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As board mulls request to support Boutique, mayor says either Massena or O'burg airport should close

Posted 12/18/18

By ANDY GARDNER North Country Now MASSENA -- As the Village Board of Trustees contemplates a request to support Boutique Air staying in Massena, the mayor thinks either Massena or Ogdensburg airport …

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As board mulls request to support Boutique, mayor says either Massena or O'burg airport should close

Posted

By ANDY GARDNER

North Country Now

MASSENA -- As the Village Board of Trustees contemplates a request to support Boutique Air staying in Massena, the mayor thinks either Massena or Ogdensburg airport should close and the remaining one operate regionally.

The Essential Air Service contract that subsidizes flights in and out of Massena and is about to expire. The current EAS carrier, Boutique Air, wants to be renewed. Cape Air and Skywest have also made bids. The Town Council is supporting Boutique, and on Tuesday Councilor Sam Carbone asked the village to also support the airline.

The trustees took no action, but Mayor Tim Currier said he thinks either Massena or Ogdensburg airport needs to close because of the amount of money that is spent on both.

"I think we need a regional airport. I think we need to sit down with Ogdensburg and make a tough decision and one of the airports has to close," Currier said.

Prior to the mayor's remark, Trustee Francis Carvel asked Carbone if he thinks the government will continue to support both. Ogdensburg also gets EAS money for Cape Air flights.

"How much longer do you think the feds are going to supplement two airports 35 miles apart?" Carvel asked.

"It's always on the slate to be removed and not funded anymore," Carbone said.