Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes speaks during a Nov. 13 event celebrating the 85th anniversary of Trenton-Mercer Airport.
Mercer County celebrated Trenton-Mercer Airport’s 85th anniversary on Nov. 13 at an event that spotlighted the announcement of a $2.6 million state grant for taxiway improvements and also marked Frontier Airlines’ two-year anniversary of providing service here.
County Executive Brian M. Hughes said during the event held at the airport in Ewing Township that in order to make the facility viable, a commercial airline was needed to join the mix of private and corporate planes that operate there. Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines, which began service in November 2012, was the right partner at the right time, he said.
“I couldn’t be happier,” Hughes said of the county’s partnership with Frontier, and the airline’s expansion at Trenton-Mercer Airport from twice-weekly flights to Orlando, Florida, two years ago to 18 destinations today. “This is a group effort, because without Frontier, without the professional staff we have running this airport, and without the people of Mercer County and this region, we would have nothing at all.”
New Jersey Transportation Commissioner James Fox announced the award of a $2.6 million state grant for taxiway improvements, and said the county would continue to receive the state’s support for its airport. “You have my commitment that we’re to do everything we can at our end to make sure you get more money, you get support for this airport and we grow together,” he said.
Todd Lehmacher, director of corporate communications for Frontier Airlines, praised the airline’s “commitment to low fares done right,” and noted that 850,000 Frontier passengers have passed through Trenton-Mercer Airport during the airline’s first two years of service.
Featured speakers included Stanley Switlik II, CEO and president of Switlik Inc., formerly the Switlik Parachute Co., which was established in Mercer County in 1920 and has been owned and operated by the Switlik family for four generations.
Switlik, who spoke of company’s involvement with the airport over the years, was joined by Sarah Switlik, a fourth generation employee who works in the company’s marketing division. Peggy Stephan, the daughter of late Jack Stephan, the county’s first airport manager, also offered a historical perspective that complemented the Ewing Township Historical Society’s display of airport memorabilia spanning more than 100 years.
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