State Sen. Michael Testa (R-Vineland) was thrilled to go to the ribbon-cutting for Breeze Airways earlier this month, when it announced it will begin flying out of Atlantic City International Airport.
He’s hopes it is the first of many.
Testa, the Republican whip, joined the chorus of people who feel AC Airport has untapped potential in becoming an economic driver for the region.
“I think Atlantic City Airport is a great hub for recreation and visitation – and not just the casino industry, but everything else that’s in South Jersey,” he said.
Testa, speaking at the New Jersey Energy Policy Council event on Wednesday, said the airport is finding new connections.
“Apparently, there are folks in the South that want to come to Atlantic City for gaming, which makes a lot of sense,” he said. “But I’m hoping when they get here, especially in the warmer weather months, they’ll see all that we have to offer – whether its agritourism or the ocean.”
The South Jersey Shore is a gem, he said. And not just the Atlantic City boardwalk. Testa pointed to the idyllic vacation destination of his district: Cape May.
“Think about what Las Vegas would give to have beaches like we have,” he said. “I’m really hoping that this can open up for recreation and tourism in the entire region.”
Using Atlantic City Airport as an economic driver has long been discussed.
Last May, when there were issues at Newark Liberty, many openly wondered it AC Airport could be an alternative destination that relieved congestion.
Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Voorhees) championed the idea.
“The Atlantic City airport is an underutilized asset that would have immediate benefits to the regional economy and to growing industry in the southern part of the state — that means new jobs, new industry around health care, which is a hallmark down in South Jersey, and obviously for tourism,” he said.
“It would be a huge boost to the South Jersey economy, as well as the ripple effects for the rest of the state.”
United Airlines even weighed in on the subject.
For now, growth is coming in short bursts.
Allegiant Airlines announced last week that it was adding a route to Myrtle Beach, S.C. – a week after saying it was launching new service to Punta Gorda and St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida. It already flies to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
And Breeze, which said it was flying to Charleston, S.C., and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., at its ribbon-cutting, already has said it is adding non-stop service to Tampa, Florida, too.
All of this means the airport is moving in the right direction, Testa said.
“They are retooling for the future,” he said. “They have a really fantastic vision.”
