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Slaughter says she invited a top boss of Southwest Airlines to Rochester to encourage the airline to stay. Southwest is taking over AirTran, which has flights in and out of Rochester.

The University of Rochester hosted what was described as a "powerhouse roundtable" on the topic. No cameras or reporters allowed in to the gathering of business and political leaders.

"We understand the commitment you made here. It's very costly. We intend to support it,” said Slaughter.

"New York, and certainly Rochester, New York, is a hub for transportation,” said Ray LaHood, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

LaHood applauded efforts to get another airline to commit to Rochester, but it doesn't stop there.

"Once an airline decides they’re going to provide air service, it's up to the community to provide the plane tickets so the airline can meet its bottom line,” LaHood said.

"It is essential to economic development that we have access to reasonably priced airfare, if you're a big company or little company," said Tom Richards, (D), Rochester mayor.

Southwest made the announcement last month that it would take over AirTran operations here and elsewhere by August. What that means for future destinations out of Rochester remains to be seen.

"I wouldn't want to tell you that because our competitors might be listening,” said Ron Ricks, executive vice president with Southwest.

Ricks says the airline's committed to keeping AirTran's routes. Future growth will depend on ticket sales.

"If the patronage is there, if people want the service, if you want competition and low fares, then people have to utilize the service," said Ricks.

Leaders say with the addition of Southwest, the table's set to go more places and do it for less.

"If you go, we will grow,” said Ricks.