Two airlines bid on Lake Clear airport subsidy
By CHRIS KNIGHT, Enterprise Senior Staff WriterArticle Photos
SARANAC LAKE - Two airlines have submitted bids to the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide commercial passenger service at the Adirondack Regional Airport in Lake Clear.
Cape Air, the airport's current carrier, and Colgan Air Inc., were the only two airlines that responded to the U.S. DOT's request for proposals by an Oct. 29 deadline. Both are seeking federal subsidies from the Essential Air Service program to serve passengers in Saranac Lake and Plattsburgh.
Cape Air, based in Hyannis, Mass., wants to continue serving both communities but also says in its 33-page proposal that it is "willing and able to serve either community without the other."
The airline began flying between Saranac Lake, Plattsburgh and Logan International Airport in Boston in February 2008 with nine-seat Cessna 402 aircraft. Cape Air's proposal says it has increased enplanements (the number of passengers boarding an airplane) by 44 percent in Saranac Lake and 145 percent in Plattsburgh. The company also says its passengers will be able to "connect seamlessly" to JetBlue flights in Boston using a new reservation system.
Michelle Haynes, communications director for Cape Air, said they want to continue serving the area.
"We love the communities up there," she said. "The people in Saranac Lake and Plattsburgh have been extraordinarily supportive of the service. We've had great numbers, and we're very happy."
Cape Air's proposal contained six different service options, two of which would provide additional flights at both the Saranac Lake and Plattsburgh airports between June and September and another two options that would provide Plattsburgh passengers with service to Albany. But the U.S. DOT is not considering those options because they are "above and beyond the level of service" that was being sought in the request for proposals.
That leaves Cape Air with two viable proposals, each of which includes three daily, round-trip flights to Boston from Saranac Lake and Plattsburgh. The airline is seeking an annual federal subsidy of $2.7 million for a two-year contract or $2.6 million annually under a four-year contract.
Colgan Air, based in Manassas, Va., filed a six-page proposal to the U.S. DOT requesting a two-year subsidy of $3.2 million for year one and $3.1 million in year two. The company says it will provide 19 round-trip flights each week between Saranac Lake and Plattsburgh and Boston using 34-seat Saab 340 planes.
Colgan provides service as U.S. Airways Express, a partnership the company says allows "seamless connection to U.S. Airways domestic and international route system via the U.S. Airways focus city at Boston Logan International Airport."
"Colgan Air has a long operating history with U.S. Airways at Boston Logan and has consistently demonstrated a commitment to outstanding passenger service to the communities we serve," the company's proposal says.
A call to Colgan Air for additional comment wasn't returned Friday.
Before deciding which airline will get the subsidy, the U.S. DOT is requesting input from local officials on each airline's proposals.
Town of Harrietstown Supervisor Larry Miller told the Enterprise last month that he's pleased with the service provided by Cape Air and hopes the airline secures a contract to continue flying out of the Lake Clear airport, which is run by the town.
"We'll look at all the proposals," he said. "But personally, I'm leaning toward Cape Air. Cape Air has made a commitment that they're part of the community."
Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sylvie Nelson also hopes Cape Air wins the subsidy.
"The ultimate decision will be made by the federal government," she said Friday, "but our experience with Cape Air has been extremely positive. We've never heard one complaint from anyone regarding Cape Air. They've proven themselves in the past two years."
Cape Air's current federal subsidy expires on March 1, 2010. The U.S. DOT will likely award a new contract sometime in January.
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Contact Chris Knight at 891-2600 ext. 24 or cknight@adirondackdailyenterprise.com.
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Outlaw63446
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11-09-09 5:29 AM
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For the $3.2 million annual subsidy, they could buy everyone who wants to travel a brand new car, which they could drive to Albany airport and abandon there. Or, provide limo service from their doorstep to Albany airport, and still have tons of money left over. Airports are good, airlines are good, it's just that, when the government gets involved, everything turns sour as our money is wasted.
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northcountrynell
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11-08-09 6:49 AM
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impartiallyobservant....dont forget the 5lb bricks O' free cheese!!!!
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impartiallyobservant
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11-07-09 10:53 AM
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Colgan Air? Get real. That's the company that ran the commuter jet that crashed near Buffalo this year, and it was apparent from that incident that they ran fast-and-loose on some of the critical air safety rules. And to all the conservative wahoos who seem to populate this space... Funny how you oppose government spending on the things you, personally, choose not to use, such as the local airport. But I bet you'd scream like a baby if we threatened to cut government funding for stuff you use, like Medicare-paid visits to the psychiatrist, government-funded pheasant-breeding programs (so all you Great White Hunters have something to shoot), etc. etc. You uber-conservatives want us to believe you're standing up for some kind of intellectual philosophy. But with you, it's really only about whose ox is being gored.
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silenceisgolden
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11-06-09 9:33 PM
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P'burgh is barely an improvement over SL as an airport. I know of very few people who choose P'burgh except maybe to Florida. It's either SL or Albany/Burlington/Montreal (2+ hr) or Syracuse (3-4hr). And no, I don't necessarily believe anyone already in the area will leave, but I do think it would be one more thing people who might be considering coming might contemplate. And in a lot of places, even if it is 40+ miles to an airport, it's not facing potential winter driving 6 mos. of the year to get there.
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vendor
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11-06-09 8:48 PM
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Its a 40 mile trip to Plattsburgh. Most places it takes a couple of hours to get to an airport. To think any one would leave over an extra 40 miles. To fly a larger aircraft, with less stops seem far fetched. It would also make Plattsburgh, more attractive to bring in another airline.
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silenceisgolden
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11-06-09 7:00 PM
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Y'all want to see even MORE people leave the tri-lakes? Get rid of the airport. Now, maybe it's the right thing to do, but it's just one less reason for people to commit to living in an already remote area. Face it-- without money from the govt (fed and state), the Tri-Lakes doesn't exist in any shape recognizable to what it is now. Again, maybe the right answer is to let the area shrink to what it can rightfully support on its own, but you can't have it both ways.
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vendor
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11-06-09 5:16 PM
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Your right, this is as big a waste as the train to no where.
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TruLiberShultz
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11-06-09 4:09 PM
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Long ago we in New York State, and especially the Adirondacks, bought into the program where the government is the customer of all that we produce, and the provider of all we consume. Few among us do not get our meal ticket from Washington or Albany - even flight service. This is the foundation of tyrany and destitution. With the election of Owens, we have shown our preference for business as usual.
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