MIDDLETOWN—Stewart International Airport’s General Manager Ed Harrison says the Port Authority is at Stewart for the long run. Harrison spoke at the November breakfast at the Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 12 to tell Chamber members of good things to come.
With Boeing aircraft representative, Jim Weber, in attendance, Harrison said next year’s New York Air Show at Stewart will be bigger and better.
Harrison and his team are focused on air service development. “That’s the business of convincing airlines that they have to come to your airport, to stay at your airport, and to add service once they are there.” He commended the four airlines now based at Stewart and said he works hard at expanding nonstop service.
In addition to commercial service, Harrison wants to attract more private fleets such as General Electric and American Express which base their corporate fleets at Stewart. He wants to continue to develop cargo service and diversions.
Harrison touted the opening of the Mid-Hudson Regional State Police crime laboratory on Nov. 9 in which the Port Authority had invested $10 million. There are secondary benefits to the county. “The crime lab preserves civilian jobs in the Hudson valley and keeps a vital police asset in close proximity to the towns that it needs to serve,” Harrison said.
Harrison noted this is the eighth anniversary of the Port Authority taking over the lease as airport operators with 85 years to go. His words were met with applause when he said, “We are here for the long run. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is not going anywhere.”
It can be a challenge for the airport to get the attention that the bigger New York airports receive. “We tell airlines that we have an airport just north of New York City with none of the obstacles of its big city airport sisters. Stewart is like the well-behaved kid in every family: on time, easy going, hassle free.”
About 150 members of the Orange County business community were in attendance. Stephen Gregory, publisher of the Epoch Times, introduced Epoch Times, which has recently joined the Chamber.
To contact this reporter, please email [email protected].
