Tweed New Haven announces expansion including new airline, Avelo Airlines. Not sure why but WTNH interviewed Dan Haar on it.

Press release: https://thenewhvn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/New-HVN-Press-Release.pdf

Tweed New Haven Airport Authority and Avports LLC Agreement: https://thenewhvn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/New-HVN-Summary-of-Term-Sheet-and-LOI.pdf

Tweed to announce expansion, existing operator agrees to build new terminal
https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/new-haven/tweed-to-announce-expansion-new-airline-as-new-company-takes-over-operations-of-airport/

Tweed New Haven Airport is expected to announce later Thursday that it has signed a Letter of Intent with Avports.

The company wants to  take over operations and management of the airport, as an independent contractor. They would also bring in a new airline and jobs.

The new airline is Avelo Airlines. Avelo is the nation’s first new mainline airline in nearly 15 years. The carrier will make Tweed New Haven its first East Coast base.

News 8 has learned the deal with Avports will include:

An investment of $60-million in the community.
A portion of that money will go toward improvements to the existing west terminal.
And construction of a NEW east terminal.

According to an economic impact study commissioned by Avports, the expansion could create up to 11,000 jobs and could generate $47 million in state and local taxes over time.

Three large (737-700) Avelo aircraft will be parked at Tweed. More than 100 crew members including; pilots, flight attendants, technicians and customer support personnel, will be hired. Most will be hired locally.

Starting this summer, Avelo will begin operations at Tweed with nonstop scheduled service to a number of popular destinations.

Part of the proposed improvements include extending the existing runway to allow for more direct flights. That expansion is in line with the Airport’s recently updated Master Plan.

Runway expansion  has been controversial in years past. It will take several years to receive approvals for and to develop the runway extension and new terminal.  Access to the new terminal will be from Hemingway Avenue in East Haven.

The new lease contract would last for the next 43 years. After the lease expires the airport will be given back to the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority.

The City of New Haven and the State of Connecticut subsidize Tweed’s operations. Every year an estimated $1.8 million is given to the Authority. Total funding is more than $30 million over the last 20 years.

The lease agreement also calls for Avports to pay rent and share a portion of revenue to the Tweed Airport Authority. Environmental Assessments and FAA approvals will be needed.

The agreement will include a number of protections to ensure that Avports operates the Airport as a good neighbor.

In addition to abiding by the local noise ordinances, Avports will implement requirements from an updated noise study within 5 years of FAA approval. And will invest up to $1.75 million in additional noise mitigation programs.

Avports will also fund environmental and traffic mitigation, with total community investments of approximately $5 million.

11,000 jobs? Who's smoking that crack?

Tweed just seems like a dumpster fire.

Whole lot of NIMBY by residents who live around it. People move into homes near an airport, then bitch about the airport. The inability, for years, to expand the runway to accommodate larger jets is what holds it back.

New Haven community reacts to Tweed’s expansion announcement
https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/new-haven/new-haven-community-reacts-to-tweeds-expansion-announcement/

With Tweed’s neighbors, some folks who live near the airport have been fighting expansion.

Some neighbors in the area aren’t happy about the expansion worrying their quality of life won’t be the same with more traffic and noise from construction to the proposed operation.

Tweed-New Haven Airport revealed it has signed a letter of intent with Avports – the company that is set to take over operations here.

Local and state leaders touting the announcement as an economic boost for the area but neighbors here say otherwise, adding the deal makes living in their neighborhoods they call home a hard place to live with larger planes set to fly in.

Many are upset and told News 8 they felt as if there was little input from neighbors on this deal and they only learned of the news today when the announcement was made.

Gary Doering says, “This house is going to be jumping up and down off the ground.”

“We’re seeing small airplanes that have gotten bigger and bigger and now they’re talking about 737s landing here?” Anthony Ferrera says. “That’s a pretty sizable plane. It’s gonna be a lot louder. She house already shakes with the planes we have now.. I can’t imagine what it’s going to do to our houses and our windows.”