Schumer courts AirTran

© AirTran Airways

Senator Charles Schumer has been hard at work over the last week lobbying AirTran Airways to open new routes from Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) and Albany International Airport (ALB).

AirTran has 20 new airplanes scheduled for delivery this year and Schumer is keen to see some of them parked at airports in his region.

According to local press reports, Schumer has written to Joseph Leonard, CEO of AirTran, on more than one occasion, describing the Capital Region as "hungry for a low-cost air service" and Syracuse Hancock as "an ideal match" for AirTran.

Independence Air operated a service out of Hancock, but since the airline ceased trading earlier this month Schumer has been keen to get a replacement in as soon as possible.

Speaking to The Post-Standard, Schumer explained the benefits of having as many cheap flight operators as possible serving the area.

"New service could mean new destinations, which would drive down airfares even more throughout central New York, making air travel more affordable for local passengers and generating economic growth for the entire region," he said.

However, comments from Kevin Healy, AirTran's vice president of planning, revealed that most of the new airplanes will be used to expand AirTran's current services and that so far only two new markets have been announced, White Plains and Seattle.

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