Andrew Schmertz crossed the edge of a runway at Republic Airport, bucking rain and wind, opening a gate to let a visitor into Hop Scotch Air's terminal.

The chief executive of the air taxi service - he prefers "limousine" - which took to the skies in May, is also bucking trends in the aviation industry. Asked if these days aren't ominous times to launch an aviation business, Schmertz smiled.

"I think it's probably always an ominous time to start an air service company," he said.

But Schmertz believes his model of flying up to three business or vacation-bound passengers to spots in the Northeast is both convenient and competitively priced against other travel options.

A round trip to Albany, for example, on Hop Scotch's single-engine prop plane costs $900 for the aircraft. A walk-up round trip ticket on Southwest from Islip's Long Island MacArthur Airport to Albany runs $434. So, for three business passengers, choosing Hop Scotch is a bargain, Schmertz said.

"If lawyers have a client meeting in Hartford for example, this is the way to go," Schmertz added. "And you don't have the hassle of [the major] airports. "