HARRIMAN – New York Stewart International Airport lost a popular carrier this year due to an industry-wide grounding, but a mail carrier helped by connecting to the west coast and creating jobs. “We had a disappointment with Norwegian Airlines and the grounding of the 737 Max,” said Ed Harrison, of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
Harrison was the keynote speaker Thursday for the Orange County Chamber of Commerce monthly breakfast at Woodbury Common.
Norwegian Airlines and Boeing disappointed plenty of travelers in the region, wanting affordable, direct flights to Ireland, with the 737 Max debacle. Kallita Air then helped offset that loss this year by sending five cargo flights a week on 747 jumbo jets to Los Angeles.
“That essentially created about 50 jobs, and it will double the amount of cargo we handle at the airport,” said Harrison. “And Kallita Air is very happy with the operation.”
Business at the airport experienced the normal ups and downs, but the Port Authority decided to rebrand the airport to take advantage of Search Engine Optimization (SE0) and try and direct more traffic to Newburgh. “Now New York Stewart pops up,” said Harrison, “and we’re competing with other airports in the region and the East Coast.”
Away from the daily cargo, passenger and Air National Guard flights, the public was able to enjoy the airspace this year with the spectacle of an air show. “And we had an extraordinary New York International Air Show, which generates over $5 million in economic activity to the region,” said Harrison.
Signature Flight Support is building a new hanger, and $45 million is being invested in a federal inspection station, which will be completed in June 2020. And it will help with attracting more international carriers “So that’s a big deal for us,” said Harrison, of the federal inspection station upgrades.
The Port Authority is estimating moderate passenger traffic in Newburgh in 2020 as it tries to attract more carriers.“We’re looking to the future and talking to airlines all over the world about the benefits of coming to the New York Stewart International Airport,” said Harrison.
