Cape Air suspends Saranac Lake flights due to lack of demand

Cape Air has suspended its planned seasonal service between Saranac Lake and Westchester County Airport without making a single flight.

“Advanced bookings weren”™t strong enough,” said Trish Lorino, a spokeswoman for Cape Air.

The service was planned to operate six days a week beginning June 24 and running through Labor Day weekend. According to a search of Internet ticketing sites, a one-way, nonstop fare to Saranac Lake from Westchester County Airport on Cape Air costs about $400.

An official from Westchester County Airport did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Cape Air planned to operate the route with a twin-engine, eight-passenger Cessna 402 aircraft. Lorino said that the plane designated for the Westchester-Saranac Lake service will be assigned to a different route. Tickets that had been sold in advance of the service will be honored for travel between White Plains and Saranac Lake.

“Our service to (Cape Cod) and the islands has infinitely more demand,” Lorino said via phone. “Our Nantucket and Martha”™s Vineyard schedules are always busy. We will probably add more flights to those routes based on our advance bookings, which we are always monitoring.”

Cape Air offers seasonal service from Westchester County Airport in White Plains to Nantucket, Hyannis, Martha”™s Vineyard and Provincetown, Mass., as well as year-round service to Lebanon, N.H.