Plattsburgh International Airport

Coordinates: 44°39′03″N 073°28′05″W / 44.65083°N 73.46806°W / 44.65083; -73.46806
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Plattsburgh International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerClinton County
Serves
Location
AMSL
234 ft / 71 m
Coordinates44°39′03″N 073°28′05″W / 44.65083°N 73.46806°W / 44.65083; -73.46806
Websiteflyplattsburgh.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
17/35 11,759 3,584 Asphalt/concrete
Statistics (2018)
Aircraft operations12,781
Based aircraft30

Plattsburgh International Airport (

Plattsburgh, within the Town of Plattsburgh in Clinton County, New York, United States.[1] About 85 percent of the airport's passengers in 2013 were Canadians, mostly from Montreal.[2]

The airport is located at the former

Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corporation, established in 1995 after the airbase closed. The airport's massive facilities have been upgraded to civilian aviation standards and the county fully transitioned here from Clinton County Airport
as of June 2007.

Passenger service began on June 18, 2007, and Clinton County Airport has been shut down since then. All airline service in Plattsburgh goes through the airport, which has expanded its terminal building to accommodate more passengers and provide more gates for aircraft. Scheduled passenger service from this airport to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is subsidized by the United States Department of Transportation via the Essential Air Service program.

The airport was closed to air traffic from April 13, 2021, to approximately June 22, 2021 due to the middle section of the runway being repaved.[3]

It is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a primary commercial service airport (more than 10,000 enplanements per year).[4] As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 45,998 passenger boardings (enplanements) in 2008, 73,159 enplanements in 2009,[5] 94,808 in 2010, and 139,698 in 2011.[6]

History

Plattsburgh Air Force Base closed on September 25, 1995, pursuant to the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1990[7] and the recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

After the base was decommissioned, Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corporation was created to manage the 5,000-acre (20 km2) property. The Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corporation split up the base into 165 parcels for redevelopment.[8]

The idea of opening a new commercial airport at the site of the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base dated back to at least 2000.[9] At the time, the United States Air Force still owned the runway, which made converting it into a civilian airport more difficult.[9] Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corporation[10] and Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce both favored the opening of a new commercial airport and closing the old Clinton County Airport.[11] The county voted in favor of the move on July 13, 2000.[12] County legislators held a public hearing about the idea on December 12, 2001; most of the residents who spoke at the meeting were in favor of the idea.[13]

In September 2003, the Federal Aviation Administration awarded Plattsburgh International Airport $624,200 of funding to build a passenger terminal.[14] In November 2003, the federal transportation funding bill included $2 million for the passenger terminal.[15] A grant from the Federal Aviation Administration funded security improvements in August 2004.[16]

In 2004, Precision Jet nearly selected to operate the new airport,[17] but the county decided not to approve the contract because of a lack of detail in the business plan, concerns about whether the Federal Aviation Administration would approve the proposed terminal, questions about whether it was legal to give the company exclusive development rights, and concerns that delegating all control over decisions could negatively impact the county's long-term economic future.[18] On March 1, 2005, the county ended its contract with Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corporation to operate the airport.[19]

Congress voted to approve a $721,000 grant for Essential Air Service for Plattsburgh International Airport in November 2004.[20] The airport received another $1.6 million of federal funding for runway construction in March 2005[21] and $2.6 million of federal funding for construction of the terminal in April 2005.[22] The county was approved for $500,000 of federal funding to construct an access road to the airport in August 2005.[23]

The airport's official groundbreaking was held on August 17, 2005,[24] and it officially opened on April 26, 2006.[25]

Airport facilities

Plattsburgh International Airport's facilities include a 11,759-foot (3,584 m) runway and a 12,000,000-square-foot (1,100,000 m2) concrete ramp for cargo and aircraft. Plattsburgh also has no night curfews or flight restrictions and enjoys calm weather year-round (97% VMC). It is also a

Foreign Trade Zone and Empire Zone
, making it a virtually tax free zone for many enterprises.

The airport promotes itself as l'aéroport américain de Montréal ("

I-87), a direct rail spur from the main Canadian Pacific Railway line between Montreal and New York City, and direct rail and highway access to the Port of Montreal
.

Facilities and aircraft

Plattsburgh International Airport covers an area of 1,912 acres (774

mean sea level. It has one runway designated 17/35 with an asphalt/concrete surface measuring 11,759 by 200 feet (3,584 x 61 m).[1]

The airport has a 35,300 square foot passenger terminal building that opened in 2007. Before 2007 the airport's main structures were the old

uncontrolled airport, limited to UNICOM
only).

Aircraft rescue and fire fighting is provided by the airport with a fire station utilizing the former USAF fire station adjacent to the old control tower. The department uses former military airport tenders and has a newer Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 (delivered in 2009).

As of 2016[update] Plattsburgh Airport had about 140,000 passengers enplane annually. The Federal Aviation Administration forecasts 300,000 passengers annually by 2030, in part because of Canadian use.[29] For the 12-month period ending June 30, 2018, the airport had 12,781 aircraft operations, an average of 35 per day: 55% general aviation, 23% air taxi, 21% scheduled commercial, and 2% military. At that time there were 30 aircraft based at this airport: 20 single-engine, 7 multi-engine, 2 jet, and 1 helicopter.[1]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
Allegiant Air Fort Lauderdale, Orlando/Sanford, Sarasota (begins June 12, 2024)[30]
Seasonal: Punta Gorda (FL), St. Petersburg/Clearwater 		[citation needed]
Breeze Airways Orlando
Seasonal: Tampa 		[31][32]
Contour Airlines Philadelphia [33]

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Ameriflight Buffalo, Syracuse
Montréal–Mirabel
Wiggins Airways Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, Newark

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from PBG (January 2023 - December 2023)[34]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Orlando/Sanford, Florida 22,410 Allegiant
1 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 19,360 Allegiant
3 St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida 15,700 Allegiant
4 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 9,930 Contour
5 Punta Gorda, Florida 3,760 Allegiant
6 Orlando–International, Florida 1,510 Breeze

Status and expansion

On September 5, 2007,

A320s
fly the bulk of Allegiant Air routes out of Plattsburgh.

On March 15, 2008, the airport began hosting regular service by

Boeing 737-400 aircraft. The reason Direct had chosen Lakeland as its latest destination was its proximity to both Orlando and Tampa. Direct Air planned to make flights to and from San Juan, Puerto Rico, starting on May 2, 2012. On March 13, 2012, Direct Air ceased operations.[38] The charter carrier was subject to Chapter 7 liquidation on April 12, 2012.[39]

The airport was served by

Boston Logan International Airport, exclusively using Saab 340 aircraft.[40] PenAir was selected as Colgan's replacement[41] and offered to two daily flights to Boston, subsidized by the Essential Air Service
program.

The airport was also served by Spirit Airlines with non-stop service to Fort Lauderdale and seasonal non-stop flights to Myrtle Beach. Also, it was reported on January 13, 2012, via WPTZ that the airport was planning on expanding by building a new two-story terminal with six additional jetways, along with expanded parking, ticket counters, baggage claims and security checkpoints which is estimated to cost more than $40 million. On September 18, 2012, the airport received more than $6.5 million in federal grants to use toward infrastructure improvements that should start early 2013.

Champlain Enterprises successfully restored a vintage 1943 Douglas DC-3 aircraft, which made its first post-restoration flight on June 2, 2006. The aircraft was housed in the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base Auxiliary hangar on the south side of the airports tarmac. It made regular air show appearances throughout the northeast U.S. for the following years, flying out of both Plattsburgh and Morrisonville, before the aircraft was purchased by Basler Turbo Conversions on March 8, 2013; it is currently based at BTC headquarters in Oshkosh, Wisconsin at Wittman Regional Airport.[42]

The airport underwent a $55 million expansion[2] with a two-story departure terminal with three new gates, bringing the total number of gates to four, an expanded ticket counter, larger baggage claim, among other improvements which will help the airport keep up with its growth.

As of 2019, the expanded concourse has three gates with jetways and a fourth gate that can have one added with increased service. A new customs facility was due to be opened in 2019.

On January 14, 2022 regional airlines SkyWest Air announced their intentions to cut subsidized service to Plattsburgh. Due to the sudden nature of the cancellations, a new bidding process began for a new airline[43]

On May 10, 2022 Contour Airlines was chosen as the replacement with 12 weekly flights to Philadelphia.[44]

Tenants

Beside the airlines there are other tenants at the airport, including:

  • Avflight Plattsburgh (FBO)
  • Exelon Powerlabs
  • FAA
  • Hertz Car Rental
  • Lakeside Container Corp.
  • Laurentian Aerospace
  • Northeast Group
  • Precision Jet Management
  • PrimeLink
  • Railtech Composites
  • Smardt Chillers, Incorporated
  • Top Aces
  • Triangle Electrical Systems
  • UPS Air Freight
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • Westinghouse Air Brake
  • Wood Group

See also

Other airports that target Canadian travelers as alternatives to their local airport(s):

Notes

  1. ^
    PDF
    . Federal Aviation Administration. Effective April 5, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Shalom, François (November 19, 2014). "Plattsburgh airport invests US$55 million to expand for Canadian market | Montreal Gazette". Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  3. ^ "Plattsburgh International to Temporarily Close Runway". www.aviationpros.com. February 18, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  4. ^ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012.
  5. ^ "Primary, Non-primary Commercial Service, and General Aviation Airports (by State)" (PDF, 891 KB). CY 2009 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. November 23, 2010.
  6. ^ "Primary, Non-primary Commercial Service, and General Aviation Airports (by State)" (PDF, 1.7 MB). CY 2011 Passenger Boarding and All-Cargo Data. Federal Aviation Administration. October 9, 2012.
  7. ^ 10 U.S.C. Sec. 2687 note
  8. ^ "Welcome to PARC". Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Authority. 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  9. ^ a b LoTemplio, Joe. "Will it fly? - Moving Clinton County Airport to PARC to get further scrutiny". Press Republican. March 26, 2001.
  10. ^ "The start of something big". Press Republican. March 8, 2001.
  11. ^ "2 county airports aren’t feasible". Press Republican. August 12, 2001.
  12. ^ "County woos airline for PARC airport role". Press Republican. August 12, 2000.
  13. ^ LoTemplio, Joe. "Air support: Moving County Airport draws public comment". Press Republican. December 13, 2001.
  14. ^ "FAA adds to Plattsburgh International building fund". Press Republican. September 11, 2003.
  15. ^ Heath, Dan. "Airport funding nearly aloft: Approval expected for $2 million to start construction of new terminal at former PAFB". Press Republican. November 14, 2003.
  16. ^ "Plattsburgh International Airport to Receive $500,000". Office of Sen. Charles E. Schumer. US Fed News. Press release. August 24, 2004.
  17. ^ LoTempio, Joe. "PJM deal advances: Business plan for aviation development at former PAFB said to be on schedule". Press Republican. July 21, 2004.
  18. ^ Heath, Dan. "What was deal breaker? 2 sides offer 2 takes on the PJM decision". Press Republican. September 24, 2004.
  19. ^ "PARC out, county in at airport helm". Press Republican. September 28, 2004.
  20. ^ "Sens. Schumer, Clinton Secure $721,000 in Essential Air Service Money for Plattsburgh International Airport". Office of Sen. Charles E. Schumer. US Fed News. Press release. November 22, 2004.
  21. ^ "Sens. Schumer, Clinton Announce Over $1.6 Million in Federal Money for Plattsburgh International Airport". Office of Sen. Charles E. Schumer. US Fed News. Press release. March 7, 2005.
  22. ^ "Sens. Schumer, Clinton Announce $2.6 Million in Federal Money for Plattsburgh International Airport". Office of Sen. Charles E. Schumer. US Fed News. Press release. April 1, 2005.
  23. ^ Heath, Dan. Transportation bill positive for area". Press Republican. August 3, 2005.
  24. ^ LoTempio, Joe. "Airport off and winging: VIPs at groundbreaking optimistic about future". Press Republican. August 17, 2005.
  25. ^ LoTemplio, Joe. "New airport opens amid great fanfare - Plattsburgh International Airport opens amid great fanfare". Press-Republican. Friday, April 27, 2007.
  26. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original
    on March 25, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  27. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  28. ^ Davis, Mark (August 26, 2015). "Taking Off: Plattsburgh Airport Is Drawing More Flights, Travelers". Seven Days.
  29. ^ a b "Plattsburgh airport vies for Montreal market". Burlington Free Press. March 18, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  30. ^ "Allegiant Announces Ten New Routes with One-Way Fares as Low as $45". Allegiant Travel Company (Press release). February 12, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  31. ^ "Plattsburgh International Airport to add direct Orlando flights". North Country Public Radio. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  32. ^ "Breeze Airways to now offer seasonal Tampa flights". Sun Community News. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  33. ^ "Route Map". Contour Airlines. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  34. ^ "Plattsburgh, NY: Plattsburgh International (PBG)". BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS. June 27, 2018.
  35. ^ Heath, Dan. "Allegiant Air to start flights Nov. 16". Press-Republican. September 5, 2007.
  36. ^ "Las Vegas-based airline expected to start serving Plattsburgh". Press-Republican. August 30, 2007.
  37. ^ "wcax.com – Allegiant ends Plattsburgh to Las Vegas route". Archived from the original on March 8, 2014.
  38. ^ SC-Based Charter Airline Cancels Flights, Associated Press, March 13, 2012
  39. ^ Heath, Dan (April 12, 2012). "Direct Air bankruptcy goes to Chapter 7". Plattsburgh Press-Republican. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  40. ^ "Vermont airport faces new competition". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved February 10, 2010. [dead link]
  41. ^ "PenAir to base operations in Plattsburgh". Press-Republican. May 21, 2012.
  42. ^ "Plattsburgh International Airport wins expansion funds". Press-Republican. September 18, 2012.
  43. ^ himself; Cream, The First Thing He Did with the License Was Get Ice; Management, go plane spotting for the entire day When he has the timehe likes to take spotting trips to any location worth a visit He’s currently enrolled at Western Michigan University earning a degree in Aviation; Operations. (January 15, 2022). "SkyWest Requests More Route Terminations – AirlineGeeks.com". AirlineGeeks.com – LIVE. LOVE. AVIATION. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  44. ^ "DOT approves application for Essential Air Service at Plattsburgh International Airport". Press-Republican. May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.

References

External links

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