United Airlines axes Binghamton, N.Y., from its route map
United Airlines is pulling out of the Greater Binghamton Airport in central New York. The carrier’s last flight there will be Nov. 29.
Binghamton becomes the second small city in New York state abandoned by United this year. The airline discontinued its service to nearby Elmira in April. Elmira is just about 60 miles west of Binghamton.
From Binghamton, United currently offers two daily round-trip United Express flights to its hub at Newark Liberty International Airport.
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"We have determined that our service between Newark and Binghamton does not meet our expectations and is no longer sustainable," United says in a statement to the Press & Sun-Bulletin of Binghamton.
Binghamton customers with reservations for travel beyond Nov. 29 will receive refunds, United tells the newspaper.
Binghamton lies in New York state's "southern tier" region. It's downtown is about 10 miles north of the Pennsylvania border and about 75 miles south of Syracuse. Binghamton is roughly 190 miles from both New York City and Philadelphia.
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United’s departure will leave Binghamton with commercial service on just two airlines: American and Delta.
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"We loved the fact that we had three major airlines serving our market; we've had a great relationship with them," David Hickling, aviation commissioner for Broome County, says to the Press & Sun-Bulletin. "United put a lot of thought into it, but ultimately, they're in a market to make money, so it's a business decision, and I respect their decision as much as I am disappointed by it."
Searching for a silver lining, Hickling suggests United’s exit could strengthen the position of the airport’s remaining carriers. American offers American Eagle service to its Philadelphia hub while Delta offers Delta Connection service to its hub in Detroit.
"We still have tremendous connectivity out of Binghamton," Hickling says. "Both American and Delta are going to do well with this decision (by United); they'll probably pick up more passengers."
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