Business View Magazine - Sept 2023

273 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 9 OGDENSBURG INTERNAT IONAL AI RPORT The runway was extended in October 2020 to its current length of 6400 feet. They can therefore handle most large corporate jets, as well as anything up to an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737. The only reason for not allowing larger planes is the fire index and rescue capability of the airport. “We are working on an airport improvement plan,” says Garrelts, “The first part of our plan includes creating a large community event space, what we are calling a convention center, and this will also help to improve the pick-up and drop-off area. This will be an extension to the terminal footprint. At the same time, we will be working on other terminal improvements such as a new electric vehicle charging station as the current trend is towards more electric vehicles. We also want to increase the size of our fate, our waiting area, ticket counter, and our baggage claim area. We are doing this with an eye towards expanding service as air travel becomes popular again.” “We see ourselves growing as a tourism destination,” he continues, “So our number one thing is that we are situated along the beautiful St. Lawrence River, so we want to draw people in here to see the region. It’s a beautiful place. Then the Thousand Islands are within an hour’s drive from here, and that too is an amazing place.” “We also brush right up against Canada, it’s just minutes across the bridge, and then you are only an hour’s drive from Ottawa, the capital of Canada. So it’s just that we’re situated in this great-looking place, with amazing people, and so much to offer around here. We’re currently working with Saint Lawrence County and the Chamber of Commerce to look at the tourist opportunities and how to increase them,” he elaborates. Garrelts also points out that although there are no businesses currently operating out of the airport, they are always open to commercial development. They believe in local development and are willing to put the full weight of their organization behind the right ideas. As he says, they are open for business if the right opportunity were to come along. Although there is no flight school at Ogdensburg currently, Garrelts also sees this as an advantageous area for development, especially given the current pilot shortage. “It is not like there will be a shortage of commercial airline pilots in the foreseeable future,” he explains, “This is a growth industry in a large sector and we need to do everything possible to encourage people to explore a career in it. There are different types of piloting jobs as well – passenger and cargo. Currently, there is a lot of interruption in passenger service due to the shortage, and that is impacting how we grow.” “As we move into the coming years,” Garrelts