Rochester International Airport Receives Federal Grant to Recruit Air Service

Rochester International Airport (RST) has been awarded a Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) grant from the Department of Transportation. The $750,000 grant is to be utilized to recruit new nonstop service to a western hub from RST.

“We are grateful to have received this grant from the Department of Transportation” said John Reed, RST’s executive director. “Thank you to the regional businesses that offered support in our application for this grant.”

Receiving the federal grant is not a guarantee of new air service, but is a resource the community can use for air service recruitment. Airport officials are continually in discussion with many airlines about adding new service at RST. Ultimately the airlines make the decisions on what routes they will serve.

The region has increased utilization of the airport with over 100 businesses committing to Fly Local and marking record passenger numbers in recent years. Continued utilization of RST helps demonstrate to airline planning departments there is a strong demand for air service in Rochester.

A SCASDP grant was awarded to RST in 2012, which allowed for the successful recruitment of nonstop service to Delta’s hub in Atlanta. The Atlanta service is successfully operating with two flights a day from RST.