After Schumer's Lobbying, Syracuse To Receive $480,000 For Hancock International Airport
Money will be used for a new marketing program targeting low fare air carriers highlighting the benefits of service to the Syracuse area
Last week, Schumer urged Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta to award the grant to Syracuse
US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the US Department of Transportation has awarded a $480,000 Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program grant to the City of Syracuse and the MDA of Syracuse to promote the benefits of providing low fare service to Syracuse Hancock International Airport. Last week Schumer personally lobbied federal Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, asking him to fund the project.
Affordable air service is a critical engine of the Central New York's continued economic growth, said Schumer. We've worked hard to bring low fare air service to Syracuse and this funding could help us bring even more options for businesses and travelers in the Syracuse region."
The funding will be used to create a new aggressive Marketing and Business Air Travel Program which will target air carriers that provide low cost business fares in the Syracuse region and provide incentives for those carriers to expand their service at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. The campaign is designed to highlight the benefits of lower business travel fares to the airport from connecting markets.
On July 27th, Schumer wrote a letter to Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta asking him to provide funding for the project. In the letter, Schumer wrote, This grant will allow the airport to increase economic and business growth through the development of affordable transportation. I applaud Syracuse Hancock International Airport in its foresight and hope its application for funding meets with your approval. Schumer contacted Mineta again last week over the phone to further lobby for the funding.
Schumer has been a long time proponent of getting better air service in Central New York. In May, he helped to bring Independence Air to Syracuse Hancock Airport. This month, Independence Air will begin 8 daily round trip flights from Syracuse to Washington DC and 21 connecting cities for as low as $59 for a oneway ticket. In July, Schumer announced $750,000 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants to Syracuse Hancock International Airport for terminal improvements.
