Schumer: AirTran made “a mistake” by leaving Stewart



WASHINGTON – AirTran Airways’ plan to pull service from Stewart Airport at Newburgh later this year was “a mistake,” says U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. The lawmaker, who is one of the airport’s biggest boosters, told MidHudsonNews.com that other cutbacks with JetBlue's service are, hopefully, temporary.

JetBlue will end its end its West Palm Beach service and drop one of two flights to Orlando on September 2, the day before AirTran leaves Stewart.
“JetBlue has told me their long-term commitment to Stewart is a solid as ever. This was seasonal and they are going to reexamine it when the winter season comes,” he said. “I think AirTran made a mistake, but the discount airlines are the first to get hit.”

Both airlines cited the rising cost of fuel as the reasons for their decisions.
Schumer said in the long term, Stewart will develop into a viable airport that will be used to ease some of the onerous traffic congestion at Newark, LaGuardia and JFK airports.