SCHUMER: - “PREPARE TO TAKEOFF”- AVELO AIRLINES WILL LAUNCH 4 NEW FLIGHTS TO FLORIDA AT THE GREATER BINGHAMTON AIRPORT, THE AIRLINES FIRST HUB IN NEW YORK STATE; AFTER SENATOR DELIVERED HISTORIC FUNDING TO STRENGTHEN THE AIRPORT’S OPERATIONS, SOUTHERN TIER WILL BE FLYING HIGHER THAN EVER BEFORE

In Recent Years, Schumer Championed Over $10+ Million In Fed Funding For The Greater Binghamton Airport To Strengthen Their Facilities, Accelerate Their Pandemic Recovery, And Attract New Air Service

Senator Says Long Awaited New Flights In Binghamton Will Increase Quality of Life, Boost Economic Development, And Help Southern Tier Reach New Heights  

Schumer: Landing Avelo Is Only The Beginning For Broome’s Economic Takeoff 

After delivering historic federal funding to the Greater Binghamton Airport to strengthen their operations to attract new carriers and bolster economic development, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced Avelo Airlines will add four new flights to Florida - two to Orlando and two to Fort Myers - in the Southern Tier. Schumer explained that he has worked for years to get the Greater Binghamton Airport the financial support it needs to recover from the pandemic and build back stronger, and today’s announcement shows those effort have paid off. The senator’s staff advocated directly to Avelo Airlines on behalf of the Broome County community, pitching the Southern Tier for the airlines first hub in New York State.

Senator Schumer said, “It is my honor to welcome Avelo to New York with Binghamton as their first hub. I know they will see what I’ve long-known: the Southern Tier is ready for take-off. I have relentlessly fought to deliver millions in funding to accelerate the Greater Binghamton Airport’s modernization– and with this new service the fruits of that labor are taking flight. The sky is the limit for Binghamton’s future!”

Jason Garnar, Broome County Executive said, “Broome County is excited to welcome  Avelo Airlines to The Greater Binghamton Airport. I thank Senator Schumer for his support of my administration's efforts to help secure this new air service opportunity for the Greater Binghamton Airport . He has long been a friend and supporter of Broome County and BGM. Whether it’s his work to support the expansion of air service here in Broome County, to deliver critical funds through COVID relief bills; ensuring we could keep the airport operational during the pandemic, or his leadership to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill delivering  funds to enable us expand and upgrade BGM’s facilities, Senator Schumer is a true partner and we are grateful for his leadership.”

Schumer has a long history of fighting to deliver robust federal funding for the Greater Binghamton Airport (BGM) and to help land new affordable air service in Upstate New York. Since the start of the pandemic, Schumer has delivered over $1.3 billion for New York’s airports, and specifically for the Greater Binghamton Airport over $1.3 million in the CARES Act, over $1 million in Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), and over $1.2 million in the American Rescue Plan. This funding was supercharged by the historic increases Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, which is expected to deliver over $5 million to BGM over the next 5 years. These funding increases also does not include the additional millions in federal grants that were bolstered by Congressional appropriations which Schumer worked to secure for the airport, including $1 million through the Small Community Air Service Development Program last year which can help continue to attract more air service opportunities in the future.

Schumer also said that today’s announcement will work hand and hand with his push for Binghamton University’s New Energy NY Proposal’s spot as a finalist in the EDA Regional Challenge for tens of millions in federal investment to create a battery research and manufacturing hub in Upstate New York. Schumer said that in pitching Avelo to come to Binghamton, the massive manufacturing potential and new emerging industries were a key factor, and that as the Southern Tier grows quality of life enhancements like convenient air service will be major draws. The senator said now, with the federal government making historic investments in clean energy battery research with the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, this announcement couldn’t have come at a better time as decision on the awards are expected within the coming weeks. Schumer, Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger, and Dr. Stan Whittingham, the 2019 winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work on the development of lithium ion batteries, recently penned a joint op-ed on the importance of bolstering battery technology for America’s future.

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