Buffalo Niagra International Airport

AT A GLANCE BUFFALO NIAGARA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WHAT: The third-busiest airport in the state of New York WHERE: Cheektowaga, New York WEBSITE: www.buffaloairport.com P assenger growth at Buffalo Niagara International Airport has followed an interesting path to the airport’s $80 million, multi-year expansion project involving two concourse additions on the east and west ends, and a complete redesign - 39,000 square feet - of the baggage claim space. The larger of two airports owned by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), Buffalo Niagara has passenger traffic of five million, about 20 percent of which originates from north of the border. “From an operational standpoint, the Buffalo airport serves several municipalities,” explains Bill Vanecek, Director of Aviation. “We’re sandwiched between Toronto, 65 miles to the north, and Rochester, 60 miles to the east. We really view ourselves more as a Western New York/Southern Ontario airport, and that’s how we market it.” With its proximity to the Canadian border, the Airport’s geographical convenience makes it an epicenter for both national and international flight activity. “Toronto Pearson, which is the largest airport in Canada, serves over 30 million travellers per year,” says Vanecek. “They have a very vibrant Eco-friendly and passenger-centered