Text of Senator Charles Schumer's Letter to John Sullivan, Chairman and Chief Executice Officier Commutair, Continental Connection

Dear Mr. Sullivan:

I write today to strongly urge Commutair to implement air service from your Albany hub to the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. As you may know, American Airlines is now discontinuing this route, which means there would no longer exist any remaining connections to this critical international gateway.

I believe that Commutair service from Albany to New York would be a tremendous success. JFK is the premier international airport in our nation's tourist and commerce capital, and it is vital that Capital Region businesses and residents be able to travel there and use it to connect to international flights.

Reliable, accessible and affordable air service is key to renewing the economic vitality of our upstate communities. As evidenced by the tremendous success of Jet Blue, New York State is a strong market for air travel, and the Capital Region is no exception. The demand for service is great in the region, and JetBlue's success in other areas proves that the JFK Airport can be a successful domestic gateway, as well.

I frequently hear from my Capital Region constituents about the difficulty and frustration both business and pleasure travelers face in attempting to obtain flights directly to New York from Albany. As you may know, during my tenure as Senator I have been committed to improving the quality and availability of air service in upstate New York. As I mentioned, I worked hard to bring Jet Blue to Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester and Southwest to Albany, and both carriers are experiencing great success in their new markets.

If I may be of any assistance in helping Commutair bring service between Albany and JFK, please contact my office. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senate