BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – As Breeze Airways continues to add connecting flights, traffic at the Ogdensburg airport is rising.

 Passenger traffic at Ogdensburg International Airport is showing continued growth, with year-to-date numbers surpassing the airport’s 2019 figures and Breeze Airways adding more connecting options through Raleigh, North Carolina, airport officials reported.

Airport Manager Charlie Garrelts said the airport  recorded 23,736 year-to-date enplanements through September 2026, already ahead of the total for the same period in 2019.

He said year-to-date passenger numbers were up more than 127% compared with the same point last year. August remained a strong month, with a reported load factor of about 77%, while September was slower. October’s passenger total was projected at approximately 2,531.

Garrelts said he believes the airport is moving in the right direction as Breeze continues to expand its network through Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Vegas and more

Beginning in June 2027, passengers departing Ogdensburg are expected to be able to connect through Raleigh to Las Vegas and return the same day without needing to stay overnight. The planned itinerary would involve an evening arrival in Las Vegas and a red-eye return flight, with passengers expected back in the Ogdensburg area the following morning.

Breeze has also added connections through Raleigh to destinations previously accessible through Dallas, including Provo, Utah, following the discontinuation of the Dallas route. Garrelts said passengers can still reach those destinations by connecting through Raleigh.

The airport is also using connecting-passenger data to evaluate potential future routes. Garrelts said the goal is to identify destinations that attract enough connecting traffic to potentially support seasonal nonstop service from Ogdensburg.

The airport’s Breeze service to Orlando is expected to return in February, with the booking window already open at the time of the meeting. Officials also discussed the possibility of introducing other seasonal destinations around the periods when the Orlando service is not operating.

A big impact

Garrelts said the airport’s economic impact was estimated at approximately $22.7 million in a New York State Department of Transportation report. The figure includes spending associated with passengers, airport operations, mechanics and other activities connected to the airport.

Officials noted that the reported economic impact is close to the cost of the airport’s recent modernization work, reinforcing the airport’s role in the local economy.

Garrelts also discussed major planned investment at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, where a reported $4 billion expansion plan includes a longer runway and an international terminal. The improvements could help Raleigh accommodate larger aircraft and additional international service.

He said Breeze is also considering obtaining a terminal of its own in Raleigh. Currently, the airline’s gates are located in the same general area, making connections relatively convenient for Ogdensburg passengers.

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