Worcester Regional Airport celebrated a significant milestone on Tuesday, marking its one millionth passenger since the Massachusetts Port Authority reopened the airport in 2013.
David Brough of Worcester, the lucky one-millionth passenger, explained that he flies out of Worcester every Tuesday afternoon, taking a Delta flight to LaGuardia airport in New York City and continuing to Washington, D.C. for work.
“I come through those front doors, just like each of you, every single Tuesday. I approach the Delta ticket counter. I see this big smile at the counter and a big ‘Hello, David’ ... I go up the escalator. I see all the familiar faces at TSA and then I go to Gate 4 and I see all my familiar friends again at Delta for the departure. All of that takes 10 minutes or less,” Brough said. “I support this airport because it’s convenient, it’s affordable, it’s modern, it’s upgraded and I want to see it continue to grow.”
Brough received two round-trip Delta tickets to a destination of his choice in honor of the milestone at a ceremony held at the airport Tuesday morning.
Worcester Regional Airport, known as ORH, originally opened in 1946 and was purchased by Massport in 2010 and reopened in 2013. Prior to the acquisition, there had been discussions in the city of closing the airport and replacing it with a racetrack or casino on the property.
“A lot of people thought that this was not possible,” said Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce President Tim Murray. “A lot of people didn’t think it could happen, but through a collective effort, over time, three yards a carry, we’re here.”
Over the years, Massport has made significant infrastructure improvements to the airport, including a new landing system and two new jet bridges. Before the pandemic, the airport was experiencing growth in passenger volume and bringing in almost $100 million each year.
In 2020, when the pandemic stopped most flights, half of the airport’s’ primary runway was resurfaced and new LED runway signs were installed using funding from the Federal Aviation Administration. The other half of the runway will be resurfaced and a new taxiway will be constructed beginning in 2023.
“You kept the wheels moving forward and never missed a beat, and instead doubled down on the opportunity to get to the taxiway and the runway improvements so that our partners in the airlines could count on us to continue to provide the service,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who was praised by many at Tuesday’s event for her constant support of the airport during her years in office.
Since the airlines returned service to Worcester, they have increased the size of the planes flying through the airport, increasing the number of passengers they are able to serve.
Currently, ORH offers five daily nonstop flights from JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, four of which go to New York City and one two Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida.
Polito acknowledged that the needs of travelers have changed since the beginning of the pandemic, but said that those changes made ORH even more important to the community.
“A regional asset like this provides a concierge service in terms of ... getting in and out of your aircraft and into your vehicle easily, the affordability factor of being able to park nearly for free, and getting into this building, in and out, in minutes,” she said. “That’s adding a lot of quality life to your business travelers, your students, people visiting here and for people who need to commute to work from here.”
Congressman Jim McGovern, another longtime supporter of ORH, said the growth of the airport was important for the economic growth of the region.
“The success of Worcester Airport is about connecting Central Massachusetts to the world,” he said. “It’s about bringing economic energy and opportunity to our region and to our state.”
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