Airport terminal remodeling tentatively set for winter
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While Chautauqua County airport leaders are still waiting to hear if the Jamestown airport will get a subsidy to bring commercial air service back, the airport continues to move ahead with various projects, including remodeling the main terminal.
The Chautauqua County Planning Board met with John Machemer, who oversees both the Jamestown and Dunkirk airports, and got a tour of the Jamestown airport.
In May, 2025, county officials and Southern Airways had proposed scheduled commercial air service be restored from Jamestown with a new destination to Washington Dulles International Airport to provide direct connectivity to a major domestic and international hub. The proposed service would operate on a schedule accommodating both business and leisure travel, with two daily round trips, Monday through Saturday.
A little more than a year later, the federal Department of Transportation issued Order 2026-6-23 denying the joint proposal submitted by the county and Southern Airways.
After the joint proposal was denied, the Machemer sent a letter to the federal DOT on behalf of the county, appealing their decision.
During the county Planning Board meeting, Machemer said he has not heard anything regarding the appeal and had no information of when the DOT will decide.
Nevertheless, the Jamestown airport is continuing to move forward with its planned renovation of its terminal, along with a number of paving projects.
In February, the Chautauqua County Legislature approved a resolution to renovate the Jamestown airport terminal at a cost of $1,265,000. The federal DOT will pick up 95% of the tab, leaving the state and the county to fund the remaining 5%, which will total $31,625 each.
Machemer said the DOT is not using federal tax dollars; instead it uses fees collected on airline tickets.
He added that the local portion is actually now 2.5% instead of 5%, half of what was originally proposed.
Some of the new furniture for the terminal has arrived, but not installed yet.
Machemer said currently they are finishing the design work, including wall and floor covering, seating, windows, bathrooms, and more.
He hopes work will begin sometime in the winter. Some of that will depend on the bids received.
Once the work begins, Machemer said he thinks it will take four to five months to complete.
Even if commercial air service doesn't return, Machemer said the building still gets used by various organizations. "People are in here. We host the Sheriff's Department, for example, for multiple things. There's different groups that come and use the airport," he said.
Machemer said the terminal hasn't been updated since 1990. "You have to keep up with things and maintain things or things break, things need repairs," he said.
Machemer also discussed a number of paving projects for various runways as well as equipment they're hoping to purchase. Those were part of the airport's five-year plan.
The county Planning Board unanimously approved the five year plan.