Comment from Brent Jamsa

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the proposed elimination of the Ogdensburg (OGS) to Washington-Dulles (IAD) route in the upcoming Essential Air Service (EAS) contract selection for Ogdensburg, New York. As a dual citizen of Canada and the United States currently residing in Ottawa , Ontario, this route provides vital personal and regional connectivity. I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, and the affordable roundtrip flights between OGS and IAD have allowed me to frequently visit my ailing grandmother in long-term care and actively participate in her final years of life. My situation is representative of many families in the North Country and Eastern Ontario who rely on OGS for cross-border family unity and essential travel. Furthermore, eliminating the IAD route fundamentally undermines the geographic and economic potential of Ogdensburg International Airport. A stated operational goal of OGS is to attract Canadian travelers from the nearby Ottawa-Gatineau capital region. While cross-border discretionary travel faces broader economic challenges, offering a direct link to a major international hub like Washington-Dulles (IAD)—alongside Florida destinations—is a proven driver for attracting Canadian travelers across the border. Many of my colleagues, neighbors, and friends have expressed a desire to visit Washington, D.C., or to utilize IAD as a major hub for broader international connections when flying out of Ottawa (YOW) is cost-prohibitive. In fact, due to my high praise of the OGS staff and carrier service, colleagues at my workplace were actively planning to utilize OGS instead of YOW for official business travel to the United States. However, the impending elimination of the OGS-IAD route has put a complete pause on these plans. The proposed alternative hub, Raleigh-Durham (RDU), does not serve the needs of this international commuter market. It lacks the same level of global connectivity for northeastern travelers, and there is virtually no organic demand from the Eastern Ontario catchment area to travel to or connect through Raleigh. While I understand the carrier’s operational preference for its RDU hub, it is vital for the community's economic viability to maintain at least a 2–3 flight-per-week frequency on the OGS-IAD route. An EAS determination should reflect the connectivity needs of the community it serves. Removing access to the nation's capital and a premier international hub will severely diminish the utility of Ogdensburg International Airport for both local New York residents and the crucial Canadian market. I urge the Department of Transportation to closely look at the negative community impact of losing the IAD link and request that options to maintain frequency on the OGS-IAD route be strictly considered before a final order is issued. Thank you for your time, consideration, and review of this matter.