Big Sky awarded local Essential Air Service designation

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The U.S. Department of Transportation has officially designated Big Sky Airlines, based in Montana, as an Essential Air Service carrier for Plattsburgh. Photo provided

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September 14, 2007

3 daily flights from Plattsburgh, Adirondack airports expected

By DAN HEATH The Press Republican Fri Sep 14, 2007, 07:27 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH -- Big Sky Airlines has been approved to provide service to Plattsburgh International Airport and Adirondack Regional Airport in Lake Clear.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has officially designated Big Sky Airlines, based in Montana, as an Essential Air Service carrier.

"There is no question that regular, affordable air service is necessary in continuing the economic development of the North Country, and the appointment of Big Sky as an Essential Air Service provider is a key step in continuing to realize the region's great potential," U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday in a news release.

The DOT has established an annual subsidy rate of $2.4 million to provide each airport with three round-trip flights each weekday and three flights each weekend.

The announcement clears the way for CommutAir to discontinue its Continental Connection flights, as it requested earlier this year.

Plattsburgh International Airport Interim Director Rodney Brown said Plattsburgh has been fortunate to have CommutAir.

"This airport has been well served with CommutAir. The county has had a good relationship with CommutAir in their time here. We certainly wish them well."

EXCITING TIME'

Big Sky President Fred DeLeeuw said Thursday that the company will replicate what CommutAir provides but with Delta Connection flights.

He said Delta and its partners offer 140-plus flights from Boston to 40 cities in the United States, Canada and Europe daily.

DeLeeuw said Big Sky has to coordinate with CommutAir and Cape Air, which was awarded the Essential Air Service contract for Rutland, Vt., to determine when it can begin service to the North Country. That could possibly be by late October or early November, he said.

DeLeeuw was impressed with Plattsburgh International Airport.

"It's gorgeous, a wonderful facility. It is state of the art. The terminal building is well laid out, very efficient."

The news comes on the heels of the announcement that Allegiant Air will provide low-fare, non-stop flights between Plattsburgh and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., twice a week starting Nov. 16.

"Between us and Allegiant, it's an exciting time," DeLeeuw said. "This is good for everybody in the area."

While Big Sky does expect some cross-border passengers, it is focusing on the Plattsburgh area for customers, DeLeeuw said.

He hopes to see Plattsburgh duplicate what happened when his airline began serving Watertown in April. Flights from Watertown to Boston doubled compared to the previous carrier's flights to Pittsburgh, DeLeeuw said.

"It just sort of took off."

He said the goal is to eventually get off the Essential Air Service list.

If business is good, additional flights are a possibility, DeLeeuw said.

"We are always willing to expand service if things are working there."

Brown said that because Logan International in Boston is a Delta hub with so many connecting flights, fares could be lower than at present. Air fares are often lower when a passenger uses the same airline for different legs of a trip, he said.

"That might increase the number of people that use this airport. They can make flights to the same destination more affordable."

ATTRACTIVE PRICES

Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said the news was "another positive step in air-service development at Plattsburgh International Airport."

He said the chamber has been actively working with Big Sky on its startup plans and that airline officials should be in Plattsburgh within the next few weeks to provide additional details.

"I believe that will include very attractive pricing," Douglas said.

Clinton said she was pleased that airlines like Big Sky are taking up service to New York's regional hubs and providing service to major cities like Boston.

"Places like Plattsburgh, Saranac Lake and Lake Placid have so much to offer, and we should be doing everything we can to make it easier for people to visit and conduct business in the region," she said.

"I hope their flights will give everyone more choices and more opportunities for travel and business."

dheath@pressepublican.com