Cape Air numbers up: Ogdensburg International Airport (KOGS), New York

OGDENSBURG — Cape Air’s passenger count is on a record-setting rise at Ogdensburg International Airport.

The airline, based in Hyannis, Mass., announced that in July it carried 1,047 passengers — the highest number carried in a single month since the company began services here in September 2008.

“Yes, this is great news,” said Jacqueline Donohoo, the airline’s Northeast marketing manager. “Our goal as an air carrier is to keep those numbers growing.”

The airport’s owner agreed.

“The Ogdensburg International Airport is once again proving to be a cost-effective alternative to higher-cost Canadian airports,” Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority Executive Director Wade A. Davis said. “Free parking, low fares and short lines, coupled with Cape Air’s superior customer service, continue to break passenger records at Ogdensburg International Airport.”

Cape Air’s newly opened ticket office at 318 Ford St. could be a catalyst for more bookings, Ms. Donohoo said.

“Our ticket office has the potential to add to our ridership expansion,” she said Tuesday. “We are offering booking convenience and one-on-one assistance, which is an added value to our service. Also, our prime location downtown will remind customers that we are here.”

Cape Air provides three daily flights from Ogdensburg to Albany and, from there, through to Boston and beyond. Canadian travelers, airline officials said, made up 19 percent of the originating traffic.

The average fare under Cape Air is $53.56 each way.

“It is great to see ridership at Ogdensburg breaking records,” said Cape Air President Linda Markham in a prepared statement. “The airline service at Ogdensburg provides affordable access to the U.S. air transportation system for both the North Country and Canadians.”

The North Country Airport Alliance and Cape Air launched a $20,000 advertising campaign last month that markets the Ogdensburg, Massena and Saranac Lake airports. The campaign focuses on local communities and the Canadian population within close proximity to the border.

Cape Air also has distribution agreements with a host of online travel agencies, including Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity, enhancing the exposure for the cities served. In addition to Cape Air’s ticketing and baggage agreements with most major carriers, a unique interline partnership with JetBlue Airways allows Cape Air cities to appear on JetBlue.com, increasing their visibility.

“With Cape Air’s interline capability, which puts Ogdensburg on JetBlue.com, we are seeing increased ridership by U.S. and Canadian passengers,” Ms. Markham said. “Word is getting out about the low-fare options at Ogdensburg.”

Source:   http://www.watertowndailytimes.com