PLATTSBURGH — ▶ Airway to provide direct flights between Plattsburgh, Boston beginning June 24
Colgan Air will start providing non-stop US Airways Express service between Plattsburgh and Boston on June 24.
The airline will initially offer three flights each way Monday through Friday and two flights each way on Saturday and Sunday.
The flights will be operated by Colgan Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pinnacle Airlines Corp. The US Airways website lists non-refundable fares as low as $52 one way.
In March, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Colgan Air a two-year contract at about $2.1 million per year to provide Essential Air Service flights between Plattsburgh and Boston.
That service had previously been provided by Massachusetts-based Cape Air, which continues to provide service between Boston and Adirondack Regional Airport in Saranac Lake.
One of the reasons legislators pushed for Colgan Air was its use of 34-seat Saab 340 aircraft, compared to the nine-seat Cessna aircraft used by Cape Air. The Saab aircraft also feature pressurized cabins, large overhead bins, restrooms and a flight attendant.
"This expanded air service at Plattsburgh International Airport will attract new air travelers, both local citizens and our Canadian friends, and entice new economic growth in the region," Rep. Bill Owens said in a news release.
Clinton County Legislature Chairman Jimmy Langley said Plattsburgh International Airport "will now have connectivity across the United States available on a daily basis. We appreciate the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce and all its members for making this event possible."
Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said the launch of US Airways service is an exciting development that takes the airport to its next stage of development.
"Our success over the last two years has stood out nationally and attracted interest from a number of major carriers, but US Airways Express is the one that has stepped forward and decided that this market offers a real opportunity," he said in a statement.
"The others are watching, meaning success with US Airways Express can lead to other destinations and carriers in the future. It's up to us, and we need to embrace and support this new service."
Growth during the first two years at what is billed as "Montreal's U.S. airport" has been attributed to low-cost airfares with non-stop service to popular destinations, free parking, direct and low-traffic highway access and the ability to skip airport customs clearance by flying from the United States.
The US Airways chain operates 3,000-plus flights a day to more than 190 communities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
It employs more than 30,000 aviation professionals worldwide and is a member of the Star Alliance, which offers more than 19,700 daily flights to 1,077 airports in 175 countries.
E-mail Dan Heath at:
dheath@pressrepublican.com
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