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Chautauqua County is at the moment endeavor an Air Service Restoration Program, a examine to find out whether or not Jamestown’s airport can maintain industrial air service. The examine will take three to 6 months to finish.
JAMESTOWN — Native officers consider the county’s two airports can present much-needed financial advantages, whether or not by the return of business air service to Jamestown or by pivoting to offer different air-related sources.
A bunch of county officers on Monday mentioned the airports and their potential to members of the Jamestown Metropolis Council.
Shannon Fischer, supervisor of county airports, was joined by County Government PJ Wendel in addition to legislators David Wilfong, R-Jamestown; Lisa Vanstrom, R-West Ellicott; and Pierre Chagnon.
Fischer stated the county is searching for “funding alternatives” for airport-related packages resembling Important Air Service, which supplies a authorities subsidy to airways to serve smaller communities.
In January 2018, the federal Transportation Division terminated its Important Air Service settlement with Southern Airways Specific after passenger counts fell to a median of 4 per day in Jamestown, far fewer than this system’s requirement of 10 passengers per day. The south county airport additionally had hassle assembly the requirement that subsidies be lower than $200 per passenger, with subsidy-per-passenger numbers of $630 that ranked among the many highest within the nation earlier than the contract was terminated.
The Dunkirk airport — thought-about a normal aviation facility — has by no means had industrial air service, and there was no push to convey it there.
On Monday, Fischer closely promoted the county’s Air Service Restoration Program that can decide whether or not Jamestown’s airport can maintain industrial air service. The examine will take three to 6 months to finish.
“We had the those who needed to fly,” Fischer stated. “It was the service on the time that type of went downhill. We all know that that’s an enormous hurdle, getting the suitable airline again right here. Additionally, every little thing has to simply come collectively; it’s not going to be a straightforward course of, however it’s one thing that we are able to do.”
Wilfong alluded to the “financial indicators” that can drive the Jamestown airport’s future.
“We’d like ridership,” he stated. “We will do a whole lot of these surveys, we are able to go to our elected officers and say what we want, however it actually boils right down to the ridership per day, monthly, for us to get that Important Air Service again. That’s an important half.”
There have been 7,943 arrivals and departures on the Jamestown airport final yr. In 2022, there have been 8,625 arrivals and departures, in addition to 6,347 arrivals and departures in 2021 and 5,101 arrivals and departures in 2020.
Wilfong stated the county will want town’s assist in getting folks to fly into the airport, situated simply north of town within the city of Ellicott.
“It’s essential that we get town behind us once we attempt to transfer ahead to get this survey completed,” Wilfong stated.
Acknowledging the variety of airport-related research accomplished over time, Wendel stated the county has by no means undertaken a market evaluation to find out whether or not there’s an urge for food for industrial air service.
In April 2023, the county Legislature agreed to spend $50,000 on the examine, with the county Industrial Improvement Company additionally contributing $25,000.
If it’s discovered that Jamestown doesn’t have the marketplace for Important Air Service, the county government stated there’s alternatives so as to add extra smaller hangars on airport property.
“Proper now there are folks coming from Akron, New York — coming to Jamestown as a result of we’ve area,” Wendel stated.
Fischer stated there’s a ready checklist to make the most of hangar area on the Dunkirk airport whereas Wendel stated the county may herald new income if further hangars have been constructed.
Wendel additionally famous that the county may pivot and attempt to market itself for electrical air service.
“Electrical air journey is just not out of the realm of chance. We have now a whole lot of alternatives,” he stated.
He added, “If folks had any clue of the individuals who flew out and in of those airports it might blow your thoughts. Folks come right here to get away. They arrive right here to nearly conceal, if you’ll. Celebrities, dignitaries, they fly out and in of that airport frequently.”
Council President Tony Dolce, R-Ward II, requested Fischer how town of Bradford in Pennsylvania sustains industrial service. She stated the Bradford airport depends on its connection to a neighborhood hospital and college.
Chagnon requested what number of airways can be prepared to serve Jamestown. In response, Fischer famous that there’s “a whole lot of curiosity” although only some truly qualify for the Important Air Service program.
“That’s what offsets that funding to make it cheap for all of us to fly,” she stated, including that the purpose can be for an airline to ultimately maintain itself with out reliance on an Important Air Service contract.
Wilfong stated industrial service in Jamestown is an “financial driver that we will need to have, particularly for Chautauqua County and, after all, town.”
