Bill Comes as United Airlines Begins Nonstop Flights to Atlantic City from Chicago and Houston this Month
Assemblyman Vincent Mazzeo (D-Atlantic) has introduced a measure urging the South Jersey Transportation Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to identify and recruit additional carriers to Atlantic City International Airport to provide the region with more traveling options and further promote Atlantic City and the region as a tourist destination. The measure comes as United Airlines begins nonstop service to Atlantic City from Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport this month.
“Starting April, United Airlines will become the second carrier at the Atlantic City airport, offering nonstop flights to the airport from its two largest hub airports, Chicago and Houston,” said Mazzeo. “This is a major boost for the airport, which has struggled to hold on to major carriers and was down to one, and a boost for the region which will benefit from more flight options and a potential increase in tourism as Atlantic City and nearby attractions become more accessible to travelers.”
The resolution (AR-108), which has been referred to the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, recognizes the benefits that United Airlines will bring and urges the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to identify and recruit additional airline carriers to the Atlantic City International Airport.
Mazzeo petitioned and was able to get the entire bipartisan South Jersey delegation to sign onto the resolution.
Since 2000, five large airlines have cancelled service to Atlantic City, including AirTran, West Jet, Delta, USAir, and Continental, limiting the airline choices and options for Atlantic City passengers. Before United Airlines, Spirit Airway was the only primary carrier in the airport.
The airport has daily non-stop service to 10 cities during the summer but only five cities year-around, creating limited air access to Atlantic City and other nearby destinations.
The new flights from United Airlines will enable one-stop service between Atlantic City and points throughout the Midwest and western United States, Canada, Asia and Latin America.
Mazzeo said with the continued development of the Atlantic City Tourism District, the renewed effort by the Casino Redevelopment Authority and the Atlantic City Alliance to bring in mid week conventions to the city, the return of Miss America to Atlantic City, and the reenergized efforts for the construction of the technical park to house the “NextGen” Air Transportation System, could all potentially increase demand for flights at the airport.
The SJTA recently completed state of the art expansions to passenger screening checkpoints and construction of a terminal expansion and a federal inspection station, increasing the capacity of the airport for not only passenger travel but potential cargo carriers as well.
“Bringing United Airlines to Atlantic City was a win, and we are thankful for them being here. We must continue to build on this momentum and actively seek out other airlines that will expand travel options for travelers in the Southern region and help promote Atlantic City and other regional attractions as not only worthy, but accessible tourist destinations that can help boost the region’s economy,” said Mazzeo.