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By JERRY LYNOTT [email protected]
Friday, December 21, 2001 Page: 1C
PITTSTON TWP. – After announcing fewer passengers were flying and the
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport lost money last month, officials
on Thursday stepped outside to break ground for a $60 million plus expansion
project.
Within a year to 15 months, a parking garage, parking lots and a network of
roads – totalling $16.2 million – will be completed for the first phase of the
project, said airport Director Barry Centini.
“We’re excited about it and it gets us on our way to completing not only
this but getting ready to start our next project,” Centini said.
The second phase includes the construction of a terminal.
The airport, jointly owned and operated by Lackawanna and Luzerne counties,
has lost travelers to out-of-town airports where some fares are cheaper and
more flights are available.
For the year, the number of passengers boarding planes is down 15 percent,
according to the latest figures cited by Wy Gowell, assistant director and
business manager. For the month of November, 21 percent fewer travelers
boarded planes compared to the same month a year ago.
A comparison of regional airports showed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s decline
was less than most, Gowell said. “Really, our 21 percent is on the bottom
side of a variation between 20 and 48 percent.”
Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, which draws some
travelers from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, was down more than 27 percent, Gowell
said.
For the month of November, the airport had a net loss of $23,558 compared
to a net revenue of $51,548 for the same period last year, Gowell said.
Overall, the airport had a net income of $68,327 for the first 11 months of
the year. But revenues are down $485,158 from last year.
Luzerne County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tom Makowski reiterated his
opinion that the expansion is necessary to attract business to the area.
“I don’t think this is going to have a direct effect on the flying,” said
Makowski of the expansion. “I think … this is going to have a significant
effect on the economic development we’ve been talking about. The airport’s got
to recover, as I’ve said all along, always by the fact that we rebuild the
economy.”
The plans to redraw congressional districts in Northeastern Pennsylvania
might impact economic development, he added.
Legislators continue to haggle over the redistricting plans called for
because of the drop in state population. With its population growth behind
that of other states, Pennsylvania will lose two seats in the House of
Representatives.
The seat in 11th Congressional District held by U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski,
D-Nanticoke, is targeted in the redistricting.
“This congressional district thing – I don’t think it’s going to make it
any easier for us to get more jobs,” Makowski said.
Jerry Lynott, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7237.