By Albert Silvestri
He singled out the particular commitment that American Airlines has shown JFK by investing more than $1 billion at the airport has provided many jobs and economic stimulation for the surrounding area.American's new terminal at JFK will be 2.2 million square feet and will house American Eagle and other carriers on a 42-acre site behind the existing terminals.”We are in the midst of restoring this airport to the marvel that it was once intended to achieve,” Meeks said. “I can't wait for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. It is state of the art. They used local talent and have brought many jobs to the 6th Congressional District.”In addition to the American Airlines terminal, Meeks mentioned the various other projects undertaken by the Port Authority and its airline and airport partners. The redevelopment program has seen the construction of Terminal 1 and Terminal 4, the expansion and upgrade of Terminal 7 by British Airways and the addition of the light rail transit system connecting airport passengers to New York mass transit. “A healthy aviation industry is good for JFK,” Meeks told the businessmen and women of the Chamber of Commerce. “What's good for JFK is good for your business and what's good for your businesses is good for my congressional district.”JFK is the only airport in the nation to have its own Chamber of Commerce dedicated to the airport business community. “I have a vested interest in JFK growing because it creates three things: jobs, jobs and more jobs,” Meeks said.According to the Web site of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, there are more than 37,000 people employed at the airport directly. JFK contributes approximately $22 billion in economic activity to the metropolitan region, generating some 207,700 jobs and $7.1 billion in wages and salaries.”During his four terms in Congress, Representative Meeks has worked tirelessly to promote and preserve a healthy American Airlines presence at JFK,” Gerard Arpey, chairman and CEO of American Airlines, said in a statement sent to the Chamber of Commerce. “His strong voting record demonstrates a commitment to the long-term prosperity of a region that proudly serves as the world's premier financial and business center.”Arpey, who referred to Meeks as “one of the most firmly pro-business members of the House Financial Services and International Relations Committees,” lauded him for his support of the industry, which has suffered considerable losses in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001. “Aviation can be the catalyst that unites us abroad and at home,” Meeks said. “We have to work together to make it so.”
