US Helicopter Adds Locations To Manhattan Airport Connection Service

US Helicopter—which promises an eight-minute connection via helicopter from Manhattan to two New York-area airports—this past month expanded its service through a partnership to serve Continental's Newark hub and also gained federal approval to open a new departure point from Manhattan.

The company this month gained approval from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to offer service from the East 34th St. Heliport, supplementing the company's established service from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at Wall St.—where it operates 240 weekly helicopter connections to Newark Liberty International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, daily from 6:40 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

"This is a significant milestone achievement in US Helicopter's plans to introduce its eight-minute airport shuttle from the East 34th St. Heliport to those companies and business travelers located in midtown Manhattan, as well as business travelers coming to New York City," said US Helicopter president and CEO Jerry Murphy. "We have already begun upgrading our passenger facility at the East 34th St. Heliport and we will shortly announce a date for commencement of service as well as flight times."

Murphy said the establishment of the East 34th St. Heliport leaves the company poised to enter into additional interline and partnership agreements with major carriers that serve the three major New York-area airports. US Helicopter also is setting its sights on serving area airports from a West 30th St. Heliport.

The company last month entered into such a relationship with Continental Airlines to offer flights from Manhattan to the airline's hub at Newark. US Helicopter worked with Continental Airlines, TSA and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to establish the service. The company now runs a dedicated departure gate, number 71 at Terminal C, to accommodate helicopter service.

The deal follows a similar arrangement US Helicopter forged last year with American Airlines to carry passengers from Manhattan to JFK.

"We look forward to them opening the East Side Terminal, which will give people additional options," David Cush, American Airlines senior vice president of global sales, told BTN last month. "It's been a service that our premium customers, in particular the bankers on Wall Street, love."

Monisa Cline, Continental's staff vice president of North American sales, said the carrier's arrangement with US Helicopter is a premium service offered to Continental clients, but would not be available for corporate discounts.

For $159 plus taxes and fees per way, US Helicopter allows passengers to check in for flights and check bags at the heliport, where they are screened by TSA. Following checkin, passengers are flown to the secure area of the airport, where they can proceed directly to their gate for departure.

US Helicopter's fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters can seat up to 12 passengers, but the company has configured its aircraft to operate with two pilots and a maximum of eight passengers. At the end of last year, the company had four helicopters in service and Murphy expects to expect expand the fleet to more than 30 in the next five years.

Murphy said the company is looking at other New York departure points and plans to bring LaGuardia into the fold of local airports served. In addition to New York, Murphy said there are a handful of other markets in the United States where the concept would work, but would not disclose specific expansion plans.