New York's Senator
CHARLES E. SCHUMER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 30, 2000

SCHUMER SAYS PAN AM AFFILIATE TO LAND AT ONEIDA COUNTY AIRPORT PENDING FEDERAL APPROVAL

Better Air Service & Lower Prices Closer to Becoming a Reality for Region

Senator Says New Air Service Likely To Include Service To Florida

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today said that Pan Am, through its affiliate Boston-Maine Airways (BM Air), plans to establish regularly scheduled service to Oneida County Airport pending federal approval of its J-31 turbo-prop plane fleet. Schumer said the airline will likely include a flight to Florida from Oneida and may initiate full jet service at the airport in the future.

"This is great news for the people of Oneida County," Schumer said. "Pan Am's efforts to start service to the area sends a loud message to other airlines that there is a market for affordable air service here in Central New York. I have a feeling that Pan Am and BM Air's future success is going to convince other airlines who are thinking about flying to Oneida just how profitable service to the area can be."

BM Air's Oneida service is likely to be on J-31 turbo-prop planes which still need to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before they can be used for regularly scheduled service. In conversations with Pan Am President David Fink, Schumer said he would work to ensure that the FAA's safety inspection of the planes is not delayed unnecessarily.

Schumer also said that Fink told him that BM-Air would likely go ahead with one-stop service from Oneida to Florida. Florida is the most popular destination for area residents and Schumer said that there were 32,000 trips taken there by area residents in 1999. "If they're reasonably priced, Central New Yorkers will be on those flights," Schumer said.

"County Executive Ralph Eannace has done some excellent work in courting BM Air and Pan Am and he should be commended for his efforts," Schumer said. "I am going to keep working with him to attract other carriers to the region."

With Oneida County Airport in danger of losing about $850,000 in 2002 because construction forced it below the 10,000 annual enplanement threshold that the FAA uses to apportion Federal airport aid, Schumer said Pan Am's arrival will bolster efforts to protect the assistance. Schumer has already contacted FAA Administrator Jane Garvey on the issue.

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