Boutique Air continuing as Massena's Essential Air Service provider
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Monday that it had selected Boutique Air to continue serving as the town of Massena's Essential Air Service provider for the next three years, running from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2028.
Boutique Air will provide 21 weekly round trips between Massena and Boston Logan International Airport and will receive a subsidy of $5,756,644 in year one, $6,044,477 in year two, and $6,225,811 in year three, the amount they had proposed in their bid package.
Their previous annual subsidy rate was $5,322,161 for the first year and $5,535,047 for the second year of their contract.
Boutique Air, Cape Air and Contour Airlines had submitted their proposals to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The proposals ranged from $6.5 million for one year to near $25 million over four years.
Cape Air offered three proposals — option A of 21 weekly non-stop round trips to Boston, option B of 21 weekly non-stop round trips to Boston and seven weekly non-stop round trips to Albany, or option C of 21 weekly round trips to Boston with 14 non-stop and seven via Albany. Contour Air proposed 12 weekly round trips to Dulles or Philadelphia International Airport.
They had proposed two- and four-year contracts.
For Massena to Boston under a two-year contract, they were seeking a subsidy of $5,615,014 for year one and $5,923,840 for year two. Under a four-year contract, they were seeking $5,544,826 for year one, $5,849,792 for year two, $6,171,530 for year three, and $6,510,965 for year four.
For option B, under a two-year contract, the were seeking $6,229,784 for year one and $6,572,422 for year two, Under a four-year contract, the were seeking $6,151,911 for year one, $6,490,267 for year two, $6,847,231 for year three, and $7,223,829 for year four.
For option C, under a two year contract, they were seeking $5,146,259 for year one and $5,429,303 for year two. Under a four-year contract, they were seeking $5,081,931 for year one, $5,361,437 for year two, $5,656,316 for year three, and $5,967,413 for year four.
Contour Airlines was seeking a one-year subsidy of $6,531,324.75. In their proposal, they said service was "contingent on the community waiving its right to scheduled air transportation or submission as Alternate Essential Air Service." Their proposal would have been operated as a public charter and, if selected, would need to be administered through the Alternate Essential Air Service program.
After reviewing proposals from the three air carriers, the Massena Town Board endorsed Boutique Air in January.
"After researching each carrier, listening to their presentations, asking them questions along with providing our expectations, we recommend Boutique Air for a three-year contract. Given their current working relationship with Massena, their timely response to our concerns, community involvement, their positive responsiveness to passengers, willingness to continue service here, as well as making some of our suggested improvements, we highly recommend Boutique Air," they said in their letter to the Department of Transportation.
In addition, Department of Transportation officials said they received letters from numerous citizens expressing their support for Boutique Air's proposal, citing good reliability, pressurized aircraft, and excellent customer service.
They agreed with the town board's recommendation, noting, "Boutique's proposal best aligns with the totality of the air carrier selection factors the Department is required to consider, and the Department finds its proposed service levels and subsidy request reasonable."
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