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  • Plattsburgh International Airport is often referred to as "Montreal's U.S. airport." The airport opened in 2007. Service now includes four carriers: U.S. Airways, Spirit Airlines, Direct Air and Allegiant.

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January 6, 2012

No bids received so far for airport service

JOE LoTEMPLIO Press-Republican

PLATTSBURGH — Clinton County officials are still hoping to receive a bid for daily airline service to a major hub from Plattsburgh International Airport.

The deadline to receive bids from airlines seeking a federal Essential Air Service contract was extended to today from Dec. 20, 2011, after no bids were received by the first deadline.

County officials say the extension was made to give one company more time to complete a bid package.

"We've got one airline that is very interested, and we will take a look at what they present and decide," said Legislator Robert Heins (R-Area 10, City of Plattsburgh), who chairs the county's Airport Committee.

The Essential Air Service program provides funding for air carriers to service smaller airports around the country. Colgan Air began a two-year contract in 2010 for $2.2 million to provide daily service from Plattsburgh to Boston on 34-seat aircraft.

But Colgan, under a corporate restructuring plan, is pulling out of the Boston market, which will eliminate service at airports in Plattsburgh and Bar Harbor and Presque Isle, Maine.

Colgan must continue to fly out of Plattsburgh until a replacement airline is found for the Essential Air Service program.

Heins would not name the airline that he said is interested in Plattsburgh service, but he said he believes the company can make it a successful venture.

"I am a little disappointed that we didn't get more bids, but the airline industry is still a bit fragile," he said.

'STRONG MARKET'

Business at Plattsburgh International has been solid since the airport opened on the flight line of the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base in the summer of 2007, especially on direct flights. The direct routes to South Carolina, Florida and the Caribbean have been very popular with Canadian and local travelers.

Cape Air had been providing Essential Air Service service to Boston on nine-seat aircraft in 2009 and 2010, but legislators opted for Colgan in early 2010, which offered larger aircraft.

The Essential Air Service program has been the target of budget cuts in Washington, D.C., in recent years, but North Country Congressman Bill Owens (D-Plattsburgh) said he believes it will remain in place, at least for now.

"In the short-term, I think the program survives, but I am not so sure about the long term," he told the Press-Republican Editorial Board this week.

Owens said he believes the Plattsburgh market is strong enough for an airline to be successful even without the Essential Air Service program.

"I think if Colgan had kept going they could have made it a self-sustaining operation," he said.

Colgan passenger numbers in Plattsburgh had been declining in 2010, but Owens said that may have been related to a price increase.

Email Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com

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