"Take action to bring more flights to Stewart"

Sunday, August 12, 2001

Opinion
Take action to bring more flights to Stewart
The Poughkeepsie (NY) Journal


State and federal officials made history last year by making Stewart
International Airport the first privatized public-access airport in the
country. Now it's time for them to make some more history -- by putting
together a serious plan to help that private company build Stewart's
passenger base.

For some time, the Orange County facility has been suffering from a decline
in bookings, and that hasn't changed since the state handed over operations
to National Express Corp. last year. Passenger boardings have steadily gone
down over the past three years and are off by 20.6 percent so far in 2001.
If this keeps up a few more years, the only things taking off and landing at
Stewart could be pigeons.

What's strange is that, nationwide, passenger service has grown over the
past eight years, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. And
you'd think Stewart would attract plenty of customers, since about 5.2
million people live within 50 miles of the New Windsor airport.

So where are mid-Hudson residents going, those who aren't using Stewart?
About two out of every three flights taken by mid-Hudson residents leave
from other airports, according to Michael DiTullo, president of Mid-Hudson
Pattern for Progress, a public policy research organization.

Many residents use Albany International Airport, New York City's LaGuardia
and Kennedy airports and Newark International Airport. They seem willing to
wrestle with a long drive on busy highways for two simple reasons: lower
fares and more direct flights.

It's a vicious cycle, according to DiTullo. Ticket prices won't drop unless
more people use Stewart, but more people won't use the airport unless ticket
prices drop. Stewart is capable of handling two million passengers a year,
but it's only drawing about 500,000. That means, DiTullo said, airlines
''can name their price; they're not motivated to drop it.''

To break this cycle, airport managers especially need to convince low-cost
airlines like Southwest or JetBlue to offer regular service. That's what one
facility very similar to Stewart did -- Manchester Airport -- and, since
then, the New Hampshire facility has tripled its business, to 3.2 million
passengers in 2000.

Inducements that could help attract budget carriers include:

Public demand -- Local residents ought to consider using Stewart
International next time they have to fly. They should have their travel
agents check ticket prices for flying from New Windsor; even if it does cost
a few dollars more, it might be worth it to avoid a long drive on toll roads
and heavy metropolitan New York traffic.

Airlines are very market-sensitive and will put in flights if they think
there's a growing market at Stewart. Readers ought to tell the airlines,
''I'd rather fly from Stewart,'' until it sinks in.

Public rail connections -- Once you land at Stewart, it isn't easy to get
anywhere unless you have a car or rent one. To make Stewart an attractive
alternative to the greater New York City airports, that has to change. U.S.
Reps. Maurice Hinchey, D-Saugerties, and Sue Kelly, R-Katonah, are right to
push for a quick, easy connection to area train stations, to get travelers
to New York City or other destinations. Kelly suggests this might be done by
putting in a monorail or light-rail track along the I-84 median to the
Beacon railroad station. But it could be as simple as developing regular bus
service to nearby terminals.

Solve urban air congestion -- This month, the Federal Aviation
Administration extended caps on additional takeoffs and landings at New York
City's LaGuardia Airport, as a temporary solution for its chronic flight
delay problem, one of the worst in the nation. As FAA officials consider
permanent solutions, they should keep in mind that Stewart is nearby, and
eager for more business. They could, for instance, tell LaGuardia's owner,
the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, ''So you want to add a slot
at LaGuardia? The price is starting a flight or adding a flight at
Stewart.''

Better highway access -- State officials are planning a new entrance road to
Stewart, capable of handling a lot more auto traffic than the current access
by way of busy, congested Route 207. Unfortunately, Albany officials seem
hell-bent on building this new access road in from the west side of the
airport, no doubt hoping to spur development of unused public property
adjacent to Stewart. But that's the opposite side of the airport from the
Thruway, which means several extra miles of driving. Besides, it's uncertain
if this west-side routing will be completed; it faces a serious lawsuit
alleging faulty environmental review, and wetlands permits for certain key
portions are still unsecured.

With their preferred routing in some jeopardy, state officials would be wise
to start now at scoping out a different option: a short, direct access road
straight in from the Thruway, south of I-84. Of course this would mean some
time and expense to create new studies and new designs, but having an
alternative plan could some day be a lifesaver.

A new terminal -- Stewart's passenger terminal was tripled in size about
three years ago. But today, with business shrinking at the airport, it's
only being used at a quarter of its capacity. DiTullo, of Mid-Hudson Pattern
for Progress said, for that reason, there seems little genuine need for a
new terminal: With eight gates now, there's already plenty of room to handle
the number of passengers a budget airline would attract. But necessary or
not, he added, if it's the carrot that convinces one of these carriers to
come to Stewart, then build it. And, according to airport Managing Director
Chuck Seliga, National Express Corp. is committed to putting up another
terminal if it will lure a low-cost airline to Stewart.

Publicity, publicity -- National Express has been doing some advertising to
promote Stewart as a travel destination. A Stewart Regional Alliance is also
being created, said DiTullo, that would include Pattern for Progress, area
chambers of commerce and some economic development groups, for ''formulating
a regional marketing initiative focusing directly on Stewart.''

A busy, thriving Stewart International Airport would mean a lot more to the
mid-Hudson Valley than just planes, passengers and packages. It would also
significantly boost the region's economic renaissance.

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