Observer Photo by Gregory Bacon Members of the Chautauqua County Planning Commission pictured outside the Jamestown Airport. The Planning Commission toured the airport during its monthly meeting.
A study used on the possibility of restoring civil air service to Jamestown has been completed and may soon be available to the public.
On Tuesday, the Chautauqua County Planning Commission met with Manager Shannon Barnhart at the Jamestown Airport and presented a five-year plan for both the Jamestown and Dunkirk airports. The plan focuses on maintaining and improving runaway facilities, terminals, and signage.
After the presentation, The Post-Journal/OBSERVER asked Barnhart about market research.
“We submitted it to the Airport Commission last month. It was not open to the public,” she said.
Barnhart said he will next make a presentation to county lawmakers, but a schedule has not been set. She said that could happen as early as this month.
Barnhart added that County Executive P.J. Wendell was not present at the Airport Commission meeting, but has been briefed on this information.
In the spring, the county authorized spending $75,000 on a market study. $50,000 of that came from the county’s American Rescue Plan Act fund and $25,000 from the county’s Industrial Development Agency.
Jamestown lost commercial service when the federal Department of Transportation discontinued essential air service to Jamestown on January 16, 2018. The decision was made because local airports did not meet federal standards for 10 passengers per day and the federal $200 per passenger threshold. Subsidy cap.
If the county chooses to apply to bring a commercial airline back to Jamestown, a market study will be required. “This is data that supports applications in critical aviation services,” Barnhart said.
