Archive: News

Tompkins County has been told that Continental Airlines will terminate service to Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, effective June 11.  While the airline has announced that service will be cut, Airport Manager Robert Nicholas says that the County immediately engaged in a strategic conversation with key stake holders, upon receiving the news, to work with Continental to achieve a compromise solution to preserve air service in our market.

Mr. Nicholas said:  “Despite encouraging growth and some really positive passenger numbers over the past two months, general air traffic congestion in Newark has been causing some major headaches for Continental. While I understand the need to try to ease this congestion by thinning out the number of operations in Newark, we feel there are ways to achieve their objective while preserving air service to Ithaca.”

Continental officials alerted the County that the corporation late yesterday decided to terminate Ithaca service as part of an overall corporate action to reduce or eliminate service at several airports, changes that relate to the general state of the airline industry and the economy.  The company assured the County that it has been pleased with the quality of service and facilities in Tompkins County.

Continental began Continental Connection service to Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport in October 2008 and currently offers four roundtrip weekday flights to Continental’s Newark Airport hub, with a lighter schedule on weekends.

This year, airline enplanements at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport have shown strong growth despite the economic downturn, with the addition of Continental credited as a significant factor in the increased passenger volume.

Larry Baum, Chair of the Tompkins County Airport Air Service Committee added:  “In March, Continental had an average load factor of nearly 66% in Ithaca.  And many of those travelers have been using the international  service available from Newark.” He also added that the local business community, Cornell University, Ithaca College, and others have welcomed and supported Continental in their efforts to build passenger numbers. Overall Ithaca’s total passenger count has increased over 12% year over year.”

For additional information, contact:  Robert Nicholas, Manager, Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, 607-257-0456, Ext. 543.

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