Parking is now free at Ogdensburg airport, and passengers are up
The OBPA Board of Directors voted unanimously to offer free parking during their March 13 meeting.
OBPA Chief Financial Officer cited several reasons for waiving the fees, which including anticipated construction disruptions caused by the terminal overhaul project.
CFO Patricia Nisco said parking will be free "for the foreseeable future" and the board can reinstate fees at any time.
The terminal project, which was awarded $18 million from Gov. Kathy C. Hochul's $230 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition, will expand the check-in, ticketing and baggage drop-off areas, construct a new canopy over the curbside drop-off/pickup area, install new passenger information display systems, among other improvements. A new, multi-purpose great room will be created to provide community space for civic gatherings, conferences, business meetings and other public events.
OBPA Board Chair Vernon J. "Sam" Burns said he hopes the free parking will be an enticement for Canadian travelers.
"Considering everything that's happening between our country and Canada, I think this also pertains to helping our Canadian travelers that thankfully come to our airport and use our airline out of here," Burns said. "We are taking into consideration some of the issues that seem to be between our country and theirs. We love having them coming here. We hope they continue"
"Hopefully a lot of North Country residents and other Americans will decide to go to Canada and continue the friendship our countries have had for over 200 years."
Airport Manager Charlie Garrelts said Wednesday that enplanements at the airport for February totaled "800 to 900." That's up from 470 enplaned passengers in January.
"We saw more enplanements because of Florida flights. That's climbing. We're seeing good feedback from the Florida flight as well," he said. "We haven't seen that number for years."
Breeze Airways took over as Ogdensburg's Essential Air Service carrier last year.
Essential Air Service is a U.S. Department of Transportation program that subsidizes flights between smaller rural airports and larger air hubs.
Breeze also offers connecting flights from Dulles to Provo, Utah. On Nov. 8, Breeze started offering connecting flights from Dulles to South Bend, Indiana, and on Nov. 21, the carrier began a third connecting flight from Dulles to Vero Beach, Florida. They also offer flights to and from Orlando, Fla. through April 27. All of the flights are on 137-passenger Airbus A220-300 jets.
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