MacArthur Airport-Toronto route sought
On the heels of a written appeal by Long Island’s largest business group and a Canadian freight company, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) this week wrote to Air Canada urging the carrier to open a Long Island MacArthur Airport-Toronto route.
In her letter, the senator said such a service would mutually benefit the airline and “residents of Nassau and Suffolk’s densely and ever-growing counties.”
Service to Toronto would offer Long Islanders an efficient jumpoff point to Asia and Europe from the Canadian airport, which has managed to streamline international flight connection services in recent years, analysts have said. It also would not require any further Customs presence at MacArthur because Toronto is a pre-cleared U.S. Customs port.
Gillibrand, who is seeking re-election this year, wrote in her letter to Air Canada chief executive Calin Rovinescu that such a route “will provide an enticing option to millions of travelers in both New York and Toronto.”
Her letter notes the Long Island airport is in the Town of Islip, home to more than 30 industrial parks comprising 4,200 acres and dedicated to industrial use. “This makes Islip, and more specifically the area around the airport, a busy and vital commercial hub on Long Island,” she said.
Islip Supervisor Tom Croci said Wednesday that Air Canada would be a welcome addition at MacArthur. “We certainly thank our state and U.S. senators for their continued support in restoring Long Island MacArthur Airport to its former capabilities,” he said.
Above: A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 jet about to take off at MacArthur Airport. (March 29, 2012)
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