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Construction takes off at Erie Airport – News – GoErie.com

 


Federal aid funds will pay for ongoing work or soon

Erie International Airport will be a construction site this summer.

With significantly reduced flights and available COVID-19 federal aid money available, airport officials are taking advantage of the drowsiness to move forward with improvements that could otherwise have been piled up like planes waiting to take off.

“We are trying to move forward with projects we had planned at the airport and do some additional projects because it is the right time,” said Erie Derek Martin, Executive Director of Erie International Airport.

“When there are only 15 or 20 cars in the parking lot to get out of the way, improving the parking lot becomes easier,” he said.

Parking improvements are just one of the construction projects underway or expected to begin soon at Millcreek Township Airport.

“Using standard federal grants for those construction projects, it would take us years to get the money to pay for them,” Martin said.

Flight numbers ‘Dismal’ and passengers

There has been a slow rise in passengers at Erie International Airport, but the numbers are still “weak,” Martin said.

“April was the worst month. Only 421 passengers boarded the airport,” Martin said. “In May, the number was just embarrassing from 1,200 to 1,190. But to see that in perspective, in May 2019, 9,903 people boarded flights to Erie.

“We were 8,703 passengers short in May. Those numbers are quite low compared to where we were a year ago,” Martin said. “But they are indicators of air travel across the country.”

On May 30, only 268, 867 passengers were examined for flights across the country by the Transportation Safety Administration, compared to 2,117,180 a year earlier.

Coronavirus based most of its international travels as nations around the globe closed their borders early this spring. The business trip, which Martin said makes up the bulk of trips to and from Erie International Airport, narrowed almost as quickly as companies closed by government order or switched to online operations.

“A friend who is a national representative for a parquet manufacturer normally travels three weeks every month and now hasn’t left the house in three months,” Martin said.

Leisure travel was also reduced as Disney World in Florida and other attractions closed.

In Erie on April 22, a United Airlines flight departed for Chicago without passengers on board. Two passengers had booked seats for the flight but did not show up, Martin said.

The flight, Martin said at the time, “pretty much says it all” about the rapid drop in air travel.

The planes left Erie in April with only 9.3 percent of passenger capacity and 35.5 percent capacity by May.

“That’s down 66 percent from flights a year ago,” Martin said.

Airlines canceled and eliminated flights across the country while the number of passengers was reduced.

“In May last year, we had 50 weekly departures from Erie. This May, we had 17,” Martin said.

That number will fall again when Delta Air Lines completes the Erie service in July. The airline currently offers a daily flight between Erie and Detroit, down from three flights each day before the pandemic.

It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.

“We were told that on July 7 the airline will suspend Erie’s operations. We do not have a date for their return,” Martin said. “I think they’re going to play it with ears depending on the travel numbers up or down. We could have a two wave of COVID at one point.”

American Airlines lowered Charlotte, North Carolina service, and completed flights to Chicago. United Airlines has reduced the number of daily flights to Chicikago.

The slippery slope of passengers and flights is particularly disappointing because the numbers had been rising before the virus, said Richard Wagner, a member of the Erie Regional Regional Authority, the airport’s governing body.

“Passenger numbers were rising and with flights to Washington, DC, maybe they were coming, a lot of good work was being done,” Wagner said.

The airport had been on the verge of downsizing in Washington before COVID-19. United Airlines announced in February that it would soon offer four daily flights between Erie International Airport and Dulles International Airport.

“I don’t know what it will take and how long it will take to get back to where we were. To build it again, it will take some time,” Wagner said.

Revenues from tenants, staff also down

The significant drop in air passengers has also received a fee for parking, renting cars and revenue from restaurants at the airport.

The company that deals with parking at the airport is obliged by contract to pay the airport at least $ 38,000 per month. But due to the drop in air travel, the seller within a week in April received only $ 41.10 in total revenue, Martin said.

The airport authority agreed to ease the terms of the contract and accept 10 per cent of gross sales from parking and car dealers while the pandemic continues.

“Revenues are declining because the number of passengers at the airport is declining,” Martin said. “You can imagine that when 9,903 people arrive at the airport in a month it drops to 1,200, parking, rental cars and the restaurant business will fall.”

To reduce costs as revenue from airlines and tenants falls, the airport offered incentives for early retirement for employees. Four employees accepted the offer by May 15th.

“That’s 18 percent of our workforce,” Martin said.

Financing helps build fuel

A portion of the $ 18.5 million federal funding from the $ 2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Security Security Act approved by Congress on Mars is paying for ongoing work or is expected to begin this summer at the airport.

Projects include the construction of a car rental tent, parking and road rehabilitation, as well as the construction of a home building equipment to remove snow from the airport.

The roof projects of the terminal and maintenance buildings, the renovations to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection building and the replacement of the terminal doors are also planned.

The airport also plans to expand the terminal ramp for aircraft.

“United, before the COVID-19 hit, would introduce a larger plane that is a little longer and needs a larger ramp area,” Martin said.

The project, valued at $ 3 million, could go on sale until the end of July. Construction is expected this fall.

“A lot of my energy is now being spent on construction, renovation and rehabilitation projects because of the lack of traffic inside and outside the airport,” Martin said. “I’m still talking to air carriers (about possible destinations and flights), but I have all these construction projects to oversee and work with the FAA to make sure we get the funds.”

Federal money will help airports survive the coronavirus, U.S. Senator Bob Casey said this spring.

“Pennsylvania airports provide an essential service to passengers and stimulate our local economies. With a steep drop in travel and revenue due to COVID-19 pandemic, our airports need help to continue operations and save jobs. employees, “Casey said.

Contact Valerie Myers at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @ETNmyers.

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