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Airport director says flights are fuller; carriers adding service in June
Summary
Tom Freeman, director of the Elmira/Corning Regional Airport, told the committee that flights are running at high load factors and that Delta and Allegiant have planned service increases beginning in June; overall passenger counts lag pre-pandemic 2019 levels because airlines use larger jets and reduced frequency.
Tom Freeman, director of the Elmira/Corning Regional Airport, told the Aviation Committee on Jan. 27 that the airport’s scheduled flights show high load factors and that airlines plan to add capacity beginning in June.
"The flights that we have are all full," Freeman said, describing passenger loads ranging from roughly 85% on Allegiant flights to 90% on Delta. He said Allegiant and Delta both announced planned service increases: Delta will add a third flight in June and Allegiant will increase some routes and introduce a Tampa service Feb. 14.
Freeman cautioned that the airport remains below its 2019 baseline in total seats because airlines now operate larger jets and rely on fewer frequencies. "You’re losing frequency," he said, adding that regional jets have grown from turboprops and 50-seat aircraft to 90-seat RJs and that future regional jets will be even larger.
Why it matters: local travel patterns, airline decisions and aircraft capacity determine seat availability, fares and whether travelers drive to other airports. Freeman estimated the airport captures about 54% of the market among Elmira, Binghamton and Ithaca.
Freeman described both a short-term and longer-term outlook. If Allegiant maintains planned flights and Delta restores the third flight, he said the airport could approach 2019 levels by late 2025; however, he warned that airlines can redeploy equipment quickly if passenger loads fall below the 80%–90% thresholds they now use.
Committee members asked whether alternate destinations (for example, a JFK option on Delta) were possible; Freeman said that was unlikely while nearby airports (Ithaca) already offer JFK service.
Freeman also answered questions about local demand drivers, crediting Corning Incorporated for a significant share of premium business travel to the airport. He closed by inviting legislators to visit the airport for a tour.
No formal committee action was recorded in the Aviation presentation other than a later separate committee vote to approve a service agreement (see votes roundup).
