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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 17, 2007

Schumer And Clinton Announce Over $2.4 Million For Niagara Falls International Airport Included In Senate Bill

Funding Will be Used to Build a New Terminal Apron and Support Road Improvements, Enabling NFIA to Continue Growing into a Major Cargo Hub

Schumer, Clinton Pushed for Funds to be Included in the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Expected to Pass the House Tonight and the Senate Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, DC—Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that $2,401,000 for Niagara Falls International Airport will be included in the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. The omnibus bill, which includes 11 appropriations bills, will be voted on by the House and Senate this week, before being sent to the President for his signature.

“These funds will enable Niagara International Airport to take a giant step forward in becoming a prime international cargo shipping hub,” Senator Schumer said.  “Including this project in the omnibus brings us that much closer to implementing improvements that will expand capacity and ensure that the airport is able to grow cargo operations and accommodate a wide variety of planes.  With this funding, Niagara International is poised to make the most of its strategic location as an international and inter-modal trade center.  I will continue fighting to secure these crucial funds to make the airport a world-class, job-producing, cargo hub.”

“This is a key investment in the Niagara Falls International Airport that will allow the facility to better capitalize on its unique geographic location,” Senator Clinton said. “A new terminal apron would allow increased cargo operations, and boost the potential for economic growth and the prospect for additional revenue from add-on services like warehousing, manufacturing and more. This is wonderful news for Niagara Falls International Airport and for the entire community.”

Federal funds will be used at the Niagara Falls International Airport to build a new terminal apron and for road improvements.  The new apron will be large enough for two B-747 aircrafts to park alongside the cargo facilities and simultaneously operate.  Adding 53,850 square feet of asphalt pavement, and 29,500 square feet of concrete in phase 1B will alleviate any operating constraints related to simultaneous operations of multiple aircraft. Filling in the 162,000 square feet of pavement from Phase 1A, will prevent the cargo operators from having to tug the planes to the cargo hanger in order to comply with FAA clearance and operating regulations.  This construction will meet the needs of planned cargo operations, accommodate the various types of aircraft that would use the facility, and be a significant step in integrating the airport into the economic development infrastructure of the greater Niagara area.

Located five miles from the Canadian boarder with the fourth largest runway in New York State - a 10,825 ft. take-off length - NFIA serves a niche market.  With the ability to accommodate any type of aircraft currently flying, NFIA is poised to capitalize on its geographic location and serve cargo carriers from various markets. However, NFIA currently does not have adequate apron outside of the object free zone by the cargo hangers to accommodate the large aircraft for loading and unloading activities.

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) seeks to complete Phase 1B of the Cargo Apron at the Niagara Falls International Airport. The NFTA Board of Commissioners in 2006 authorized the execution of a Development and Ground Lease Agreement with Niagara Cargo Port LLC (NCP) - a consortium of three cargo businesses to develop a cargo handling facility at the NFIA.  In order to accommodate this new activity, infrastructure improvements need to be made to the cargo apron by the cargo hanger.

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