No Celebration as Greater Binghamton Airport Turns 75 Years Old

Broome County's airport opened 75 years ago but no one seems to be talking about it.

The dedication ceremonies for the facility atop Mount Ettrick in the town of Maine were held on May 30, 1951. An estimated 30,000 people attended the event which featured speeches by IBM chairman Thomas J. Watson and Vice President of the United State Alben W. Barkley.

The anniversary comes at a challenging time for the airport, which was without scheduled daily flights for nearly three months this year.

WATCH: WNBF News videos at the end of this article.

The arrivals and departures display in the terminal of the Greater Binghamton Airport on May 29, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Delta Air Lines brought back a single daily flight between Binghamton and Detroit on May 7.

When the airport's anniversary was mentioned to Broome County Executive Jason Garnar during a WNBF Radio interview, he said "it has been quite a ride... and we want it to last another 75 years."

Garnar said "we put a lot of work into it and we want to have more flights there as well."

A Delta Connection regional jet operated by SkyWest Airlines arriving at the Greater Binghamton Airport terminal on May 29, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

There will be no special observance to mark the airport's anniversary. The county executive said he wants "the people working at the airport to be concerned about bringing in more flights."

Garnar said "the best way that we can honor the airport and the 75 years of air service" in Broome County "is to support the work that's being done there and to have more flights there for people."

He said "when we have more flights, we will have ceremonies and celebrations and those type of things."

Delta and all airlines are facing serious operational challenges this year because of rapidly-rising fuel prices. Delta has been trimming service to hubs like Detroit, JFK and Boston in an effort to control costs.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: A visit to Greater Binghamton Airport on May 29, 2026.

WNBF FLASHBACK VIDEO: Renovations underway in November 2024.

WNBF FLASHBACK VIDEO: Demolition operations at the original airport terminal building in April 2024.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com.

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