LIA seeks to land airlines at MacArthur

Long Island's business community is jumping into the battle to beef up service at Long Island MacArthur Airport, urging three major carriers to establish flights at the Ronkonkoma facility.

Kevin Law, president of the Long Island Association, the region's largest business and civic organization, has sent letters to the chief executives of JetBlue Airways, US Airways and Air Canada. His move is to be followed by support from the Island's other major business groups, including the Association for a Better Long Island, a developers group.

Law's letters were sent just before Christmas. He wrote JetBlue chief executive David Barger that the "Caribbean is a new destination" sought for the airport "and one of JetBlue's targeted growth areas."

Law told Air Canada chief Calin Rovinescu that flights from Long Island MacArthur to Toronto would "make business sense."

Law said airport research shows that 58 percent of international travelers in the airport's immediate "catchment area" of 1.7 million people "are flying to Canada."

And Law urged US Airways chief executive Doug Parker to add service to Washington, D.C., from MacArthur.

The three carriers have expressed some interest in service at MacArthur. Air Canada officials visited the airport in late October. A spokesman said it was a "get-to-know-you" tour.

A US Airways executive said flights to Washington are "under active consideration."

JetBlue has said MacArthur is on a short list as the Forest Hills-based carrier considers adding more Northeastern airports. Sharon Jones, a JetBlue spokeswoman, earlier this week said, "There have been no decisions made at this time."

Airport commissioner Teresa Rizzuto said she has been trying to lure more airlines to MacArthur for a few years now.