New York State Supreme Court Keeps East Hampton Airport Public, for Now

The town of East Hampton’s plan to change its airport to a private-use facility is on hold.

Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 04:22 PM ET

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The town had planned to close the airport and reopen it 33 hours later as a private-use facility, requiring pilots to obtain permission before landing. [Photo: NBAA]

Key Takeaways:

A temporary restraining order has halted East Hampton's plan to convert its airport (KHTO) to a private facility, keeping it open to the public for at least another week.
The town intended to implement new restrictions for the private airport, including requiring permission to land, curfews, increased fees, and noise-abatement rules, driven by years of noise complaints.
Opponents, including the NBAA and helicopter operators like Blade Air Mobility, argue that the town's move undermines federal policy and sets a dangerous precedent for airport access nationwide.

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East Hampton Airport (KHTO) will remain open to the public for at least another week after New York State Supreme Court judge Paul J. Baisley Jr. issued a temporary restraining order against the town of East Hampton.

The town had planned to close the airport on Tuesday and reopen it 33 hours later as a private-use facility, requiring pilots to obtain permission before landing. The planned changes also would have included new restrictions on aircraft operations, curfews, higher landing fees, and noise-abatement rules.