Emma Kahle

Originally written for my Intro to Journalism course in November 2022

The lack of a major airport nearby complicates the lives of students who need to take a plane to travel to and from campus. The closest hub for air travel is over two hours away in Syracuse. How does this airport situation affect students, and what are the measures SLU is taking to help them?

“Transportation was set up originally to help with these challenges,” says Tonia Friot, the transportation coordinator at St. Lawrence University. Friot works to assist students with issues that arise while navigating the travel scene to and from campus. A key service that SLU provides are shuttle buses to each airport.

“The buses are to specific locations and are out of our ‘local’ area,” Friot says. “I feel it helps save students a little money and maybe travel time.” Even with Friot’s help, certain aspects of traveling are stressful.

Students like Emily Sianksy ‘26 often feel overwhelmed by the complicated nature of her travel plans. “If there was a major airport that would be so much nicer because it would alleviate a lot of stress with planning and coordinating with my parents,” she states. Siansky acknowledges that there are several small airports near Canton, but wishes there was a major one too.

Regional North Country airports only cater to certain populations of students, given their limited range of destinations and small capacity on board. For example, Owen Purinton ‘26, feels grateful to be able to fly Boutique Airlines flights out of Massena. “I got lucky that they fly to Boston, and I know that it’s such a small airport that they don’t fly everywhere,” he says. “And they only have a few flights going in and out everyday, so it’s not an option for everyone financially and location wise.”

Siansky used to be able to fly home from a smaller airport, but has needed to adjust her travel route this year due to the discontinuation of that flight. “It’s not terrible, I guess, but it is just more inconvenient,” she admits. “Especially since last year there was a direct flight from Ogdensburg to Dulles, which is in Virginia and is a lot closer to me.” 

The airport landscape near SLU inevitably limits the capabilities of smaller airlines and the possibility of including more destinations for their flights. “I don’t see Boutique expanding their services,” Friot admits. “But I do think what they offer has helped students.”

Ainsley Hubbard attends the University of Vermont, and although she has a major airport near her campus, she thinks that the lack of major airports and difficulty traveling could foster a tight-knit community at SLU. “Maybe that would make people want to stay on campus more, and facilitate more of that closer community,” she proposes. “Or at least for kids who are further away, if they all chose to stay on campus then they could be in the dorms together during that time.”

Siansky and Purinton both reference carpooling as an effective means of building connections while managing the struggles of getting home. Siansky sees value in traveling with a buddy, and sees the complicated commuting scene as an opportunity to make new connections with peers. “Carpooling brings people together,” Purinton adds.

Canadian airports provide another alternative to SLU students looking to fly back to campus. Ottawa International Airport is 30 minutes closer to campus than Syracuse, but students have been limited by the temporary pause of SLU shuttles to Canadian locations.  “I do believe they will resume,” Friot says. “The University is working through the new large van restrictions for Canada at this time.”