OGDENSBURG – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved $7,597,458 in federal funding for the long-awaited runway extension at the Ogdensburg International Airport, according to a press release from New York’s U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

The senators said this funding is the first step in extending the runway since the November 2014 approval for Ogdensburg Airport’s request to extend its runway by 1,200 feet. The airport seeks to complete its runway extension and begin low-fare airline service with Allegiant Air.

Allegiant Air, which decided in 2014 to offer flights from Ogdensburg, said the extension is vital for them to be able to land its planes. Allegiant Air flies much larger planes than the ones that currently take off and land at Ogdensburg Airport. Schumer and Gillibrand said this runway extension project would provide low-fare options for North Country residents, in addition to numerous other economic development benefits for the region.

In 2014, the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority reached an agreement with Allegiant Air to provide low-cost carrier services at the airport beginning in November 2016, contingent upon the airport expansion. This airport expansion includes a 1,200-foot extension of Runway 27, taxiway widening and extension, runway approach lighting improvements, relocation of a section of Route 68 to accommodate the runway extension, and obstruction removal. The airport also plans to expand the terminal and add a 478-space parking area, which will be funded through non-FAA sources.

The press release notes that recent analysis indicates that the economic impact of OGS in 2017, post-runway expansion, will increase significantly. Schumer and Gillibrand said, after the expansion, the airport will support 125-135 jobs, compared to 53 in 2010. In addition, the total amount of direct and indirect economic activity produced by OGS could nearly double, from $7.4 million in 2010 to $13.4-13.8 million in 2017. The runway extension could also bring 38,000 new Canadian tourists and their resources into the region. Schumer and Gillibrand said this runway extension project and the new flights will have numerous benefits for the North Country, creating construction jobs, promoting tourism, increasing travel options for residents, and creating a more favorable business climate across the region.