WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer asked JetBlue Airways today to consider expanding its routes out of Syracuse Hancock International Airport, and suggested the region could support new direct flights between Syracuse and Boston.
Schumer, D-N.Y., made a public plea to the discount airline that he helped attract to Upstate New York in 2000 and Syracuse in 2001, saying there's more room for growth at underserved airports like Hancock.
Travelers between Syracuse and Boston have the option of only one direct flight per day, offered by American Airlines. JetBlue offers one-stop service from Syracuse to Boston through JFK Airport in New York City.
Schumer, the Senate minority leader, said a new direct route to Boston would boost competition among airlines in Syracuse and open a gateway to the south and west through connections in Boston.
"A new JetBlue flight from Syracuse to Boston is a win-win: for JetBlue, who can expand their strong brand in Upstate New York, and for Central New York families and businesses who would greatly benefit from having more flight options," Schumer said.
"Hancock Airport is undergoing a rapid transformation, so now is the time for JetBlue and other airlines to jump in and take advantage of that need for service," Schumer added, referencing a $45 million renovation that began this year.
Data from the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority shows that many travelers drive from Syracuse to Boston to catch flights to long-distance destinations in the south and west, Schumer said.
The senator said recent JetBlue expansions in other Upstate cities (including non-stop flights from Buffalo to Los Angeles) prove there is strong demand in the region.
An office inside a modified RV will enroll travelers in the federal program that provides faster clearance at airport security checkpoints.
In 2015, JetBlue agreed to start seasonal daily non-stop flights from Syracuse to Fort Lauderdale after Schumer helped convince the airline to re-open a route it had discontinued in 2009 during the Great Recession.
JetBlue began the new Syracuse-Fort Lauderdale service with a one-day introductory fare sale, charging $79 for one-way tickets between the two cities.
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