The coronavirus pandemic is raising questions about the fate of the Greater Binghamton Airport and similar facilities across the United States.

Delta Air Lines has just cut service to the town of Maine airport to a single flight a day to Detroit. Before Wednesday, there were two daily flights.

Broome County officials have been working to secure more service to the facility but the problems posed by the COVID-19 crisis have put that effort on hold.

A view of the control tower at the Greater Binghamton Airport. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
A view of the control tower at the Greater Binghamton Airport. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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County Executive Jason Garnar says he doesn't know whether the airport can survive the disruption that likely will affect the entire aviation industry for at least the next several months.

During an interview on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Garner said "it certainly doesn't bode well when basically nobody's flying."

The county executive said the current health crisis "has been terrible for the airport." He said "this is the last thing we needed."

Aviation commissioner Mark Heefner, speaking Thursday afternoon as a Delta flight from Detroit landed at the airport, said the new flight schedule took effect Wednesday. He noted air travel has declined dramatically over the past few weeks.

Seats for the scheduled 3:30 p.m. return flight to Detroit were available online for $298 and $398.

A flight tracking website shows an on-time arrival at Greater Binghamton Airport on April 2, 2020. (Image: flightstats.com)
A flight tracking website shows an on-time arrival at Greater Binghamton Airport on April 2, 2020. (Image: flightstats.com)
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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

 

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