Plattsburgh International Airport: More than just air service

PLATTSBURGH | On March 23, the Clinton County Legislature approved Resolution 205 Authorizing Contract With Volaire Aviation Inc.- Plattsburgh International Airport. Volaire Aviation is an air service consultant. With the help of Volaire Aviation, Plattsburgh International Airport will meet with airlines to look at opportunities to increase air service at the airport. The contract was amended to add in a marketing component as well. Plattsburgh International Airport already has an agreement with the North Country Chamber of Commerce for marketing and economic development for the airport. The marketing component in the Volaire Aviation contract is specific to air service marketing. Volaire Aviation will also work alongside the North Country Chamber of Commerce to come up with a more comprehensive and robust marketing plan to market the air service not only to the community but to market the airport to other potential air carriers as well. CONTOUR AIRLINES Plattsburgh International Airport currently has two air carriers operating out of it: Allegiant Air and Sky West. Sky West's contract is up for renewal in July. In January, the airport had a discussion with Sky West about the air carrier resubmitting their proposal to continue service out of Plattsburgh and learned Sky West would not be renewing their contract. This wasn't for lack of service though. Due to the pilot shortage, which was exacerbated by the pandemic, Sky West is condensing its services. Although the airport is sad to see Sky West go, due to their contract with Volaire Aviation, they have been able to establish communication with another air carrier- Contour Airlines. Contour Airlines is partnered with American Airlines to offer destinations beyond the Contour-operated route map. If Contour Airlines' proposal is approved they would be offering a flight to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania- an American Airlines hub- from Plattsburgh. Currently, Plattsburgh International Airport is waiting for the Department of Transportation to approve their Alternate Essential Air Service application before anything can be finalized with Contour Airlines. The goal is to have Contour settled into the airport before Sky West leaves to provide a smooth transition. PANDEMIC DEVASTATION The airport has grown a lot since its opening in 2006 and has been under the leadership of Chris Kreig, airport director, since 2011. Despite all the hard work and energy put into growing the airport, one thing that no one expected to happen happened, devastating the operation of the airport. "The last two years, the pandemic has not been kind to the airport. I mean that and I would say that's an understatement. You know, with the border restrictions, and then the additional restrictions that New York State had on top of that, it devastated our operation for a couple of years, we're coming out of that now. Things are starting to pick up, the border restrictions are easing, you know, the traffic is increased at the airport," Kreig explained. Overall, the pandemic cost the airport two years of air service development. Conversations the airport were having with air carriers about service out of Plattsburgh in early 2020, came to a halt due to the pandemic, and although Kreig was going to conferences and meeting with airlines during the pandemic, most air carriers at that point were just trying to maintain their operations due to the restrictions the pandemic put on travel. "But now we are coming back with a vengeance… [to] get back in front of the airlines to try to grow the air service here at the airport, and make up for lost time…," said Kreig. BUSINESS PARK Plattsburgh International Airport is more than just an airport, they also have a business park as well where they have companies like Beta Technologies, who recently made the news with their fully electric aircraft. Beta Technologies first joined the business park at Plattsburgh International Airport in 2018, renting 2,500 square feet of hangar space. The company has now grown to rent 90,000 square feet which equals two hangars and another building that they're conducting their operation out of. Kreig said, "So we do have, we have probably, I want to say we have close to a dozen tenants on the airport." The tenants are not only renting space from the airport but in some cases, they're buying materials for their goods locally, or using the airport to fly in/out clients or employees for training which generates direct economic activity as well. MORE TO COME The airport has made a lot of improvements in the last few years due to the help of a dedicated team working behind the scenes to bring the best possible service to the community that they can. The runway, that had been there since the Plattsburgh Air Force Base closed, was repaved last year; U.S. Customs and Border Protection established a division at the airport in 2019, it took seven years to get them there; the airport is also looking into tower services, their other goal they need to achieve. Although COVID slowed them down, the airport is already in recovery mode, ready to provide the best service possible for the community and to keep growing. "The county is, they are working hard to get air service, to get the air service in here and develop this airport to its fullest potential," Kreig stated.

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Plattsburgh International Airport: More than just air service

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