SCHUMER URGES NY-BASED JETBLUE TO LAND IN ONEIDA COUNTY; CALLS CEO OF JETBLUE DIRECTLY AND ADVOCATES FOR GRIFFISS’S PREMIER AVIATION IN ROME; SENATOR SAYS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JETBLUE & PREMIER WOULD ALLOW MORE JOBS TO FLY INTO ONEIDA COUNTY

Schumer Lead The Advocacy For Griffiss After Empire Aero Took Off; Today, Premier Aviation Employs Over 150 People & Performs Critical Maintenance Work That Schumer Wants Big Players Like JetBlue To Utilize

Premier Is In Talks To Do Business With JetBlue; Schumer Makes The Case For Why Griffiss Is The Place To Be; Agreement with JetBlue Could Add At Least 100 New Jobs To Griffiss Maintenance Hub

Schumer To JetBlue: Come To The (Tray) Table With Premier, Make an Agreement & Fly Into Griffiss

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged New York-based JetBlue to do even more business in New York by centering some of their maintenance operations to Rome, NY – specifically with Premier Aviation at Griffiss Airport. Schumer called JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes directly in support of bringing additional maintenance work to Rome, highlighting the importance such work could have for creating jobs at Premier. Schumer touted Central New York’s deep and talented workforce and the low cost of doing business in this region. Premier has estimated that it could need to hire at least 100 people in order to complete this potential work.

“Simply put, a relationship between JetBlue and Premier Aviation would land more jobs at Griffiss and in Oneida County and that’s what I’ve always fought for,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “An agreement that flies and allows Griffiss to expand and continue its work as a renowned maintenance hub would be a match made in heaven and one that could lead to Griffiss getting even more work in the future. There are a number of positive impacts if New York’s Hometown Airline, JetBlue, selects Premier and that’s why I called the JetBlue CEO directly and urged the company to bring this new keep business to New York and continue their great track record of investing in our state’s economy. Doing so will allow Premier and its world-class workforce to work on these vital aircraft carriers, create new, good-paying jobs, and allow for the economic benefits to reverberate throughout Oneida County and Central New York.”

Premier Aviation, which employs over 150 people in Rome, NY, currently performs maintenance on aircraft carriers at a former Air Force Hangar at the Griffiss Business Park. Schumer urged JetBlue to bring the work in New York State by working with Premier. Schumer said hiring more than 100 new employees in Rome to complete this work would be a boon for the local economy and would have positive economic ripple effects throughout the region.

Schumer has a long and committed history helping Griffiss International Airport get off the ground as a well-known aircraft maintenance hub. In 2010, it was Schumer who jumped in to help Griffiss land a new, major tenant after the prior tenant, Empire Aero, announced their departure and several job losses. The Senator helped advance a contract signing between Premier and Empire Aero that required the blessing of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Schumer stepped in to both advance that effort and keep the wheels in motion so Premier could set up shop at Griffiss. Schumer later visited Oneida County to officiate Premier Aviation’s formal leasing at Griffiss and the jobs they were bringing to the area, jobs Schumer has worked to grow, in part, with efforts like today’s.   

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