BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG. — A Clarkson University study found an unmet demand for air travel in the North Country, but Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority officials said limited flight options, airline connectivity and competition from larger airports make expanding service a challenge.

During a recent OBPA board meeting, Airport Manager Charlie Garrelts discussed the study, which surveyed 241 students, faculty and staff across the region’s higher education community. More than 60% of respondents said they would travel more frequently if airfares were lower and schedules improved.

The study, conducted by Clarkson University MBA students in partnership with the Village of Potsdam Planning and Development Office, identified New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Toronto as the destinations respondents most wanted to reach directly from the region.

Garrelts said business travelers expressed interest in routes to major hubs, including Dallas, Washington, D.C., New York and Chicago. However, he said establishing those routes involves more than simply offering a direct flight.

“The connection was the issue,” Garrelts said, referring to challenges associated with connecting passengers to other airlines and destinations.

Garrelts said passengers flying to a major airport need convenient connections with other carriers to continue their journeys. Without agreements between airlines, travelers may have to book separate tickets, retrieve their luggage and check in again for connecting flights.

He also said some major airports, including Chicago’s, have restrictions on available takeoff and landing slots, making it difficult for smaller regional airlines to secure access. Larger airlines may prefer to use those slots for bigger aircraft carrying substantially more passengers.

OBPA Chairman Sam Burns said the study was valuable but questioned whether it fully accounted for the practical challenges of establishing additional air service in Ogdensburg.

“We understand that we have limited service,” Burns said, noting that airlines would have to determine whether they could consistently fill aircraft with enough passengers to make routes financially viable.

“As much as we’d like to say we could provide this service, it’s just not realistic,” he said.

Burns said the study could have benefited from more information about the complexities of the airline industry, but offered appreciation for the work.

Garrelts said Syracuse and Ottawa are the closest options for travelers seeking flights to destinations such as Washington, Dallas, Chicago and New York City. Those airports offer access to a broader range of routes than Ogdensburg, but require North Country residents to travel farther to catch their flights.

Board member Nicole Terminelli said travelers in the region have options beyond Ogdensburg, including airports within a two-and-a-half- to three-hour drive.

She said the authority must consider those alternatives when deciding which services its own airport can realistically provide.

“We can't provide all of the things,” Terminelli said, adding that the authority must evaluate what is best for the majority of people using the airport.

Terminelli said other regional airports offer alternatives for travelers seeking destinations that Ogdensburg cannot serve directly.

The Clarkson study found that many students, faculty and staff already drive two to three hours to reach larger airports, increasing both travel time and costs. Researchers estimated that direct flights to major hubs such as New York City or Boston could increase travel demand by approximately 40%, with lower fares and better regional connectivity potentially generating further growth.

The findings also highlighted the role of air service in student recruitment, faculty retention, academic collaboration and international student travel, suggesting that improved connections could benefit colleges and the broader regional economy.

While the study points to demand for improved air travel options, the OBPA discussion highlighted the difficulty of translating that demand into sustainable service at a small regional airport. Officials said decisions must account for airline partnerships, passenger volumes and the availability of other airports serving the North Country.

The project was completed by Clarkson MBA students Bright Phiri, Violet Derbyshire, Ruvimbo Mabika and Stephen Colangelo under the supervision of Professor Krista Larock.

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