Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 12

153 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 12 WATERTOWN REGIONAL A I RPORT rotary wing planes. Currently, the main carriers are SkyWest Airlines and Key Lime Air (serving as Denver Air). Both of these carriers fly to Chicago and Denver on a daily basis, in and out bound. Business View first spoke to Watertown Airport’s Manager, Todd Syhre, in November 2020, after COVID-19 had begun to impact the industry. Since that time, numbers are looking up. In order to best understand year-on-year growth, the team at the airport have compared passenger numbers from 2021 to 2019, leaving out 2020. “In October 2021, we had a 35% increase from October 2019,” says Syhre, “We carried 1,977 passengers in October 2021 compared to 1,465 in October 2019.” Watertown Airport is still involved in extensive renovations, although June 2022 is the expected completion date for all projects. Syhre reports, “We are going to have a restaurant at the airport, where off the street visitors can take in the sights and sounds of a working airport, while those travelling through can order drinks and meals while waiting at their gate.” There is also a list of projects that the airport is planning to get underway, such as completing a new taxiway for the runway and building a new maintenance facility. An estimated $12 million has been utilized and sourced from supplemental funding from the FAA and the city’s coffers. The entire timeframe of the project – from start to completion – has been marked out at three years. More good news: The fixed-base operator, ATY Aviation, is now offering flight school training and Corporate Aviation America (CAA) fueling, which means that CAA members can fill up at Watertown at a discounted rate. This service has attracted new jet clientele to the airport. Also, these individuals enjoy all the amenities such as de-icing capabilities. ATY Aviation also offers