Long Island Airport Moves Ahead Despite Challenges Of 2020

Press release from the Town of Islip:

February 3, 2021

Islip, NY – January 21, 2021 – The year 2020 represents the largest ever challenge in the history of aviation. Despite these significant challenges, MacArthur Airport immediately prioritized health and safety concerns with high-technology air purification systems, and prepared for the future with an unparalleled commitment to its infrastructure, customer development, and overall improvements.

“We remain steadfast in helping Long Island withstand, recover, and rebuild from the devastating effects of COVID-19 in 2020,” said Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter. “Our top priority was to improve the airport so it could safely continue to serve our community. Immediately, that meant health and wellness for travelers including installing an innovative 24/7 pathogen reduction system, making COVID testing signups easy at the airport, adding antimicrobial films to high touch areas, and more,” she added.

“From the start, we looked for best practices along with innovation. The State of New York was hit hard along with the rest of the country. We faced a rapidly changing set of circumstances and needed to quickly adapt in the best interest of our customers and the community,” said MacArthur Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken. “We also understood that the airport plays a key role as an economic engine for Long Island and that jobs – directly and indirectly – connected to our airport were at stake. We committed to stay safe and work hard for our airport and community,” she added.

Looking back at 2020, key airport accomplishments and landmarks include:

January
1. Long Island MacArthur Airport is selected as one of the top small airports in America based on USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

March
2. Hand sanitizer is reintroduced throughout the airport & communication with customers and employees regarding health and safety practices were immediately deployed.

April
3. Airlines install plexiglass shields at ticket counters and gate podiums to provide further protection for customers and employees.

May
4. ISP installs and activates a breakthrough 24/7 pathogen reduction system; a first for any U.S. airport, capturing national attention on the Today Show.

5. ISP begins its 2020 marketing campaign. By year-end, despite a significant reduction in budget versus 2019, the campaign produced over 12 million impressions.

June
6. ISP is among the first US airports to install a touchless Personal Protective Equipment vending machine in the Terminal.

7. MacArthur Airport becomes the first airport in the world to use Silver Defender antimicrobial films on high-touch surfaces.

8. Frontier Airlines announces new nonstop service from ISP to Las Vegas.

9. The $2.8 million construction of Runway 15R/33L and associated Taxiway Edge Lighting replacement begins.

July
10. Construction crews start work on the $8.6M rehabilitation of 29,000 cubic yards of concrete for the airport’s West Apron.

11. New York State Department of Health begins weekly map updates of states requiring quarantine for travel.

October
12. Long Island MacArthur Airport breaks ground on a Ground Vehicle Transportation Center.

13. MacArthur Airport & Hawthorne Global Aviation Services conduct ribbon-cutting on state-of-the-art hangar facility – the first hangar improvement in decades.

14. TSA introduces one of the first 3-D imaging scanning equipment in the nation at ISP.

November
15. TSA launches efficient new ID verification at ISP.

16. ISP launches a cooperative marketing campaign to promote Frontier’s Las Vegas service.

17. ISP conducts full-scale safety drill as required by FAA.

18. Touchless options for food and shopping are introduced, new QR codes make ordering easier for travelers.

December
19. American Family Care begins COVID-19 testing signups at ISP.

20. ISP recovered a higher percentage of its pre-COVID scheduled seats than any other medium or small hub airport in New York.

“Throughout this very difficult year, we continued to move forward together with our airport partners, airlines and community,” said “Supervisor Carpenter. “We missed our customers greatly, but continued our efforts knowing what we do affects jobs and economic recovery for the entire region. Challenges remain, but there is light at the end of the tunnel,” she added.

“We continue to make judicious investments in our airport by building and using technology to provide the highest standard of customer care. We are committed to our passengers, airlines and Long Island. We believe this is why MacArthur Airport continues to be recognized as one of the best small airports in the U.S. We were just nominated again in 2021, for USAToday’s 10 Best Awards,” said Carpenter.

The public can vote for ISP once per day until February 1 at:

https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-small-airport-2020/long-island-macarthur-airport-islip-new-york/

ABOUT LONG ISLAND MACARTHUR AIRPORT: Long Island MacArthur Airport customers enjoy flights on three major US domestic air carriers: American Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Together these carriers currently provide service to 10 cities nonstop, and connect to hundreds of destinations worldwide. The airport serves 1.6M passengers annually and employs 6000 people directly and indirectly, with a $16M annual operating budget and an economic impact of $600M to the region and local economy.

Additional Airport & Town of Islip resources:

FlyMacArthur.com
MacArthurAirport.com
MacArthur Airport Facebook
Twitter @LIMacArthur
Instagram @FlyMacArthur
Link to Town of Islip Homepage
Link to Town of Islip Facebook
Link to Town of Islip Twitter
Link to Town of Islip Instagram
Link to Town of Islip YouTube

This press release was produced by the Town of Islip. The views expressed here are the author's own.