By JIMMY LAWTON
North Country Now

OGDENSBURG – Federal requirements have forced SkyWest to withdraw service scheduled to begin around May 1 from Massena airport, but officials say flights and ticket pricing from the city won’t be impacted.

“The plan for service in Ogdensburg has not changed. Our teams are in the process of getting ready for the start of service there and we do not foresee any challenges. Providing service to Ogdensburg only will not affect ticket prices or the schedule,” Skywest spokesman Layne Watson said.

Concerns have been raised regarding ticket prices because United.com currently shows pricing at more than three times the proposed $101 to $104 average that was proposed, but Watson says that will change soon.

“The system is still processing the data for the fares, which often happens when schedules first load and is why we have not publicly announced they are for sale yet. We expect the system to update over the next few days and the correct fares will begin showing. We'll send a formal press release when that happens,” he said.

Skywest was recently awarded to Essential Air Service subsidies totaling nearly that $6 million to provide flights from Ogdensburg and Massena to Chicago and Washington D.C., but it has now been determined that Massena’s airport does not meet federal requirements to accommodate SkyWest’s jets.

“During preparations for service launch in Massena, it has come to our attention that the Massena airport does not meet minimum federal operating requirements for the CRJ200 regional jet. The process to make the necessary updates for compliance is likely to take an extended period of time. Due to these airport operating limitations, we are unable to provide air service to Massena as scheduled,” Greg Atkin, Managing Director of Market and Development wrote in a letter to the Department of Transportation.

“While our recent award of service in Massena was contingent on SkyWest being awarded service in Ogdensburg, NY, we would like to affirm our commitment to begin service in Ogdensburg, NY at the existing subsidy levels. Our teams are currently preparing for service in Ogdensburg as planned with service starting on May 3, 2019. While this is a disappointing development, we look forward to providing service in Ogdensburg and hope to be able to consider service to Massena in the future as the necessary updates are made.”

Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Director Wade Davis says flights in Ogdensburg will continue as planned and pricing won’t be affected by the change in subsidy.

“Massena has no impact to Ogdensburg flights other than one additional positive; All flights will now be direct to the destination from Ogdensburg to Chicago and Dulles with the aircraft based at OGS,” OBPA Executive Director Wade Davis said in an emailed statement.