BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG -- The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Facilities Committee unanimously voted to reject both Essential Air Service bids on grounds that neither bid met the minimum level of service required.

The meeting was held Wednesday. The full board was expected to take up the issue at a meeting today.

According to board members, the Ogdensburg Airport guarantees twin-engine air service that neither Boutique Air or Air Chart Express offered to provide.

Although the OBPA makes a recommendation, the final decision on Essential Air Service falls with the Department of Transportation.

The OBPA hopes to find a successor for SkyWest, which receives DOT funding for providing essential air service for the airport. The company is looking to end service, but has been ordered to continue until a replacement is found.

SkyWest provided direct flights on a 50-passenger jet to Washington D.C., and the service was well received in the North Country.

Unfortunately COVID-19 restrictions hurt the travel industry causing many airlines to scale back on services. Ogdensburg airport, which usually benefits from international travelers from Canada, was hit particularly hard due to border closures related to COVID-19 restrictions.

Airlines have faced a variety of problems related to the pandemic including staffing shortages, travel restrictions and higher fuel costs.

At a recent committee meeting the OBPA decided to gather more information from the DOT regarding an “alternative EAS” program, which would function differently than the traditional EAS program in that the OBPA would make a contract with an airline and receive reimbursement funding from DOT, but further details weren’t available.

OBPA Executive Director Steve Lawrence said recently that from a financial perspective the model proposals would not likely meet the needs of the airport.

He pointed out that the improvements to OGS in recent years were aimed at bringing in larger planes with more traffic.

A lengthened runway, modernized equipment and parking improvements were all aimed at offering expanded service offerings.

At a recent facilities committee meeting OBPA Chairman Vernon “Sam” Burns echoed his statement adding that Ogdensburg worked to get a Class 1 status and succeeded.

He said that Ogdensburg’s model had been proven to work and that they needed to ensure they can provide the service people have come to expect from them. Specifically, jet service to a hub airport that would allow people to travel anywhere in the country.

“That’s what I think we need to look for if we’re really going to keep investing in the airport and following what we want to do with the traveling public up north and expand our base of who we attract as passengers to our airport,” he said. “Unfortunately a nine-passenger plane will not do that.”