Friday, April 19, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
By ANDY GARDNER MASSENA -- The Town Council is supporting Boutique Air's push to scrap their flights from Massena to Albany and Baltimore in exchange for a Boston destination. The board voted …
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By ANDY GARDNER
MASSENA -- The Town Council is supporting Boutique Air's push to scrap their flights from Massena to Albany and Baltimore in exchange for a Boston destination.
The board voted unanimously at their Wednesday meeting to write a letter in support as Boutique makes a request to the federal government, who would have to approve a change to their Essential Air Service contract. The EAS program subsidizes their flights in and out of Massena.
At a special meeting on March 14, town officials said Boutique representatives told them they want to make the change because they are having trouble keeping the Albany and Baltimore flights full and on time.
Councilors at the March 21 meeting said their aim is to keep an option for people to fly from Massena.
“The point of Essential Air Service is to connect people with the outside world," Town Supervisor Steve O'Shaughnessy said.
“I’m concerned about Saranac Lake, Ogdensburg and Massena all going to the same destination," Councilman Thomas Miller said. “After doing my due diligence and talking to travel agents and Boutique … the connections at the Boston hub is larger than at Baltimore. The EAS system is for getting people out to the world.
“I know some people like the Baltimore flight for personal reasons” “I’m hearing the enplanements will go up."
“Connectivity is the key ... If you miss a connection on one end, you’re going to miss it on the other end," Councilman Albert Nicola said. “Talking with Shawn Simpson, the CEO, they’re not making any money on their subsidized flights. I liken back to Big Sky, our provider at one time, they were here on Monday and gone on Tuesday and we had no EAS service.
“I don’t want another Big Sky on our hands."
"They only have nine months left on our contract. If this doesn’t work we can go back to the drawing board. We’ve got to provide a good service for Massena so people can get out," Miller said.
Later in the meeting, the council voted to extend Boutique Air's lease for hangar space at Massena International through the end of their contract. They pay $1,500 a month.
