Ithaca airport will have three daily flights to Washington, D.C. in October

LANSING, N.Y. — Ithaca Tompkins International Airport (ITH) already offers two daily flights to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and plans to add a third next month. The third flight is made possible through funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASD) grant, Tompkins County said in a Thursday announcement. The new United Airlines flight will expand options for travelers flying between Ithaca and the Washington D.C. metro area, offering “greater flexibility, improved same-day return opportunities, and better access” to United’s global network via IAD. “This is a significant win for our community and our travelers,” Roxan Noble, director of Ithaca Tompkins International Airport, said in the announcement. “The SCASD grant is a vital tool that allows smaller markets like ours to compete and thrive in a competitive air service environment. Adding a third daily flight gives business and leisure travelers even more options and better access to the global network available through Washington Dulles.” This added service builds upon the ITH–IAD route launched back in March and now offers morning, afternoon, and evening flights to accommodate all schedules, per the announcement. The SCASD grant was secured through a collaborative regional effort involving the Tompkins Chamber, Ithaca Area Economic Development, Ithaca College, Cornell University, and Tompkins County. “Expanded air service is more than just added convenience. It is a strategic investment in Tompkins County’s future,” Peggy Coleman, president of the Tompkins Chamber, said. “Air connectivity fuels business growth, attracts investment, supports tourism, and opens doors to new markets, making it a powerful tool for economic development in Tompkins County.” U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) said he worked to secure the federal funding for a third flight to Washington Dulles because “reliable and varied air service options are critical to a vibrant community and a healthy economy.”