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Few Travelers, Few Flights and Now, a Total Airport Shutdown Few Travelers, Few Flights and Now, a Total Airport Shutdown
(3 days later)
Before the coronavirus pandemic brought air travel to a near standstill, airlines operated 40 daily flights from Westchester County Airport.Before the coronavirus pandemic brought air travel to a near standstill, airlines operated 40 daily flights from Westchester County Airport.
Soon, there will be none.Soon, there will be none.
The airport, which serves the suburbs just north of New York City, has found a slim silver lining in its largely vacant and eerily quiet terminal: It can close temporarily, with minimal disruption, to accelerate construction that had been planned for later in the year.The airport, which serves the suburbs just north of New York City, has found a slim silver lining in its largely vacant and eerily quiet terminal: It can close temporarily, with minimal disruption, to accelerate construction that had been planned for later in the year.
George Latimer, the Westchester County executive, said the airport would shut down on Monday. According to industry experts, it would be the first commercial airport in the country to close its doors entirely.George Latimer, the Westchester County executive, said the airport would shut down on Monday. According to industry experts, it would be the first commercial airport in the country to close its doors entirely.
Four airlines — United, Delta, JetBlue and American — had been flying to 11 destinations from the Westchester airport, which is in White Plains and owned by the county.Four airlines — United, Delta, JetBlue and American — had been flying to 11 destinations from the Westchester airport, which is in White Plains and owned by the county.
On a recent visit, only one flight was operating.On a recent visit, only one flight was operating.
A project to repave the airport’s 6,500-foot runway that had been planned before the pandemic was supposed to take four months, with work taking place from midnight to 6 a.m.A project to repave the airport’s 6,500-foot runway that had been planned before the pandemic was supposed to take four months, with work taking place from midnight to 6 a.m.
Once the airport closes on Monday, the work will be done during the day and is expected to take about a month. A shorter runway used by light aircraft is scheduled to be out of service for a week.Once the airport closes on Monday, the work will be done during the day and is expected to take about a month. A shorter runway used by light aircraft is scheduled to be out of service for a week.
Operators of business jets initially balked at the idea of the closing. Unlike at most major airports, flights by private aviation, including corporate and fractional operators like NetJets, far outnumber those of the airlines at Westchester. The closing means some airplane owners will have to move their aircraft to nearby airports if they want to keep flying.Operators of business jets initially balked at the idea of the closing. Unlike at most major airports, flights by private aviation, including corporate and fractional operators like NetJets, far outnumber those of the airlines at Westchester. The closing means some airplane owners will have to move their aircraft to nearby airports if they want to keep flying.
“People were surprised because Westchester is one of the busier general aviation airports, especially with the corporate traffic,” said Brett Smith, a private pilot who used to fly from Westchester and whose company owns the passenger terminal at a new airport in Seattle. The closing for the construction “does make sense when you think about it. I thought it was pretty smart.”“People were surprised because Westchester is one of the busier general aviation airports, especially with the corporate traffic,” said Brett Smith, a private pilot who used to fly from Westchester and whose company owns the passenger terminal at a new airport in Seattle. The closing for the construction “does make sense when you think about it. I thought it was pretty smart.”
Over the years, Westchester County Airport, which marked its 75th anniversary in February, has played bit roles in several Hollywood productions, including “Meet the Parents” and the television show “Billions.”Over the years, Westchester County Airport, which marked its 75th anniversary in February, has played bit roles in several Hollywood productions, including “Meet the Parents” and the television show “Billions.”
It handled Air Force One when President Bill Clinton was in the White House and accommodated Hillary Clinton’s flights home to Westchester when she was secretary of state.It handled Air Force One when President Bill Clinton was in the White House and accommodated Hillary Clinton’s flights home to Westchester when she was secretary of state.
But the airport has, at times, had tense relationships with its neighbors. They have complained of noise from corporate jet operators, who account for 55 percent of the airport’s traffic.But the airport has, at times, had tense relationships with its neighbors. They have complained of noise from corporate jet operators, who account for 55 percent of the airport’s traffic.
On that point, the runway closing will offer temporary relief.On that point, the runway closing will offer temporary relief.
“It’s a lifting certainly of noise and air pollution from air travel, and that’s good for public health and sanity,” said George Klein, vice president of Sierra Club Lower Hudson Group. Still, he added, the short break would not provide any long-term benefit for the environment.“It’s a lifting certainly of noise and air pollution from air travel, and that’s good for public health and sanity,” said George Klein, vice president of Sierra Club Lower Hudson Group. Still, he added, the short break would not provide any long-term benefit for the environment.
With commercial airlines accounting for just 14 percent of the airport’s operations, corporate jets, charter companies, flight schools and private aviation have made the airport New York State’s third busiest. Closing the runway will mean the airport will lose nearly all of its revenue streams.With commercial airlines accounting for just 14 percent of the airport’s operations, corporate jets, charter companies, flight schools and private aviation have made the airport New York State’s third busiest. Closing the runway will mean the airport will lose nearly all of its revenue streams.
Another regional airport, New York Stewart International Airport, located about 60 miles north of Manhattan, has a similar problem with airline service drying up, but is staying open.Another regional airport, New York Stewart International Airport, located about 60 miles north of Manhattan, has a similar problem with airline service drying up, but is staying open.
Stewart has experienced a boom in recent years with the number of passengers having doubled from 2016 to 2018. But 2019 was a bad year after Norwegian, Stewart’s only international carrier, left the airport.Stewart has experienced a boom in recent years with the number of passengers having doubled from 2016 to 2018. But 2019 was a bad year after Norwegian, Stewart’s only international carrier, left the airport.
When the coronavirus outbreak started sweeping the state, JetBlue and American canceled their Stewart flights for two months; Delta now offers just one flight a day. Allegiant, a low-cost carrier, has also canceled many of its flights.When the coronavirus outbreak started sweeping the state, JetBlue and American canceled their Stewart flights for two months; Delta now offers just one flight a day. Allegiant, a low-cost carrier, has also canceled many of its flights.
But unlike Westchester, the airport is compelled to stay open. UPS and FedEx use the airport to move domestic freight, and it is also a crucial hub for the United States Postal Service. DHL has a distribution facility there, and the 105th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard also operates from Stewart.But unlike Westchester, the airport is compelled to stay open. UPS and FedEx use the airport to move domestic freight, and it is also a crucial hub for the United States Postal Service. DHL has a distribution facility there, and the 105th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard also operates from Stewart.
The situation is much the same at other airports that have seen passengers disappear, but where cargo, corporate, military and other essential flights are still operating — in some cases as frequently as before the virus brought most other travel to a halt.The situation is much the same at other airports that have seen passengers disappear, but where cargo, corporate, military and other essential flights are still operating — in some cases as frequently as before the virus brought most other travel to a halt.
With neither cargo nor military users, Westchester County Airport had less to consider before shutting down.With neither cargo nor military users, Westchester County Airport had less to consider before shutting down.
Other airports across the country are also trying to make the most of a bad situation, said Christopher Oswald, the vice president of safety and regulatory affairs for the Airports Council International, a trade group.Other airports across the country are also trying to make the most of a bad situation, said Christopher Oswald, the vice president of safety and regulatory affairs for the Airports Council International, a trade group.
“A number of airports are taking the opportunities that do exist to expedite work, replacing carpet with tile, taking a project delayed because of spring break travel and moving it forward to summer travel,” Mr. Oswald said.“A number of airports are taking the opportunities that do exist to expedite work, replacing carpet with tile, taking a project delayed because of spring break travel and moving it forward to summer travel,” Mr. Oswald said.
Updated August 12, 2020 Updated August 17, 2020
Airport managers are also trying different approaches to generate revenue since it remains unclear when air travel might resume in significant numbers.Airport managers are also trying different approaches to generate revenue since it remains unclear when air travel might resume in significant numbers.
One video that went viral showed acres of pavement at Pittsburgh International Airport being used to store nearly a hundred grounded American Airlines jets.One video that went viral showed acres of pavement at Pittsburgh International Airport being used to store nearly a hundred grounded American Airlines jets.
Christina Cassotis, the chief executive of the Allegheny Airport Authority, said she came up with the idea to lease the space to the airline long before the coronavirus affected travel in the United States.Christina Cassotis, the chief executive of the Allegheny Airport Authority, said she came up with the idea to lease the space to the airline long before the coronavirus affected travel in the United States.
“We saw in Asia and Europe how airlines would need places to park their fleets,’’ Ms. Cassotis said. “We’ve got a big airfield and American has a maintenance base here, and it makes sense for aircraft to park here.”“We saw in Asia and Europe how airlines would need places to park their fleets,’’ Ms. Cassotis said. “We’ve got a big airfield and American has a maintenance base here, and it makes sense for aircraft to park here.”
When it comes to major construction projects though, Ms. Cassotis has put the brakes on a $1.1 billion renovation plan given the uncertainty over what air travel might look like once the outbreak starts easing.When it comes to major construction projects though, Ms. Cassotis has put the brakes on a $1.1 billion renovation plan given the uncertainty over what air travel might look like once the outbreak starts easing.
It is an issue that many airport officials are likely going to wrestle with.It is an issue that many airport officials are likely going to wrestle with.
“Where are the structural changes this industry is going to have to make for people to have restored confidence in it?” Ms. Cassotis said. “How do we help facilitate confidence in travel again? What are the cleaning and social-distancing options for people to want to feel good about traveling again?”“Where are the structural changes this industry is going to have to make for people to have restored confidence in it?” Ms. Cassotis said. “How do we help facilitate confidence in travel again? What are the cleaning and social-distancing options for people to want to feel good about traveling again?”
When airline flights into Pittsburgh started dwindling, Ms. Cassotis said she could not consider closing the airport even temporarily because, like Stewart, her airport serves a thriving airfreight sector. FedEx and UPS moved nearly 16,000 metric tons of freight in the first quarter of 2020, slightly less than in 2019.When airline flights into Pittsburgh started dwindling, Ms. Cassotis said she could not consider closing the airport even temporarily because, like Stewart, her airport serves a thriving airfreight sector. FedEx and UPS moved nearly 16,000 metric tons of freight in the first quarter of 2020, slightly less than in 2019.
The military also uses the airport, with the Air Force Reserve 911th Airlift Wing providing coronavirus-relief flights — including carrying medical personnel to New York.The military also uses the airport, with the Air Force Reserve 911th Airlift Wing providing coronavirus-relief flights — including carrying medical personnel to New York.
Westchester County Airport did not start out as a commercial facility; it was built for the Air National Guard during World War II. The unit ended up moving to Stewart Airport in 1983. Had it remained in White Plains, it is unlikely that the county could shut down the airport.Westchester County Airport did not start out as a commercial facility; it was built for the Air National Guard during World War II. The unit ended up moving to Stewart Airport in 1983. Had it remained in White Plains, it is unlikely that the county could shut down the airport.
Smaller airports play a valuable role in many parts of the country, Mr. Oswald said. They are “how are you receiving high-value, perishable cargo in your community or meeting the air-medical needs. It’s the only access some communities have to the rest of the nation.”Smaller airports play a valuable role in many parts of the country, Mr. Oswald said. They are “how are you receiving high-value, perishable cargo in your community or meeting the air-medical needs. It’s the only access some communities have to the rest of the nation.”