Regulators Approve Tweed New Haven Airport Expansion

The Federal Aviation Administration released a ruling Dec. 22 clearing the way for the much-anticipated expansion of Tweed New Haven Airport.

FAA regulators responded positively to the draft environmental assessment submitted by New Haven, the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority, and airport management company Avports earlier this year.

The agency’s Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision allows the airport to move forward with a planned $165 million runway and terminal expansion.

“The FAA has determined that environmental and other relevant concerns presented by interested agencies and the general public have been addressed in the Final EA,” the report notes.

​“The FAA believes that with respect to the Proposed Action, there are no outstanding environmental issues within FAA jurisdiction to be studied or NEPA requirements that have not been met.”

Growth Plans

The proposed expansion includes lengthening the airport’s runway to 6,635 feet and building a new, 70,000-square-foot terminal and airport entrance.

Expanding Tweed is seen as essential to the region’s growing biotech, medical technology, and software industries.

Expanding Tweed is seen as essential to the region’s growing biotech, medical technology, and software industries.

Airport authority board chair Matt Hoey said the FAA’s ruling was one of a number of milestones “needed to fulfill a vision of what could be possible at Tweed.”

Avports CEO Jorge Roberts said the airport operator was “committed to ensuring that this expansion is executed in an environmentally sustainable manner.”

“Tweed New-Haven will continue to see additional activity in the coming years, and the environmental assessment makes clear that this project can and will reduce the airport’s overall environmental impact to the region as that growth occurs.,” he said. 

‘Big Step Forward’

The expansion project is also key to the growth plans of low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines, which launched operations from Tweed in April 2021.

Since making its debut, Avelo has carried more than 1.5 million passengers on more than 12,000 flights in and out of Connecticut and created over 200 local jobs.

Gov. Ned Lamont called the FAA decision “a big step forward to ensuring that south-central Connecticut has the reliable transportation opportunities this region needs to grow economically.”

Avelo has carried more than 1.5 million passengers on more than 12,000 flights in and out of Connecticut and created over 200 local jobs.

“Additionally, it will ensure that there are commonsense noise and traffic mitigation measures in place that will retain the neighborhood’s quality of life,” he said.

CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima said Avelo’s commitment and the initial investments at Tweed “have grown jobs and increased convenience for flyers.”

“This approval from the FAA will keep the airport on track to becoming an even more important economic driver for Southern Connecticut in the years to come,” he added.