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February 5, 2011

Senate proposal would cut Essential Service Program

JOE LoTEMPLIO Press-Republican The Press Republican Sat Feb 05, 2011, 06:29 AM EST

PLATTSBURGH — A fight is on in the U.S. Senate over funding for rural air service, which could have a major impact on local airports.

A proposal has been launched in the Senate to eliminate the Essential Air Service Program, which funds service at 150 small airports across the country, including Plattsburgh International Airport and Adirondack Regional Airport in Lake Clear.

"Certainly this community has benefitted from the Essential Air Service program, and it would definitely have a negative impact on air service here if we lost it," Clinton County Administrator Michael Zurlo said.

LOCAL ALLOCATIONS

The program was implemented in 1978, designed to guarantee that small communities would be able to continue to host commercial air service.

In Plattsburgh, Colgan Air, a subsidiary of US Airways, flies daily trips to Boston and back, aided by $1,379,257 in Essential Air Service funding.

In Lake Clear, Cape Air flies daily to Boston with the aid of $1,366,538 in Essential Air Service funding.

'CRITICAL FOR RECOVERY'

As the Senate debates the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, Sen. John McCain has proposed eliminating all funding for the Essential Air Service Program.

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is fighting to not only save the funding for the program but to increase it by $73 million to total $200 million.

"Access to air travel is critical for our economic recovery," Gillibrand said.

"Losing this funding would be devastating for many communities across the state. Business cannot grow if we do not provide communities in every corner of New York with adequate air service."

PROPOSED HIKES

Business at Plattsburgh International Airport has boomed since it opened in 2007, as thousands of Canadians have taken advantage of direct flights to Florida, South Carolina and the Caribbean.

Colgan Air has also seen a significant jump in business since it took over the daily service to Boston last year, using 34-seat aircraft. Cape Air had provided service to Boston under the Essential Air Service program in 2008 and 2009 but flew nine-seat aircraft.

Under Gillibrand's proposal, Colgan's allotment would jump to $2,165,433. Cape Air's funding would increase to $2,145,465 for the service they provide from Lake Clear.

SERVICE THREATENED

Adirondack Regional Airport Manager Ross Dubarry said daily service from the airport probably would cease to exist if the funding were lost.

"We might be able to sustain unsubsidized flights in the summer but not year round," Dubarry said.

Cape Air has flown out of Adirondack Regional Airport since 2008 and has increased business each year, Dubarry said.

A Senate vote on Essential Air Service funding is expected next week.

Zurlo and Dubarry are hoping the funding remains.

"Our goal is to grow to the point that we no longer need to be a candidate for EAS, but we are not there yet," Zurlo said.

"So we think the funding should remain in place."

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com