New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has approved the plan to allow the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to oversee operations at Atlantic City International Airport.
With the Port Authority already having control of the region's three major airports-Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airports in New York. Not to mention, also running Stewart International Airport in Newburg, N.Y. and Teterboro Airport in Bergen County, N.J., adding one more airport shouldn't be that big of a hassle.
"With the Port Authority as an operator, we have the potential to open up entirely new markets for Atlantic City and the region at a time when we are working to revitalize the gambling resort," state Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said in a statement, according to the Star-Ledger.
The take-over could happen as early as the summer, with the current overlords of the airport, The South Jersey Transportation Authority, voting yesterday to authorize their staffs to negotiate a management agreement to take effect July 1, according to Star-Ledger.
Officials are hoping that the Port Authority's expertise at running major airports will help Atlantic City attract additional carriers and alleviate overcrowding.
Currently, the airport has just one carrier: Spirit Airlines, which operated 27 flights a day. That's one-tenth of what the 10-gate terminal can handle, the Star-Ledger reports.
The hope is, that by increasing passenger traffic, more people would head for the struggling casinos, which gaming analysts state need to attract more overnight guests from outside the region. Currently, officials say, "just 1 percent Atlantic City International passengers are casino guests, reported NJ.com.
Bill Baroni, the Port Authority's deputy executive director, said at the agency's monthly board meeting that Air Canada has expressed interest in operating in Atlantic City after hearing about the takeover, reported USA Today.
"In our experience, Port Authority has been excellent to work with," the company said in a letter to the Port Authority that Baroni read, according to the Post.
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