Another Press for International Flights at MacArthur Airport

In June 2011, Congressman Steve Israel stood outside Long Island MacArthur Airport along with former Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan and former Airport Commissioner Teresa Rizzuto and called for opening the airport to international flights. 

That has not come to fruition and with the airport still struggling to rebuild its flight count, a new town supervisor, a new airport commissioner and another politician–this time Sen. Charles Schumer–gathered in the main terminal at MacArthur Monday morning to renew a push to bring direct international flights to the airport.

"Today we are starting a campaign to get Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to allow international flights here at MacArthur by setting up special facilities so that people can be checked when they come into and leave the country," Schumer said, adding that international flights should be "a real shot in the arm for MacArthur."

Schumer and Town officials made clear that were only looking to add select international destinations–such as the Bahamas and Aruba–that would not require larger planes. 

"In this Town, we want the convenience of MacArthur Airport, but we don't want to live next to Kennedy or LaGuardia," Islip Town Supervisor Tom Croci said, later adding that any new flights would have "to fit the character of the community." 

Croci said 2012 "was a very good year" for the airport as its flight count jumped from 16 a day to about 20, although that is still well short of the 46 flights a day the airport provided in 2006.  

When asked about residents' concerns over additional noise and traffic if international flights come to Town, Schumer, referring to the drop in the number of flights at MacArthur in recent years said, "The amount of noise and congestion has decreased and most people would argue too much so." 

"If they are thinking when you say make it international, making it like a Kennedy Airport, that is not going to happen," the senator said. "This is just a little shot in the arm for the economy that would do some good."

The funds to put in new facilities at the airport to handle international flights would come from passenger facilities fees and from the FAA and not directly from Islip taxpayers, Croci said.  

International airlines have already expressed interest in coming to MacArthur and Schumer said he was asking the CBP to begin talks with Town officials immediately. 

Schumer said he was hopeful the necessary approvals will come through quickly and the installation of new facilities "could get moving within months, not years." 

What do you think of the push for international flights at MacArthur Airport? Let us know in the comments section below.