Yisroel R.

A new plan being developed by State Senator James Skoufis and regional officials could make it much easier for airlines to take a chance on launching new flights from New York Stewart International Airport, potentially bringing more travel options closer to Monroe and the wider Orange County community.

The idea centers around something called a minimum revenue guarantee, or MRG. In simple terms, an airline would agree to begin flying a new route from Stewart, and if that route does not make enough money during its early period, a special fund would help cover part of the difference.

For example, if an airline decides it needs $5 million in revenue to make a new Stewart route worthwhile, but the route only brings in $4.7 million, the fund could help make up the missing $300,000. That extra protection could make airlines more willing to open routes they might otherwise consider too risky.

The goal is not to permanently subsidize airlines, but to help new routes get through their most difficult early stage while travelers become familiar with them and passenger demand builds. Officials are also looking at ways for money to flow back into the fund if a route later performs better than expected, allowing the same program to potentially help attract additional flights in the future.

Skoufis is working on the effort together with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. The focus is expected to be on bringing airlines that can connect Stewart passengers to major hubs, giving Hudson Valley travelers access to many more destinations from Stewart.

For Monroe-area families, that could make a major difference. Stewart Airport is far closer than JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark, but its limited selection of flights has often forced local travelers to make the longer trip toward the city. More airline service could turn Stewart into a much more practical option for both family and business travel.

Skoufis has said he expects to make a meaningful financial commitment toward the program, although the final amount and details are still being worked out. Officials have also already been in discussions with at least one major airline about a potential new route from Stewart to a larger national hub.

For an airport that has long struggled to attract and keep a broader lineup of commercial flights, the new approach represents a different strategy: instead of simply hoping airlines will come, officials are trying to reduce the financial risk of getting them through the door. If the plan succeeds, travelers in Monroe and across Orange County could eventually have more flights, more destinations, and far fewer trips to the city just to catch a plane.