Stewart International Airport, near Newburgh, NY, is due for a big upgrade soon, after years of being just a backup to the big boys. In recent months, it’s become a Norwegian Air destination from Europe, and has nearly doubled the number of passengers.
Under plans by NY Governor Cuomo, it will get a permanent international arrival area, more terminal space, solar panels over the parking lot to power the terminal, and other improvements. The airport is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which has been told to get going on the $30 million project.
There are a few flies in the ointment, though. For one, it’s still 70 miles away, and there are only guesswork plans for any future high-speed connection. Without one, calling it ‘New York’ would be like Beauvais, in France, being called ‘Paris’ by Ryanair. As with Beauvais, the only direct connection is an airport bus.—
And that brings us to the second fly in the ointment. The Cuomo plan empowers the PA to change the name, likely to New York International at Stewart Field. There are big advantages from identifying the airport as New York, but the granddaughter of Archie Stewart, who originally gave farmland to Newburgh to build the airport, is objecting. She’s sure the name is too long, and that Stewart would eventually be dropped.
UPDATE: In a Solomonic decision that answers both industry desire to link the field more closely to New York and the Stewart family’s desire to ensure the name won’t disappear, the Port Authority has ditched New York International at Stewart Field and chosen instead New York Stewart International Airport.