PLATTSBURGH — The battle is on to see who will provide area airports with daily commuter service.

Clinton County legislators are leaning toward a new provider for Plattsburgh International Airport that will feature larger aircraft, while their counterparts in Franklin County want to keep their tried-and-tested carrier at the Lake Clear Airport in Harrietstown.

The contract for federal Essential Air Service funding is due for renewal, and three airlines are bidding for the deal.

GROWTH WITH CAPE AIR

Under the Essential Air Service program, the government subsidizes airlines for providing service to under-populated areas.

Cape Air has been providing service under the program in both Plattsburgh and Lake Clear since Feb. 12, 2008, using nine-passenger Cessna 402 aircraft.

They fly from both Plattsburgh and Lake Clear to Logan Airport in Boston.

The airline has proven successful in both communities, with enplanements up 17 percent in Plattsburgh and up 10 percent at Lake Clear over the past year.

Cape Air wants to continue providing the service and is offering direct connections with Jet Blue Airline starting early next year.

“We’ve increased enplanements by 17 percent in Plattsburgh and 10 percent in Lake Clear, and in these challenging economic times, Cape Air has proven to be a very good partner with these communities,” Cape Air spokeswoman Michelle Haynes said Friday.

BIGGER PLANES

But Clinton County legislators are leaning toward a bid from Colgan Airlines of Manassas, Va., that would offer flights to Boston on 34-passenger Saab aircraft.

Colgan would fly from Plattsburgh to Lake Clear and then on to Boston.