NEW WINDSOR—A palpable sense of positive momentum is now being felt by business and political leaders about the future fortunes and beneficial impacts of New York Stewart International Airport.
After years of fits and starts and setbacks, in a span of a little more than two months, three major announcements concerning passenger and commercial airline growth at New York Stewart International Airport will expand passenger service at the airport and also herald millions of dollars in new investment on the commercial operations at the airport.
In six days, two airlines announced new service offerings at Stewart. Most recently, on July 16, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported a new twice-weekly year-round service at New York Stewart International Airport via Allegiant Air’s new route to Fort Lauderdale, FL. This new Allegiant service is the fifth new service at New York Stewart announced so far this year. The direct flights will operate on Fridays and Mondays starting on Nov. 15. Allegiant’s new service adds to New York Stewart’s ease of access to warm-weather destinations.
On July 10, the Port Authority announced a further expansion of service at New York Stewart International Airport with the addition of a new route to Vero Beach, FL, from Breeze Airways beginning in November. The twice-weekly service between Newburgh, and Vero Beach, FL, will operate on Thursdays and Sundays beginning Thursday, Nov. 21. It builds on Breeze Airways’ other successful services from New York Stewart, including routes to Orlando and Fort Myers, FL., and Charleston, SC.
Back on May 23, the Board of Commissioners for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey approved two new leases to develop a parcel of airside property at New York Stewart International Airport with the goal of expanding the Hudson Valley airport’s capacity to meet the burgeoning demand for private or corporate jet facilities and access in the region. The parcel, which is not in use, will be developed into two general aviation aeronautical support facilities.
The first awarded lease was with Sky Harbour Group Corp., a general aviation jet facility developer, which proposed developing approximately half of the parcel to build 13 individual jet hangars as a corporate jet campus. The second lease for the other half of the parcel was awarded to Aviation Facilities Company, an international airport management and construction company, that proposed the construction of a hangar facility that would serve as a regional service base for an international jet charter/fractional operator.
The Orange County Partnership reported that the two lease deals will facilitate approximately $119 million in new construction at the property and will involve a combined more than 300,000 square feet of new development at the airport.
The developers have indicated to the Port Authority that the new leases will help create an estimated 245 permanent private-sector jobs in the region, as well as 260 jobs stemming from the construction of the proposed facilities. In keeping with the Port Authority’s commitment to driving diversity and local economic opportunities, the leases include ambitious goals to involve local businesses, minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOB). The leases also require the tenants to align with the Port Authority’s sustainability goals, which include construction of facilities that meet or exceed current industry-leading building energy efficiency standards and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Lease execution is expected in the fall of 2024, with operations of the new facilities expected to begin in 2028.
