American Pulls Out of Tweed New Haven, Leaving Airport with No Commercial Flights
Nov. 13—NEW HAVEN — American Airlines is ending its American Eagle service to Tweed New Haven Regional Airport, effective immediately, and won't resume flights between Tweed and Charlotte International Airport as previously announced, Tweed Executive Director Sean Scanlon confirmed Thursday, leaving Tweed with no commercial air service.
The confirmation comes a day after the commuter airlines employees who staff American's Tweed station reportedly were informed that they were being let go.
"I was able to contact American and I was able to confirm that they are in fact pulling out," said Scanlon, a Democratic state representative who serves the 98th District, which includes parts of Guilford and Branford.
Inside an empty terminal at Tweed New Haven Regional Airport in New Haven photographed on November 12, 2020.
Photo: Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media
While American said Aug. 20 that it was temporarily suspending service between Tweed and Charlotte pending congressional approval of another coronavirus stimulus package — and subsequently said it would resume flights Nov. 5 — "They are now saying that they are pulling out regardless of that," he said.
American spokeswoman Nichelle Tait said in an email, "We're always evaluating our network based on supply and demand. Unfortunately, we will no longer operate to New Haven, CT (HVN).
"These flights were initially suspended in October as we waited for PSP support, but are not financially viable routes for the foreseeable future; thus, we have made the difficult decision to cancel service to these markets indefinitely," Tait wrote. "We thank the team members who served our customers and will work closely with them during this transition."
The entrance to the arrivals section of the terminal at Tweed New Haven Regional Airport in New Haven photographed on November 12, 2020.
Photo: Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media
American also is ending service to Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, N.Y., (SWF) and Williamsport Regional Airport in Pennsylvania (IPT), Tait said.
American, through its commuter airline affiliates doing business as American Eagle, had operated the Tweed service since 2015, when it took over what previously had been US Airways Express service between New Haven and Philadelphia following a merger.
It later added weekly service to Charlotte, then ended the Philadelphia service and expanded the Charlotte service to two daily flights earlier this year. Those flights began Sept. 9.
"Tweed airport is an asset to the city and today's decision is really more a corporate decision by American related to the pandemic," said Mayor Justin Elicker. "Our economic position is strong and we are confident in our recruitment of new service to serve the market."
The decision to stop serving Tweed New Haven was not related to Tweed's performance, said Scanlon. "They're leaving because they in terrible crisis," not because of anything specifically related to the performance of the New Haven service, he said.
Tweed New Haven Airport in New Haven.
Photo: Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut Media
"We were dealt a really bad hand in New Haven. Because we, in March of this year, finally got that runway limitation off our heads ... and then a week later" everything shut down because of coronavirus pandemic, Scanlon said.
"It's disappointing that we are losing that service. But I still believe that good things are lying ahead," he said. "We are in serious negotiations with one carrier right now."
But for now, "in this difficult time it's going to be something that we are going to have to adapt to," Scanlon said. "It's disappointing for me but I'm still optimistic. This is a hard period not just for our airport but in the history of air passenger service."
Tweed, which long has pushed for a longer runway, is in the midst of doing its periodic airport master plan update, an 18-month process that includes community and technical advisory input and is scheduled to be done in March 2021.
The entrance to Tweed New Haven Regional Airport in New Haven photographed on August 20, 2020.
Photo: Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media
City and airport officials have said they need to extend the 5,600-foot main runway to at least 6,000 feet to attract additional commercial airlines. Tweed straddles the New Haven-East Haven border, and while it is owned by New Haven, is located in both municipalities.
That effort received a boost when the U.S. Supreme Court announced March 23 it wouldn't hear the state's request to review a federal appeals court's ruling in favor of Tweed in the airport's effort to extend its runway by paving portions of grassy runway safety areas at either end.
The decision clears the way for Tweed to ultimately lengthen its main runway, which Tweed officials and New Haven leaders have said is essential to the airport's future and its efforts to attract additional air service. The airport is owned by the city.
Tweed New Haven Regional Airport in New Haven photographed on August 20, 2020.
Photo: Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media
Word of American's pullout from Tweed was posted Thursday afternoon on the "Tweed Facts" Facebook page, which is run by aviation professionals who operate out of Tweed.
At least one employee at the station also posted about it.
A small plane lands at Tweed New Haven Regional Airport in New Haven on August 20, 2020.
Photo: Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media
"We have received some very somber news today: Piedmont employees were informed that @American Airlines is 'permanently' closing their HVN station, thus leaving Tweed without air service indefinitely," the Tweed Facts post read.
An American Eagle Embraer E175 regional jet, just arrived from Philadelphia, parked on the tarmac at Tweed New Haven Regional Airport.on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 12, 2019. American recently upgraded to the 76-seat planes, which bring First Class service back to Tweed for the first time since 1995.
Photo: Contributed / AvPORTS
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