The Albany Inter-national Airport has teamed up with several chambers of commerce in the Capital District to put forth an application for a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to either bring in another airline or create new flight destinations.
The grant is called the Small Community Air Service Development grant and is worth up to $1.5 million. The amount of grant funds the Albany International Airport would receive is based upon the amount of matching funds that comes from the community.
This comes in response to what Albany International Airport Public Affairs Director Doug Myers said is a demand from regional businesses for increased air service. With the support of the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Center for Economic Growth, the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce, the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce and the Schenectady County Chamber of Commerce, they were able to raise over $500,000. The funds were a combination of donations from businesses and in kind donations from print and broadcast media.
“We applied a year ago and were not successful,” said Myers. “I believe we did not exhibit community support to bring in new airline or have an existing airline with a non-stop flight to a new destination. Usually, the support is shown in the amount of pledged dollars to offset the costs of operating an airline for a year. Airlines are looking for new cities and expanded route systems, but are not willing to take the chance to use them unless there is community support. They don’t want to lose money.”
Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, said the group of chambers originally approached the authority to inquire about getting more flights or carriers to help accommodate the rise of the high-tech sector in the region. He said there are fewer flights going to fewer destinations then there were five years ago from the airport.
“We want to reduce the trend,” he said. “We want more flights and more carriers. Strategically for tech centers and other companies, we need to get to the West Coast.”
Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce President Mark Eagan said that eight months ago he had heard prices started creeping up at the airport, making it more difficult for the business traveler and the leisurely traveler. It was something he wanted to fix, and he felt the grant would be a great opportunity.
“The airport is an economic engine for this region,” Eagan said. “If you’re going to realize to true economic potential of the airport and want businesses to locate here, you need more services, you need more connections and you need more competitive pricing.”
Shimkus said the chambers wanted to raise a minimum of $500,000 to be competitive in the grant. There were 40 to 50 organizations and companies that made the pledge, which put them over the amount of their goal. Shimkus said it was all done in a four week period starting on July 5, which is when they were notified.
“You get a 30-day notice,” he said. “That’s a pretty short window.”
If the airport does get the grant, Myers said the desired new destinations are Houston, Denver and Dallas, where he said most of the high tech businesses are located out west. Myers added that they would also be good connecting flights for destinations such as Japan and the Caribbean. He also said the airport is looking to bring in American Airlines, JetBlue airlines or Frontier Airlines.
“The airport is an economic engine for this region,” Eagan said. “If you’re going to realize to true economic potential of the airport and want businesses to locate here, you need more services, you need more connections and you need more competitive pricing.”
The U.S. DOT will take two months to review the applications and will notify airports whether or not it has received the grant.
Shimkus said that regardless if the airport gets the grant, the three organizations are still getting together to think of different ways to attract more airlines or find new destinations for non-stop flights. He said they have been meeting with different airlines and talking with several companies about what their air service needs are.
“One thing we know is we have a database of about 50 companies we know have a vested interest in this, and we intend to keep them informed and engaged in that outreach effort,” Shimkus said. “We’ve been telling the members of our chambers if they have specific needs for new flights and new services, then let us know.”
