PA wants more airlines at the Stewart gates

NEW YORK – The Port Authority is serious about bringing new airlines to Stewart Airport. They have spent $500,000 to hire TranSystems of Alexandria, Va. to conduct research that will assist it in attracting more carriers to the Newburgh facility.

The airport continues to be plagued with problems of attracting and retaining airline service. Most recently, the loss of AirTran this fall was a direct result of the rising costs of doing business, specifically the escalating fuel costs.

The company will collect, research and analyze data that will help the Port Authority create a strategic, long-term plan for expanding air services at Stewart, said Airport Manager Diannae Ehler.

“It is to put together the plan and then also package for individual specific airlines the data those airlines need to make to consider offering new routes or increased services,” she said. “It’s also to evaluate what some of the best factors are in incentive programs in general that are offered at comparable airports and determine their feasibility for use here at Stewart.”

TranSystems will review the Hudson Valley’s air service market, looking at existing and past commercial, cargo, business and corporate activity at Stewart and other Port Authority facilities and regional airports.

The company plans on interviewing citizens groups, area tourism and travel experts, economic development officers and civic leaders as it develops its report.

Stewart has had problems with retaining airline service since the mid-1990s. Commercial service began in April 1990 and some five years later, Delta Air Lines and US Airways both pulled mainline service and opted for regional jet service with their commuter airlines.

The original AirTran, which provided one daily flight to Florida, pulled out around the same time and Delta Connection left the market. It came back some two years ago when AirTran began service.

Midway Airlines shut down immediately after September 11, 2001.

Stewart also had Washington-Dulles and Boston service by United Express. Later that airline – Atlantic Coast Airways – would become Independence Air, with flights to Washington. That company also went out of business.

Other ups and downs included Southeast Airlines providing Florida service, but going out of business a few years ago and Allegiant Air offering Florida flights but abandoning them when AirTran and JetBlue entered the Hudson Valley market.

In recent years, Northwest Airlink began service and American Eagle, which replaced American Airlines’ mainline service, left the market.