Published:
Airline Industry Turbulence Will Not leave Long Island Stranded, LI MacArthur Chief Tells the ABLI
LONG ISLAND, N.Y., July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- In discussions with leaders of
the Association for a Better Long Island, (ABLI) the commissioner of Long
Island MacArthur Airport says she expects to see a continuing volatility among
the commercial carriers serving the tri-state region and specifically those
that fly into Long Island MacArthur. However, Teresa Rizzuto told the ABLI
public policy steering committee that Long Island's 2.7 million people will
never want for commercial air service because the airlines can't ignore such a
powerful economic market.
"I fully expect the names of some of the carriers are going to continue to
change at Long Island MacArthur, and elsewhere, as that 'local' turbulence
reflects the conditions of an airline industry reinventing itself. Load
factors are no longer the simple yardstick by which service is introduced or
withdrawn. Fuel costs, realigned airport 'hubs,' strategic marketing
alliances, labor agreements, and the age of aircraft are all playing a role in
determining when and where airlines will operate," she said.
The ABLI represents some $20 billion in commercial, industrial, retail and
residential real estate throughoutNassau and Suffolk Counties. The group
asked for a briefing regarding the health of commercial airline traffic into
and out of Long Island as it directly impacts the marketing of the region to
out of state companies. http://www.betterlongisland.com
Commissioner Rizzuto explained, "Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan has
given airport management a very clear mandate. He has instructed us to create
and run a thoroughly professional operation that allows the airlines access to
a very lucrative market. The airlines themselves will have to determine how
best to use such a compelling asset amidst shifting industry economic."
Desmond Ryan agreed, "Long Island MacArthur has assumed a national
standard for ground operations and its physical plant. Our members thoroughly
expect to see a churning of airline flights at MacArthur since LaGuardia,
Kennedy andNewark are already going through these dynamics but we wanted to
hear a first hand industry analysis from the professional in charge of Islip
Town's key transportation asset so that there are no surprises."
The airport sits on approximately 1,300 acres of property and with its
four runways, handles close to two and half million passengers annually. It
has strategically benefited from the $55 million terminal built by Southwest
Airlines while the airport has implemented a number of improvements,
introduced new amenities including restaurants, improved security control
points, parking lot shuttle buses, a private diaper changing station for
infants, and more. In addition, the airport acts as an economic generator for
the Town of Islip. http://www.macarthurairport.com
http://www.betterlongisland.com
SOURCE Association for a Better Long Island
Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
Daily NewsTags: Aviation and Airlines, , new york
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