Tweed New Haven Airport Announces Major Expansion, New Carrier

05.06.2021
Economy

Tweed New Haven Airport this week announced a $100 million expansion driven by partnerships with Avelo Airlines and current airport operator Avports.

The expansion includes extending the airport runway—an initiative that survived a court challenge led by state Attorney-General William Tong—overhauling the terminal, and the addition of Avelo as a carrier.

Tweed executive director Sean Scanlon said the project will create thousands of local jobs and eliminate the need for existing state and city subsidies, which currently total $1.8 million annually.

“This historic and exciting project is about more than just offering much-desired new flights and expanded service,” Scanlon, who represents Guilford and part of Branford in the state House, said.

“This project is about generating significant economic activity in greater New Haven, creating thousands of good-paying local jobs and building one of the country’s first truly sustainable airports.”

Public-Private Partnership

CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima called the agreement “a public-private partnership that is a model for driving other critical infrastructure investments in Connecticut.”

“A viable airport in the New Haven area is essential to the region’s growing biotech, medical technology, and software industries,” he said.

CBIA’s Chris DiPentima called the agreement “a public-private partnership that is a model for driving other critical infrastructure investments in Connecticut.”

Tweed is currently one of the smallest commercial airports in the country and has sought to expand for two decades.

Extending the runway allows airlines to provide convenient service with larger jets in and out of the airport.

Under an agreement with the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority, Avports will operate and manage the airport for 43 years and invest more than $100 million in capital.

New Carrier, Destinations

Avports will upgrade the existing terminal to improve safety and mitigate local traffic concerns and has an option to construct a new, modern terminal on the east side of the airport.

Tweed will be California-based Avelo Airlines’ first East Coast base, with the airline making what Scanlon said was a $60 million investment in the local community.

Avelo will station three 737-700 Next Gen aircraft at Tweed by the end of 2021 and the airline’s presence will add over 100 crew members.

Tweed will be California-based Avelo Airlines’ first East Coast base, with the airline making a $60 million investment in the local community.

The airline will begin offering nonstop service from Tweed to as yet unnamed destinations by the third quarter of this year.

“Avelo is thrilled to make Tweed New Haven our first East Coast base and bring a new era of choice, convenience and everyday low fares to Southern Connecticut,” CEO Andrew Levy said at the May 6 announcement.

The agreement is subject to approval by the Federal Aviation Administration and the New Haven Board of Alders.


For more information, contact CBIA’s Wyatt Bosworth (860.244.1155) | @WyattBosworthCT.

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