MASSENA -- Hoping for flights to Myrtle Beach and Florida, as Ogdensburg is planning an airport expansion, the Massena Town Council is seeking people to serve on an advisory committee for the Massena International Airport.

About 35 miles away in Ogdensburg, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the city’s request to extend the runway at the airport there by 1,200 feet. In order to accommodate the runway expansion, approximately 2,000 feet of State Rt. 68 will be relocated and additional fencing will be added.

Ogdensburglawmakers approved aresolution last year for a project that would expand the runway at the Ogdensburg International Airport to allow for larger planes and connecting flights. Ogdensburg is among the airports that Cape Air uses for short flights using small twin-engine aircraft.

Allegiant Air, which currently flies jetliners from Plattsburgh’s larger airport to Florida and Las Vegas, has agreed to invest $1 million in facilities at the Ogdensburg airport if the runway extension plan goes ahead.

The Massena committee will work in cooperation with the town council and staff to maintain and improve the facilities and services at the airport, located just off North Racquette River Road.

“Massena is blessed with a great airport. We believe it is the best in the area and has great potential to be even better,” said Town Supervisor Joseph D. Gray. “In fact, not long ago, the St. Lawrence County Legislature designated Massena as the regional airport for the county. We were fortunate to receive similar letters of support from almost two dozen other towns in the county.

“There has been a lot of discussion about changes that should be made at our airport but those decisions shouldn’t be made in a vacuum. That is why the town council wants to form this advisory committee to help us explore and research all possibilities for our airport,” Gray said.

With three flights daily to Albany and/or Boston, service is provided by Cape Air through a subsidy from the federal Essential Air Service Program. However, the town council wants to consider the possibility of other services at the airport, including one day perhaps direct or charter flights to southern destinations like Myrtle Beach or Florida.

“We are uniquely positioned mid-way between Plattsburgh and Watertown, on the US side of the border with Canada, and between Montreal and Ottawa on the Canadian side. There is great potential for Canadian ridership and better service for our region of the North Country. But much research and work needs to be done before we can move forward. The airport advisory committee can help us with that effort,” Gray said.

The committee will be limited in size to fewer than 10 people, so expressing interest does not guarantee membership on the committee, unfortunately, Gray added. The town council will select the members.

Anyone interested in serving on the committee is asked to contact Gray at the supervisor’s office by e-mail at supervisor@town.massena.ny.us or by telephone at 769-3588. Those interested should make contact by May 8.