News stories tagged with "airport"

(01/30/12) Officials in Harrietstown have organized a new citizens committee to study the cost and future management of the Adirondack Regional Airport in Lake Clear. The airport was the target of a scathing report from the state Comptroller's office earlier this month that found the facility had been mismanaged.

(08/18/11) U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have announced Plattsburgh International Airport is set to receive about $760,000 in U.S. Department of Transportation funds to support long-term improvements. more

(08/15/11) Watertown International Airport is undergoing some promising changes. A new airline flying larger planes will soon offer direct flights to Chicago. Other improvements are also in the works to accommodate more business and the new flights at the county-owned airport. Joanna Richards reports. more

(09/02/08) A new commuter airline is getting ready to start direct flights from Massena, Ogdensburg and Watertown to Albany. The three North Country airports are cleaning up hangars, ticket counters and runways in preparation for Cape Air's service starting September 16. In Watertown, work crews are racing to finish an $800,000 remodel of the passenger terminal. It's a big investment in an industry that relies on federal subsidies to serve the region. But airport administrators say they expect this airline to succeed where others failed. Jonathan Brown reports.

(05/09/08) Three months after it began service at the Adirondack Regional Airport and the Plattsburgh International Airport, Cape Air was formally welcomed to the North Country on Thursday during separate ribbon cutting ceremonies at the two facilities. Local officials say they're optimistic that Cape Air will be able to restore the trust of the flying public, which was hurt by the collapse of the airports' previous carrier, Big Sky airlines. Chris Knight reports.

(04/20/07) Canadians are crossing the border in growing numbers to fly out of U.S airports. Gary DeYoung says they're drawn by cheaper airfares. He's director of the Thousand Islands International Tourism Council. And he wants the North Country's new air service to Boston from Massena, Ogdensburg and Watertown to tap into this growing market. It could help them meet the critical goal of 10,000 passengers. This would earn the airports an additional million dollars from the federal government, as part of the subsidy that brought Big Sky Airlines to the region. DeYoung talked to Jonathan Brown.

(12/27/06) North Country residents will soon be able to fly directly to Boston. Montana-based Big Sky Airlines won a federal subsidy to fly 19-seat aircraft from Watertown, Ogdensburg and Massena airports. This may signal the end of service from the same airports on Mesa Airlines - which has used the federal subsidy to fly passengers to Pittsburgh. Jonathan Brown has more.

(04/21/05) Two North Country airports received over 1.2 million dollars in FAA grants. The money will be used for improvements.

(03/11/05) Around the country, small rural airports - like Massena, Watertown, Ogdensburg, Saranac Lake, Plattsburgh and others in the North Country - are supported by federal subsidies. President Bush is calling for local and state taxpayers to shoulder more of the burden. Local lawmakers say the measure could force those airports to shut down.

(05/06/04) The federal program that subsidizes air service in rural areas, including the North Country, has faced cuts under the current budget deficit. Lawmakers have fought to keep the service alive, saying it's the only way for airports like Massena, Watertown, and Saranac Lake to remain viable. Under the current system, operated by Mesa Air, all flights go to Pittsburgh. A Massena entrepreneur sees the situation as an opportunity. Ed Kaneb, Jr. is seeking $30-50 million to start his own regional commuter airline based in Massena. It would fly to Syracuse, with connections to northeast cities like Boston, Hartford, Philadelphia, and New York City. Kaneb Jr. spoke with David Sommerstein. He sees the large population centers across the border as potential markets.