Editorial Quick Hit: International Islip?

The commissioner of Long Island MacArthur Airport, Teresa Rizzuto, went speed-dating in late June, but said "I didn't come back going steady" with a new airline. It's a regular ritual, held this time in Cleveland, bringing airport and airline executives together to discuss starting new service or expanding existing flights.

Rizzuto is always seeking more carriers, to add new convenience -- direct flights to extra destinations -- to an airport that already prides itself on being friendly and hassle-free.

The emphasis now is on finding an international airline. Private planes do fly internationally from MacArthur. So U.S. Customs and Border Protection is there, but its presence would have to grow to accommodate an international airline. The payoff would be huge, for the airport's brand and the economy of the Town of Islip and the Island.