CHUCK WANTS MORE FLIGHTS OUT OF MACARTHUR

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on Gary C. Kelly, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Airlines, to consider additional flight capacity for MacArthur Airport on Long Island if a proposed merger between Southwest and AirTran goes through. Southwest Airlines is MacArthur's most prosperous airline and gaining access to airports currently serviced by AirTran, such as Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, would be hugely beneficial to Southwest passengers in Long Island, New York.

"Convenient and affordable air service is essential for Long Island families and this merger presents significant opportunities for Long Island residents who depend on MacArthur for cheaper, more convenient, air travel," said Schumer. "Service to Atlanta would give travelers the ability to get to multiple destinations, nationally and internationally, that they currently cannot get to via MacArthur."

Yesterday, Southwest Airlines announced that it planned to purchase AirTran in a $1.4 billion deal that will reportedly mean current AirTran operations will adopt Southwest policies. And while the effect on Long Island air service is currently unclear, Schumer pressed Southwest's CEO to explore opportunities at airports that currently service Air Tran flights. 

Service to Atlanta Harstfield-Jackson International Airport from MacArthur would provide coverage for a major gap in East Coast service between Baltimore and Orlando. Additionally, access to Atlanta would open up MacArthur Airport to connecting flights for major vacation destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico. According to a demand study funded with the support of Schumer, MacArthur Airport estimates there are 258,000 potential customers that currently fly to Atlanta from New York City airports who could fly instead out of Long Island. 

Dear Mr. Kelly: 

I write in response to the recent report that Southwest Airlines (Southwest) will purchase  AirTran Airways (AirTran).  I understand the effects that this proposal would have on consumers' ticket prices have yet to be debated, but in the event of a completed merger, I ask that Southwest explore adding flights at Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) to Atlanta with the new capacity that purchasing AirTran will afford. 

Southwest is far and away ISP's most prominent airline, having carried 95% of the airport's passengers in the past year according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.  Gaining access to airports currently serviced by AirTran, such as Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, would be hugely beneficial to Southwest passengers in Long Island, New York. In particular, service to Atlanta would help cover a service gap between Baltimore and Orlando and also provide Long Island travelers with connections to vacation destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. According to a demand study I helped fund, MacArthur Airport estimates there are 258,000 potential customers in the New York City region who could fly out of Long Island.

Access to frequent and convenient air service is vital to the continued economic viability of any region, especially those of New York State.  The economy of Long Island is undoubtedly bolstered through the ability of its airport to move both business and leisure travelers, which is why opportunities to increase air service is so valuable. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter.  If you have any questions or need additional information please contact Katie Kulpa in my Washington, DC office at 202-224-6542.

Sincerely,