$4.2M Albany airport hangar opens

PHOTOGRAPHER: Haley Viccaro

A new maintenance and repair hangar has opened at Albany International Airport creating 100 jobs, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday.

The $4.2 million hangar, funded mostly through a Regional Economic Development Council grant, will serve CommutAir. Work on the project started last June.

The 17,000-square-foot hangar includes a 3,500-square-foot office building, asphalt apron, parking and other renovations, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

Construction of the hangar was funded by a $3.8 million state grant. The grant was awarded in 2012 through a competitive funding process. The Albany County Airport Authority is responsible for the balance of project funding.

Rev. Kenneth Doyle, chairman of the Albany County Airport Authority, said the grant was a big factor in CommutAir’s decision to locate the new hangar at the airport.

“We continually seek to cultivate an environment that will enhance air service and create new employment opportunities,” Doyle said.

Champlain Enterprises, operating as CommutAir, previously operated dozens of daily flights out of the Albany airport and housed a maintenance facility at the airport.

The company relocated to Cleveland but decided to return to Albany International Airport in 2014 with flights and a maintenance operation.

Since 2014, CommutAir has created nearly 100 jobs and continues to hire more workers. The company also trains employees at Albany International.

Reach Gazette reporter Haley Viccaro at 395-3114, [email protected] or @HRViccaro on Twitter.