Poughkeepsie, NY – International flights will be a new addition to Stewart Airport this fall, said Port Authority Director of Aviation Susan Baer. They most likely would begin as destination charter flights.

Baer made her comments during the keynote speech Wednesday morning at the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast in Poughkeepsie.

One of the first steps in providing the proper accommodations for international service is the installation of a Federal Inspection Services facility to clear inbound passenger through Customs, she said.

So far the federal government has already entered into an agreement with Stewart Airport to provide these services pending the availability of the necessary facilities.

“What that means, short term, is we’re making a few modifications to the building to get them what is really considered a temporary facility. This temporary facility will have a moving wall that we can put in place, inspection booths, and some of the other back-of-the-office things they need so that they can clear an international flight.”

Baer said that with the temporary facility they will only be able to clear one flight at a time, but at this point that is about all that can be expected.

(Source: MidHudsonNews)