A Senate Resolution recognizing that United Airlines will begin providing service at the Atlantic City International Airport and urging the South Jersey Transportation Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to identify and recruit additional airline carriers to the Atlantic City International Airport.

Whereas, Since 2000, five large airlines have cancelled service to Atlantic City, including AirTran, West Jet, Delta, USAir, and Continental, limiting the airline choices and options for Atlantic City passengers; and

Whereas, AirTran Airways stopped serving Atlantic City International Airport on January 6, 2012, leaving the airport with just one primary carrier, Spirit Airways; and

Whereas, Atlantic City International Airport has daily non-stop service to 10 cities during the summer but only five cities year-around, creating limited air access to Atlantic City and other nearby destinations; and

Whereas, The South Jersey Transportation Authority ("SJTA") recently completed expansions to passenger screening checkpoints at the Atlantic City International Airport and is completing construction of a terminal expansion and a federal inspection station, expanding the capacity of the airport; and

Whereas, With the recent completion of the Revel Casino, the development of the Atlantic City Tourism District, and SJTA plans for a new hotel and conference center at the airport, there is the potential for increased demand for air service at the Atlantic City International Airport; and

Whereas, Another potential source of added demand for flights at the Atlantic City International Airport is the technical park consisting of 408,000 square feet of offices, laboratories, and research facilities currently under construction to house the Next Generation Air Transportation System on airport property; and

Whereas, In July 2013, the SJTA entered into an agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey ("PANYNJ") under which the PANYNJ will provide general management services at the Atlantic City International Airport; and

Whereas, Under that agreement, the PANYNJ will oversee daily business operations at the Atlantic City International Airport and will be responsible for undertaking a marketing campaign and developing additional air service; and

Whereas, One of the first successes of the new collaboration between the SJTA and the PANYNJ was the announcement in November 2013 that United Airlines will begin daily flights to Houston and Chicago from the Atlantic City International Airport starting in April 2014; and

Whereas, The presence of additional airlines operating out of Atlantic City International Airport will provide more direct access to Atlantic City and the surrounding area's attractions to people from different parts of the country, give consumers in New Jersey additional choices in air travel, and take further advantage of the upgraded facilities at the airport; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. The South Jersey Transportation Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are urged to identify and recruit airlines to provide additional service and flights into and out of Atlantic City International Airport.

2. A duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the South Jersey Transportation Authority; and to the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, and Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

STATEMENT

This resolution urges the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to identify and recruit additional airlines to operate out of the Atlantic City International Airport. The presence of additional airlines operating out of Atlantic City International Airportwill provide more direct access to Atlantic City and the surrounding area's attractions to people from different parts of the country, give consumers in New Jersey additional choices in air travel, and take further advantage of the upgraded facilities at the airport.