SCHUMER: JETBLUE WILL BE LANDING AT ALBANY INT’L AIRPORT IN 2015 – AFTER SENATOR’S PUSH, JETBLUE AGREES TO FIRST-EVER PRESENCE AT ALBANY INT’L & WILL START DAILY FLIGHTS IN 2015
Schumer Announces JetBlue will Bring Low-Cost, Daily Service to Albany Int’l to Begin in 2015 – Reveals Flights will Connect Albany to Florida, a Popular Destinations for Capital Region Travelers
Last Month, Schumer Visited Albany Int’l to Make the Case for JetBlue to Set Up Shop – Capital Region has a Growing Population, Stable Job Market, and Demand for Another Low-Cost Carrier
Schumer: JetBlue Landing in Albany is a Win for the Airport, for JetBlue, and most of all for Capital Region Flyers and Businesses, Who Will See New Flights and Cheaper Prices
On Monday, at the Albany International Airport, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer joined airport and local officials and executives from JetBlue to announce that JetBlue will establish it’s first-ever presence in the Capital Region and start daily service at Albany International Airport in 2015. Schumer said that JetBlue, which has had success in other Upstate airports, will boost competition and availability of low-cost flights from Albany to popular JetBlue destinations. Last month, Schumer visited Albany International to make the case for another low-cost carrier to establish service at the airport, specifically pushing JetBlue to consider service at Albany. Over the past six months, Schumer has met and spoken with top JetBlue officials numerous times about Albany as part of his campaign to expand air service in New York State. Schumer said that Florida will be one of the destinations, given that it’s a popular destination for Capital Region travelers. Specific routes are not yet available.
“JetBlue has landed in Albany. This is game-changing news for Albany International and for Capital Region residents who will now have a new, low-cost carrier flying in and out of their local airport as soon as next year,” said Schumer. “This should increase competition at the airport, increase the availability of flights to Albany International’s most popular destinations, like Florida, and drive down prices for the average flyer. What’s more, it will keep more residents in the area flying out of Albany, instead of traveling out-of-state for cheaper flights. It’s a win across the board that will reap benefits for Albany International, JetBlue, and the region’s tourism industry for years to come.”
Schumer continued, “For 15 years now I have worked with JetBlue to bring their service all around the state; first to Buffalo, and then Syracuse and Rochester, each time with great success. Now, it's Albany's turn.”
In a letter to Schumer revealed today, JetBlue CEO Dave Barger said “I am delighted to confirm for you that JetBlue will inaugurate service with flights at Albany in 2015. I have asked our Network planning team to personally visit the airport, meet with its leadership and learn even more about what it will take to ensure our making Albany JetBlue’s eighth market in the state will be a great success.” Schumer has long fought to bring new airlines and routes to Upstate New York cities, including helping to bring Southwest to Albany and JetBlue to Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester.
With the growth of the nanotech industry – specifically chip fab – in the Capital Region, the economy is stable and median incomes are high. These factors mean Albany-area residents can afford traveling and will welcome new routes at their local airport. Schumer said that JetBlue’s plans to start service at Albany International can help attract new companies to the region and further spur the Capital Region’s growing tourism industry. Schumer explained that any increase in tourism has a ripple effect, boosting local restaurants, hotels, shops and much more. The more people coming to Albany, whether they are coming for business, or to visit family and friends, or for Saratoga Race Course, or the Adirondacks for recreation, the more money gets pumped into the local economy and more jobs are supported in the tourism industry.
Albany International Airport is currently serviced primarily by Southwest Airlines. While the airport has 56 daily departures, prices have risen dramatically over recent years, while the Capital Region economy has grown in recent years. According to Albany International Airport officials:
- 620,000 residents live within a 30-minue drive of Albany International and 1.2 million live within an hour’s drive;
- Albany International services approximately 1.215 million departing passengers a year;
- The population of the Albany/Schenectady/Troy has increased by 33,000 since 2000, but overall seating capacity at Albany is down 18.5% since 2008;
- Syracuse and Buffalo have more airline seating capacity per-resident than Albany.
Schumer argued that these opposite trends have driven up demand at Albany and led to fare increases; all domestic fares are up 27% since 2008. Schumer said that JetBlue’s introduction to Albany will mean more flights and an increase in competitiveness that will help drive down prices for all customers. Furthermore, as prices become more competitive, Albany International will retain more customers; now, some Capital Region residents travel across state lines to find cheaper flights or preferred routes at airports in Hartford or Boston.
Schumer, who has worked closely with JetBlue in the past, has been instrumental in bringing quality air service to the Upstate New York. Due to the immense success of the airline’s arrival in Buffalo, Schumer worked with JetBlue to bring the airline to the Rochester and Syracuse markets as well. Now that Schumer has brought JetBlue to Albany, JetBlue will service eight different markets in New York.