OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon A former airport manager thinks an international designation could boost revenues at the Jamestown facility.

Former county parks and airport manager Sam Arcadipane cannot help but notice a trend when looking at the New York state’s western and northern borders. Most of the airports in those locations — Watertown, Massena and Plattsburgh — have a designation the Jamestown and Dunkirk properties do not.

These similar-sized operations are equipped to accept flights from outside the United States. All three are international airports. In Arcadipane’s estimation, that is an economic engine that Chautauqua County has missed out on for far too long.

During an interview last week with The Post-Journal and OBSERVER, Arcadipane made the case the change could immediately increase air traffic and revenues to the south-county site while ultimately bringing what so many county officials want in saving the two under-utilized sites: a return of Essential Air Service.

His renewed interest in the designation came after County Legislator Dave Wilfong of Jamestown last month discussed a $50,000 study approved a year ago to examine whether the site can sustain commercial service with the City Council. Even with the county Industrial Development Agency contributing another $25,000, the effort seems as though it’s a long shot.

Residents here have a tendency to head to Buffalo, Erie, Pittsburgh or even Cleveland to pursue air travel without a second thought. Arcadipane wants that mindset to change — and believes the south-county facility has to be the priority for Chautauqua County.

That could start with a consideration of adding the international designation. “This opens the area to increased interest by working with Canadian charter airlines and travel agencies servicing major Canadian cities,” Arcadipane said in a recommendation letter he shared with the newspapers. “Currently any out-of-country charter has to divert to Buffalo or Erie … for customs inspection. (International Airport Designation) would now open (the Jamestown airport) to ease direct arrival thus reducing the price of charter tickets to our venues and hopefully stimulate interest.”

His proposal is a much broader picture. It envisions Chautauqua County as a destination.

Arcadipane, who served in the county position for less than two years, is taking an optimistic approach. He knows the region has some major gems and attractions in the south county that include the Institution, the National Comedy Center as well as the Jackson Center. In the north county, there’s Lake Erie that is known worldwide for its abundance of fishing and a full slate of summer entertainment on the waterfront in Dunkirk.

If Ithaca, in the center of the state, has an international airport, why not here?

According to the 2024 county budget, the facilities are costing us much more than they are worth. Revenues at the Jamestown location are targeted at $126,586 with expenses totaling $908,103 — a loss of $781,517. Dunkirk’s picture is even worse with revenues targeted for this year at $64,711 and expenses of $519,466 — a loss of $454,755. Combined, the airports are costing taxpayers $1.24 million this year.

Another county study seeking to revisit essential air service seems to be an effort of futility. A fresh perspective, which is what Arcadipane proposes, could yield a different result.

Something is definitely needed to reverse the tide. County records show the Jamestown airport had 7,943 arrivals and departures combined last year, that’s a decrease from 8,625 in 2022.

Shannon Fischer, manager of county airports, said they use a computer tracking system to gather the data. “I will say, it does a pretty good job, but do know that this is not 100%. We could have more,” she said.

That potentially inaccurate system noted 1,503 arrivals and departures in 2022, decreasing to 1,378 in 2023 for the Dunkirk airport. Numbers like these will keep the red ink running at the two county sites.

Could an international designation help? Maybe.

With increased charter and private aircraft likely increasing through the upgrade, the fixed-base operator and county would share the possible rise in revenue relating to takeoff fees, sale of aviation fuel, parking and aircraft servicing if required. “As increased traffic relates to growth, (Jamestown) may also attract the return of rental car agencies and stimulate interest of other forms of shuttle transportation to base here for attractions and business needs,” Arcadipane said. “All this can help with future establishing the need for commercial airline service.”

Additional upgrades at Jamestown site, including construction work that could accommodate larger and heavier flights would be needed. Currently, the site has a runway of 5,299 feet long by 100 feet wide that has a threshold of 265,000 pounds. By comparison, the strip in Bradford, Pa., is 6,700 feet by 150 feet wide and can accept flights of 500,000 pounds.

“This could be, if we’re successful, the Robert H. Jackson International Airport Chautauqua County Region,” he said. “It puts you on the maps.”

Some may look at Arcadipane’s idea as pie in the sky. But it is an alternative that is much brighter than the current projections. Lawmakers are accepting a $1.2 million loss this year at the north and south facilities this year with no urgency whatsoever.

What’s the plan to turn it around? Paying for another study to tell us what we already know? That’s business as usual — and it is costing all of us.

John D’Agostino is the editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.

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