Hopscotch Air Adds Hamptons Base to Handle Summer Traffic Surge

Hopscotch Air is parking aircraft at Gabreski-Westhampton Beach Airport this summer, leasing hangar space from Northside Hangers to handle a jump in customer traffic to the Hamptons.

The FAA-certificated regional air mobility company already bases planes at Republic-Farmingdale, Westchester County Airport, and Lawrence Municipal Airport in Massachusetts. The new spot on Long Island's east end gives it a fourth base and cuts the need to reposition planes from Farmingdale or White Plains when passengers want to fly into or out of the Hamptons.

CEO Andrew Schmertz said the summer has brought more traffic through Westhampton, East Hampton, and Montauk Airports. "This decision reduces our operational risks of having to reposition aircraft from either Farmingdale or White Plains," he said.

Hopscotch Air runs about 1,400 revenue legs a year across the Northeast and Canada, flying a fleet of Cirrus SR22 aircraft. The company expects at least one more Cirrus to join the fleet this fall, and it is looking at adding a base in the Philadelphia market.

Northside Hangars has a 30-year phased lease with Suffolk County to build and run private aviation facilities at Gabreski Airport. The company is developing the hangar space Hopscotch Air will use.

Hopscotch Air is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hopscotch Go Corporation. It was founded in 2009.