Avelo Airlines Commits $1.2M For Tweed Airport Improvements

NEW HAVEN, CT —And it's official.

The Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority voted to approve a new, three-party agreement between itself, Avelo Airlines, and the airport's long-term operator Avports Friday.

Under the agreement, Avelo will spend $1.2 million for various upgrades to the airport’s existing terminal, administrative building, parking, and other areas, all aimed at improving customer experience as Avelo readies to begin operations at Tweed," said airport authority director and state Rep. Sean Scanlon.

As Patch reported in May, a $100 million project agreement was made between Tweed and Avelo to create a new, carbon neutral terminal, allow for more flights to more destinations, and eliminate the need for existing state and city subsidies, which currently total $1.8 million per year.

“Last month, we took our first step toward long-overdue improvements to this airport, so that it can finally meet the needs of the region, helping to grow jobs and economic activity,” sScanlon said. “With today’s vote, we will begin delivering on that promise of HVN as a more modern, dynamic, economic driver – one that listens to and works with the neighboring community.”

While planning begins for the new terminal, the $1.2 million in funding approved Friday will be used for shorter-term improvements at the existing terminal, enabling a more convenient and comfortable experience for customers, Scanlon said.

This funding comes in addition to $2.8 million provided by Avports for additional upgrades to the current terminal and airport infrastructure, he noted.

By year’s end, Scanlon said, "Avelo plans to station three Boeing 737-700 aircraft at the airport, adding more than 100 crew members, including pilots, flight attendants, technicians and customer experience crew members."

“As Avelo prepares to make Tweed New Haven our first East Coast base, this investment in the airport will mark the beginning of a new era of choice, convenience, and everyday low fares for Southern Connecticut,” Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said.

“This investment in HVN reflects our conviction about the huge opportunity we see in this market – an opportunity to offer Customers convenient, everyday low fares delivered by Crewmembers with a Soul of Service," he was quoted as saying in the news release. "We are excited about the opportunity that HVN and Avports are providing us to serve the Greater New Haven community.”

“As the local operator of HVN for more then 20 years, we are extremely excited to begin moving forward with changes that will enable much-desired new flights and expanded service at the airport, “said Jorge Roberts, CEO of Avports. “This new agreement for immediate upgrades is a precursor to improvements that will soon come to HVN. We’re appreciative of this partnership with HVN and Avelo, and we are excited to continue serving the airport and neighboring communities.”