Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
BY JIMMY LAWTON North Country This Week OGDENSBURG - SkyWest will end flights to and from the Ogdensburg Airport in 90 days, according Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Executive Director Steven …
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BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week
OGDENSBURG - SkyWest will end flights to and from the Ogdensburg Airport in 90 days, according Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Executive Director Steven Lawrence.
They are the sole air service provider at the airport.
"The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority was notified on January 11, 2022 that SkyWest Airlines has given the U.S. Department of Transportation 90 days notice that they are ending service at Ogdensburg International Airport and another upstate New York airport,” a release issued by Lawrence said.
“The OGS airport and OBPA are actively working with the DOT to acquire new air service for the Ogdensburg community. Per the DOT, they will release a Request for Proposal (RFP) to airlines for replacement service soon and Skywest is required to remain until a new service is in place at OGS. In the interim, the current Skywest flight schedule remains the same.”
Lawrence said the news came as a surprise and disappointment as the OBPA has worked to invest in the airport in the past decade. SkyWest had been well-received by locals as well as Canadians prior to border shutdowns.
SkyWest began providing air service to Ogdensburg in 2019 after being named the region's Essential Air Service provider.
They offered flights to Chicago and Washington D.C., but later transitioned to D.C. flights only.
Attempts to contact SkyWest for comment on the decision to end service were unsuccessful, but the transportation industry as a whole has taken a hit from the pandemic.
Lawrence said that “you can see other cities with airlines that have pulled out” and that “if anyone knows about the impact COVID has had on travel, we do.”
Lawrence referred to the Ogdensburg International Bridge which was closed for 22 months due to COVID-19 regulations.
Lawrence noted that the past two years have been difficult for the Authority, but he remains hopeful a new provider will be selected before SkyWest leaves.
“OGS and the OBPA will continue to seek out a new air service provider for the North Country,” he said. “We are committed to working with all parties involved to provide our community continued air service for upcoming travel to and from Ogdensburg.”
