carries about 150 passengers, and the amount of luggage from those travelers has overwhelmed the baggage-claim belt.

Passengers have had to elbow their way into position near the belt in large crowds, and, this past winter, many were forced to go outside onto the tarmac in freezing temperatures to retrieve bags that would not fit on the belt.

Legislator Robert Heins (R-City of Plattsburgh), who chairs the county's Airport Committee, said the baggage belt can be reconstructed in the shape of a T to accommodate more bags.

"These are growing pains, but it shows that we made the right decision to open this airport," Heins said.

"The baggage area is a problem. We acknowledge that, and we will fix it."

Airport Manager Chris Kreig said he hopes the new baggage system is in place in the fall.

The reconstruction of the baggage-claim area is expected to cost between $150,000 and $200,000, which will be paid for by the county.

The new airport cost about $40 million, but most of it was paid for by money from the federal Military Airport Program, which aids communities that lost a military installation.

Plattsburgh Air Force Base closed in 1995.

In addition to Allegiant and Myrtle Beach Direct, Cape Air operates daily service to Logan International Airport in Boston, utilizing a nine-passenger aircraft.

jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com

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