The airline industry has had its ups and downs since the Wright brothers made history.
And Stewart International Airport is no different than other airports, says general manager Diannae Ehler, despite the loss of two of its major carriers in less than six months.
Stewart, part of the Port Authority”™s portfolio since Nov. 1, is suffering the same affliction as thousands of other small regional airports. In an effort to scale back, many airlines have consolidated and cut flights to maximize capacity, while others have ceased to exist ”“ remember Skybus?
“They were one of the victims of the price of fuel, which has gone up 73 percent since this time last year,” said Ehler, addressing the Stewart Airport Commission July 29 in New Windsor.
The Port Authority has infused more than $27 million into the airport”™s infrastructure since taking over the facility ”“ more than its predecessor, National Express Group, spent during the entire seven years it held the lease.
“We”™ve received assurances from Dave Barger, CEO of JetBlue, of their commitment not just to Stewart but to our other metropolitan airports,” Ehler said.
JetBlue cut flights from Stewart to West Palm Beach, Fla., but continues to “stand firm in our commitment to StewartInternational Airport,” Barger said in a written response to a recent story in the Poughkeepsie Journal.
Ehler restated the Port Authority”™s commitment to building a strong airport at Stewart, an effort that should alleviate congestion with regional commercial flights. The blueprint also sees bolstering Stewart as a cargo hub for shipments currently clogging Newark, Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, also run by the PA.
Elisa VanderLinde, assistant director for Metro-North Railroad who heads the West-of-the-Hudson Regional Transportation Assessment Study, presented the agency”™s plans to partner with the Stewart Airport Commission ”“ elected officials, government agencies, local residents and environmental groups ”“ to eventually  bring seamless service in and out of Stewart. A connection across the Tappan Zee Bridge, which many are hoping for, is on the wish list, as is a direct connection to Access to the Region”™s Core (ARC) in New Jersey, the new under-the-Hudson tunnel that will eliminate the need to switch at Secaucus to get into midtown Manhattan. The $40 million study was earmarked for 2005 and remains in place.
Both of those projects ”“ trains to Secaucus and over the Tappan Zee ”“ are “years away from completion,” said Martin F. Huss, director of industrial engineering and quality assurance for Metro- North. “Realistically, it will take 7-8 years before ARC is completed and ready for public use … we are shooting for 2016. ” As for the Tappan Zee bridge study, no one is sure what is planned: light rail or bus service. Â In the interim, planning a route from Metro-North”™s Salisbury Mills station in Cornwall directly into Stewart, as well as creating bus and/or light rail service to and from the airport down Newburgh”™s Broadway corridor, is all in discussion. Commission member Alan Seidman suggested Metro- North start looking at buying right-of-ways for the proposed link before it finds itself in a pickle. “There are several residential projects in front of planning boards in the towns between here and Cornwall right now,” said Seidman. “I wouldn”™t wait too long.”
Ehler minced no words about the plight of airlines, nor of Stewart”™s situation: “We have our work cut out for us.” Part of that work will be to market the airport more effectively, said Ehler, introducing Michael Torelli as the PA”™s new marketing and business attraction manager. Torelli comes to the PA via the Empire State Development Corp. Before that, he was head of business attraction for the Orange County Partnership.
Some changes are coming to the Stewart Air National Guard base, which leases its land from Stewart, said state Sen. Bill Larkin, R/C-New Windsor.
Air Guard Col. John Chianese said new equipment will be coming, bringing smoother and quieter planes, but also ones that will fly more frequently. Any possible future closing for Stewart”™s Air National Guard ”“ deemed highly unlikely by the Commission ”“ would mean its space reverts back to the Port Authority, who leases the land to the National Guard.
The commission agreed to sign the new lease with the Port Authority prepared by the Department of Transportation, commission Chairman Jim Wright said. Under the deal, New YorkWestchester County Airport. gets 5 percent of gross profits when Stewart”™s passenger load exceeds 1.3 million, which is the current passenger load at
The Stewart passenger load in 2007 was 920,000, a leap from just 300,000 in 2006. Predictions for this year look to be about 800,000. In 2007, Kennedy handled 47.8 million passengers; Newark Liberty handled 36.3 million; and LaGuardia about 25.3 million. All are under the PA wing.
And a look ahead? Lou Heimbach, former Orange Countymes a week anymore and it may take a few decades for people and industry to adjust. Let”™s not spit in the wind and get hit in the face.” executive and vice chairman of the commission, said: “Wrap your arms around the economy; people cannot afford to fly. They cannot afford to eat out three ti
The next Stewart Airport Commission meeting will be held on First Street in the airport on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 8:30 a.m.
