New Watertown-Chicago O’Hare flight service “one of the best things that has ever happened in the north country”?
Well, maybe Jefferson County legislature Chairwoman Carolyn D. Fitzpatrick, R-Watertown, was overstating it when she said that…but she also said the new service–scheduled to begin November 17–was “all I’ve thought about” since this past winter. But Chicago O’Hare is a major hub airport, so this may prove to be a good way for some people to get where they want to go.
Fitzpatrick’s statement at the formal announcement of the new service Tuesday afternoon, was reported in this article by Nancy Madsen in the Watertown Daily Times. And, hyperbole aside, here are the basics:
American Eagle, American Airlines’ regional service partner, will be providing the service. There will be about twelve flights a week each way, and it looks like they’ll cost about $330 per round trip–that’s including a Saturday stay–or about $850 without one (or at least if you decide to test the skies early, go November 17th, and come back on the 18th.) And if you do fly to Chicago, it’ll be on a 44-seat plane, not a 9-seat Cessna as on Cape Air.
Re: Money, American Eagle will receive $3,047,972 annually through a federal Department of Transportation Essential Air Service contract to operate the service; and the county Board of Legislators is spending $794,750 on expanding the airport terminal for the expected increase in traffic.
Lots more information in the article (again), and if you’re interested here’s the press release from American Eagle, which also lists flight times.
Happy trails!
Tags: economy, transportation
“Re: Money, American Eagle will receive $3,047,972 annually through a federal Department of Transportation Essential Air Service contract to operate the service; and the county Board of Legislators is spending $794,750 on expanding the airport terminal for the expected increase in traffic.”
Not if Republicans get their way. As we speak the FAA is shut down, federal ticket taxes are not being collected, 70,000 (est) to be unemployed, because conservatives want to do away with rural airport subsidies (and prevent possible unionization).
This does seems to be up in the air somewhat in terms of funding given the current situation with the FAA. Here’s a somewhat paraphrased version of what the AP had to say about that:
“The debate over Essential Air Service subsidies for rural airports has created a congressional standoff that continues to shut down the Federal Aviation Administration, with no end in sight until September if the Senate doesn’t act this week.
House Republicans say the sticking point is their demand that the Senate cut $16.5 million for rural air service subsidies. Meanwhile, lawmakers risk losing more than $1 billion in revenue from ticket taxes that the airline collects. The authority to collect those taxes has expired.
The FAA shutdown is less than two weeks old and already the government has lost more than $250 million in revenue. The House has left for its August recess. The Senate is expected to follow this week.”
A press release from Senator Kirsten Gillibrand specifies six New York airports: Chautauqua County-Jamestown Airport, Massena International Airport, Ogdensburg International Airport, Plattsburgh International Airport, Adirondack Regional Airport, and Watertown International Airport.
http://gillibrand.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=1EC2D94F-7C0A-4277-A967-2A3B56F2C313