As Avelo Adds Flights To D.C., Chicago, East Haven Has Questions

NEW HAVEN, CT —In addition to its six Florida destinations, three South Carolina destinations, and its flights to Nashville, Avelo Airlines will start flying out of Tweed New Haven Airport to Washington D.C., Chicago and Raleigh-Durham, NC in late May, it was announced Tuesday.

In total, Avelo will soon be flying to 13 destinations from New Haven.

At a news conference, Avelo officials said once the newest flights begin, there will be around 85 flights out of the airport every week.

Airline and airport officials said the airport will have more non-stops flights than any other in the state. It was also announced that three new planes "are coming."

Airport executive director Sean Scanlon said that since the airport terminal's expansion and Avelo's arrival was announced in the spring of 2021, "Because of our success you're seeing expansion."

The CEO of Avports, which runs Tweed New Haven Airport, said that expansion is "on track."

Jorge Roberts said that environmental assessment are under way and are expected to be completed by summer. Roberts said work should begin on the runway "next year" with the expanded terminal to be built in 2024. The terminal expansion extends to East Haven.

"We believe in the long term future of HVN," Roberts said. He noted that in addition to families flying to the Sunshine State for vacations, adding Washington, D. C. as a destination adds a "new dynamic."

On hand for the media event, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said that a year ago, he was "skeptical we'd be flying from New Haven to places like D.C."

"Many were skeptical. But it's happening," he said.

Scanlon said that the airport has seen some 100,000 people since Avelo began flying to Florida last November, adding its growth is a "benefit."

"Jobs are being created," he said. "And the fact that people can afford a flight, historically not affordable for the average person" is significant.

The East Haven equation

Absent from the media event, though listed as a participant, was East Haven Mayor Joseph A. Carfora. Scanlon jumped in to answer questions mean for Carfora.

"He's not here with us today," Scanlon said, but added that Tweed and Avports are "working with his team, studying all the things he wants studied."

"The mayor certainly never lets us forget that we have (made) community promises," Scanlon said. And mentioned that there's a "$5 million community benefits plan that has not yet been "rolled out." It's not clear what that plan means for East Haven.

Patch reached out to Carfora with questions and a request for comment after the news event.

"Avelo is moving forward with its plans to offer more flights to more destinations. More flights, and additional operations presumably translate into additional jobs, and to the extent that East Haven residents will be hired that is a positive thing," he said. "Business travel is important to the region. There is no doubt that New Haven, Yale, and the region will benefit from this additional activity."

But, Carfora reiterated what he's been saying since the spring 2021 announcement about the terminal expansion plan.

"I remain firm in my commitment to evaluate the airport development solely from the point of view of what is best for the town of East Haven. Whether it is traffic, environmental, flooding, operational or capital burdens — pick your concern, we need answers."

Carfora said that he and his "team are working hard to get them, so that a full picture can be presented to our community."

But he also credited Scanlon for an assurance "that they will provide us the detailed information that we seek."