We’re glad to see the public didn’t have to wait long to see the latest study regarding the future of the Chautauqua County Airport at Jamestown.

After a public presentation at the Chautauqua County Legislature’s December meeting, however, we’re left asking what the fuss was about. For the short-term, the consultants recommend pursuing a partner airline under the EAS program, focusing on hub connectivity, with other options to restore air service including collaboration with major carriers like American or United for consistent hub services or exploring an ultralow cost carrier options for leisure markets, though runway limitations at the airport need to be considered.

Billed as a market research and analysis, the study doesn’t provide a key answer that county legislators should have before they agree to spend any additional money on studies or plans that focus on trying to bring back commercial air service. Do enough people actually want to fly out of the Jamestown airport to justify the expense?

Answering that key question is listed as a next step by consultants Air Service Development & Project Lead. In our opinion, it’s the key question that should have been the first question answered before another penny is spent on further study and evaluation. The likelihood of ridership that meets basic Essential Air Service regulations is what the federal government will use to decide whether or not to reinstate the Essential Air Service program in Jamestown. Everything else the consultants and county officials feel about commercial flights from Jamestown is a spoke attached to that key, overarching question.

It’s been seven years since the Jamestown airport lost Essential Air Service and the commercial flights it subsidized. At some point over those seven years even those who steadfastly stuck through lousy carriers and horrible service have likely changed their behavior to fly out of Erie or Buffalo or even Bradford. Federal officials acknowledged that the last time they rejected an Essential Air Service application for the Jamestown airport. Realistic usage projections will be the deciding factor on an EAS designation. If we can’t qualify for subsidized flights, we doubt the economics of other options for commercial flights will be feasible for a partner to come to the Jamestown airport.

The only study that has been needed over the past seven years is one determining likely usage rates for commercial air service in Jamestown. If we build it, will they fly? After this latest study, we still don’t know.