ROME, N.Y. — Would New York City–based JetBlue Airways Corp. (NASDAQ: JBLU) consider basing some of its maintenance operations in Rome?
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) is hoping the air carrier will consider Premier Aviation at Griffiss Airport for some those operations, his office said in a news release issued Thursday afternoon.
Trois-Rivieres, Quebec–based Premier is in talks “to do business” with JetBlue, according to Schumer, the incoming U.S. Senate minority leader.
Schumer called JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes “in support” of bringing additional maintenance work to Rome, “highlighting the importance such work could have for creating jobs at Premier,” according to the release.
Schumer touted Central New York’s “deep and talented” workforce and the low cost of doing business in the region.
Premier has estimated that it could need to hire at least 100 people in order to complete this potential work, Schumer’s office said.
Premier Aviation, which employs more than 150 people in Rome, currently performs maintenance on aircraft carriers at a former Air Force hangar at the Griffiss Business & Technology Park.
“Simply put, a relationship between JetBlue and Premier Aviation would land more jobs at Griffiss and in Oneida County and that’s what I’ve always fought for,” Schumer said in the release. “An agreement that flies and allows Griffiss to expand and continue its work as a renowned maintenance hub would be a match made in heaven and one that could lead to Griffiss getting even more work in the future. There are a number of positive impacts if New York’s hometown airline, JetBlue, selects Premier and that’s why I called the JetBlue CEO directly and urged the company to bring this new keep business to New York and continue their great track record of investing in our state’s economy. Doing so will allow Premier and its world-class workforce to work on these vital aircraft carriers, create new, good-paying jobs, and allow for the economic benefits to reverberate throughout Oneida County and Central New York.”
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com