By ANDY GARDNER MASSENA -- Since Boutique Air has switched their Massena destination to Boston, they are buying more fuel from the town and may turn Massena International Airport into an east coast …
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By ANDY GARDNER
MASSENA -- Since Boutique Air has switched their Massena destination to Boston, they are buying more fuel from the town and may turn Massena International Airport into an east coast maintenance facility.
Meanwhile, the town is looking at producing a television commercial advertising the airport and the airline.
Boutique Air recently received FAA approval to scrap their Albany and Baltimore flights out of Massena in exchange for a Boston route. Since then, Highway Superintendent Frank Diagostino said the airline has been buying, from the town, 3,000 gallons of jet fuel per month because it’s cheaper than the $10 per gallon charged at Logan International.
“That could be a boost to our revenue stream,” he told the board at Wednesday’s Town Council meeting.
He added that a Boutique Air mechanic recently started working out of Massena’s airport.
"From what I'm hearing, that's their plan now is to set this up as a maintenance facility ... so that's potentially more business for us,” he told the board.
"They seem prepared to bid on more EAS contracts in the east,” Councilor Al Nicola said. EAS is short for Essential Air Service, the federal program that subsidizes flights out of rural airports, including Massena and Ogdensburg.
"They can expand all they want in Massena,” Town Supervisor Steve O’Shaughnessy said.
"We’re working with Boutique Air to make a commercial about our airport and the airline that's servicing now,” he said.
He said they are in the process of seeking a quote on production and marketing in the Boston area and in Canada.