Tweed New Haven Airport Thursday announced a proposed $100 million expansion that will include a long-debated extension of its runway, expansion of its terminal and the addition of a major new carrier.
Avports, which has operated Tweed for the past 20 years, will construct the new terminal and lengthen the airport’s runway, critical to expanding the number of direct flights that can be offered at the airport.
Avelo Airlines — the country’s first new mainline airline in 15 years, plans to invest $60 million in the project, including basing three 737-700 Next Gen aircraft there by the end of the year and adding over 100 pilots, flight attendants, technicians and customer support staff by the end of the years.
Beginning this fall, Avelo will begin non-stop flights to popular destinations, which weren’t named Thursday morning. Avelo also will fund $1.2 million for improvements to Tweed’s west terminal.
The agreement announced Thursday still needs the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration and the New Haven Board of Alders.
The airport said the expansion — coming at a time when air travel is increasing as the pandemic eases — will eliminate the need for state and local subsidies of $1.8 million a year to support the airport’s operations.
Tweed is seen as critical to growing the New Haven area’s bio-tech industries and serving Yale University.
“For years people have talked about improving this airport to meet the needs of this region and now it’s finally coming to fruition,” Sean Scanlon, Director of the Tweed Airport Authority, said, in a release. “This historic and exciting project is about more than just offering much-desired new flights and expanded service. 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.”
Local residents have opposed a major expansion at Tweed, citing concerns about noise. Avports said will put into place requirements from a recent updated noise study within 5 years of FAA approval, invest another $1.75 million in additional noise reduction programs as part of a $5 million investment in the airport.
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Contact Kenneth R. Gosselin at [email protected].
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