Coalition Hails County Enforcement Effort 

The Coalition to Prevent Westchester Airport Expansion (“Coalition”) applauds the Latimer administration’s formal notice to JSX, XO Global, and Blade to end flights out of private terminals at the county airport that violate county law.

In early November, the County’s airport manager, Avports, sent letters to the three companies, calling on them to adhere to local law, which requires any entity selling single seats to the public for travel on aircraft with more than nine seats to use the airport’s main terminal and conform to the Terminal Use Regulations (“TUR”). These letters were sent at the behest of the Latimer administration. The TUR was enacted by the County Legislature in 2004, after it adopted a policy opposing airport expansion. It limits airlines to 4 flights and 240 passengers per half hour, taking advantage of airport rules dating back to the 1980’s to sidestep federal law that prohibits local control over airport traffic.

“The County has acted to protect the TUR, which is our most powerful weapon against runaway airport expansion,” declared Coalition Chair George Klein. “And by doing so it protects the Kensico Reservoir, which lies less than a tenth of a mile from the airport and supplies drinking water for most of Westchester’s population, as well as millions of people living in New York City.”

Klein adds, “Another benefit will be that more airport travelers will undergo TSA security checks and COVID-19 precautions, because flights from private terminals are not currently subject to most TSA security protocols.

Three airport tenants also received notices from the County. Ross Aviation, Signature Flight Support, and Million Air operate the private terminals, provide ground support, and in some cases co-market these illegal flights.

The County’s move comes after advocacy by the Coalition along with municipalities, individuals, and other entities. It builds on another major decision this year by the Latimer administration to enforce the law upon aviation interests. The County is battling a $30 million lawsuit by Million Air asserting that the private terminal operator can double its hangar space at the airport by constructing a 1.8 acre facility there without County approval.  

In 2017, Million Air began operating its first new hangar, covering 1.1 acres, without securing all required environmental approvals. Million Air has still not obtained approval for the 2017 project under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The Coalition is grateful to the Latimer administration for using its regulatory powers to safeguard Westchester residents from potential harm from the airport. County laws and policies to prevent airport expansion are only as effective as the County’s willingness to enforce them.