STEWART AIRPORT – Airport officials had projected that by the end of the year, one million people would have flown into or out of Stewart Airport. But, because of the departure of Skybus Airways, that projection has now been lowered to 850,000.

Airport Manager Diannae Ehler told the second meeting of the Stewart Citizen’s Advisory Panel Thursday night they had expected Skybus to bring 150,000 passengers to the Newburgh facility.

Despite the loss, passenger count in the first four months of 2008 continued to outpace the same months last year. A total of 375,695 people used Stewart from January to April of this year compared to 292,532 during the same period in 2007. In total last year, 913,927 people used the airport.

The passenger numbers began a significant climb in 2006 when AirTran and JetBlue began serving the Hudson Valley from Stewart.

The subject of who is driving the CAP resurfaced at the second session. Some committee members, including Maureen Radl of Ulsterites Overflight Noise, wanted more input into the structure and subject matter of the meetings.

But, Ehler laid out the Port Authority’s position.

“This is my meeting. It’s a chance to exchange ideas. It’s for me to bring forth things that Port Authority is doing and to hear feedback and other ideas. I have a copy of your ideas.”

Steven Rosenberg, senior vice president of Scenic Hudson, suggested the CAP discuss smart growth planning and land use, economic success, sustainability and noise and other impacts as ongoing issues.