Schumer Announces Five New Round Trip Flights At Stewart International Airport

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today stood with Robert Fornaro, President and Chief Operating Officer of AirTran Airways, to announce that AirTran will begin new service from Stewart International Airport to four new destinations on January 11, 2007. The new service will provide two daily roundtrips to Atlanta, which is AirTrans hub, and one daily around trip each to Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa. Schumers announcement will have a major impact on the airport's development and air travel in the Hudson Valley.

I have long believed that Stewart Airport has enormous potential to be a strong regional airport that provides high quality, lowcost service to business and leisure travelers alike, Schumer said. Stewart is the perfect place for AirTran, and AirTran is the perfect airline for Stewart and the Hudson Valley. Companies often look at the number of flights before bringing in a new business, and up until a few years ago, people complained that there was no way to fly in and out of here at a reasonable rate. This is a great day, for Stewart and everyone in the Hudson Valley.

Schumer has been working for months with Chuck Seliga, President of Stewart Airport, and Robert Fornaro, President of AirTran Airways, to ensure this new lowcost service would become available at Stewart. Schumer has long been committed to improving the quality and availability of air service in the Hudson Valley, and he has been successful in bringing lowcost air service to markets throughout upstate New York.

I have big plans for Stewart, and look forward to working to build up the airport for years to come. Lowfare flights have a domino effect, causing other carriers to keep their ticket prices down. AirTran is going to be a shot in the arm for this region, because where there is affordable airfare, new visitors and new businesses will follow."