On his was back from a recent trip to Hawaii, Westchester County”™s transportation commissioner, Lawrence Salley, was told his bag was over the 50-pound weight limit and he would be charged additional fees.
Salley was able to talk his way out of paying the $100 charge, but warns air travelers that the recent extra charges and cutbacks on flights nationwide will affect Westchester”™s airport.
At Westchester County Airport, Salley said:
- American Eagle will cut back on two flights to Chicago in the next couple of months.
- Air Tran is cutting back on four Florida flights in September, to Tampa, Ft. Meyer, Ft.Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
- Delta is cutting back on two flights in October to Atlanta and Cincinnati.
- Northwest is eliminating two flights to Minneapolis and Detroit.
- US Air is cutting back on two flights to Boston.
Meanwhile, JetBlue is adding five new flights to Tampa, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, for a total of 11 daily departures this winter, including Ft. Meyers.
“Ever since we started flying from Westchester it”™s been a huge success for JetBlue,” said Sebastian White, a spokesman for New York-based JetBlue Airways Corp. “With the success we”™ve experienced there we”™re confident that these new flights will also be hit.”
White said JetBlue has been offering service from Westchester County Airport since March 2007.
“The county airport doesn”™t cut back on flights, the airlines do,” Salley said. “This happens periodically. Of greater importance to us is that the passenger counts are holding steady.”
Salley said many of the eliminated flights are 50-passenger planes, and JetBlue is essentially picking up the flights to Florida that Air Tran dropped with 150-passenger planes, so it balances out.
“I would say that fuel is certainly the single most important factor,” Salley said of the flight cutbacks.
This year, he projects 1.6 million commercial passengers will use the airport.
“I think people should book their flights as early as possible to get the best price that they possibly can,” he said. “They need to be aware of the new policies airlines have with regard to the weight of baggage and charges for additional baggage.”
He also said those departing from the county airport should remember parking is limited and use an alternative means of getting there.
