FAA Paves Way For Tweed Airport Runway Extension, Terminal Expansion

EAST HAVEN, CT/NEW HAVEN, CT —The Federal Aviation Administration’s finding of "no significant impact and its "record of decision" for the proposed Tweed New Haven Airport's decades-long debated and controversial, runway extension and also its $100 million terminal expansion project.

The Tweed New Haven Airport Authority noted that the FAA's formal review of the airport’s Environmental Assessment, and decision approving the airport's terminal build plan and extended runway project is a “major milestone.”

“We are thrilled with the FAA’s decision — the greater Southern Connecticut deserves a convenient and affordable alternative for leisure and business travel, while addressing and mitigating the environmental impacts,” New Haven Airport Authority Board chair Matt Hoey said. “This milestone is one of several needed to fulfill a vision of what could be possible at Tweed, and it moves us closer to realizing that vision via the expansion of the runway and a new terminal. We look forward to working with our partner, Avports, to make that vision a reality."

The FAA’s decision comes in the form of a "Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision,” which is the standard process the FAA uses for issuing its determination on environmental assessments. First explored in the 2021 Master Plan, and then announced in 2021 in partnership with Avports, the changes at Tweed New Haven Airport are "designed to support more convenient and affordable flights to more destinations for southern Connecticut flyers, while also growing jobs in the region," Authority officials said, adding the FAA decision allows the project to "move into a new phase which will include design work for both the runway and terminal as well as obtaining various regulatory approvals and associated permits."

“This determination by the FAA marks another major milestone in the work to enhance HVN and fully realize a more-than $100 million investment by Avports in Southern Connecticut, and this ruling from the FAA is another step toward the promise of fulfilling a more sustainable future for HVN,” Tweed New Haven Airport Authority Executive Director Thomas Rafter said.

Lauded by the governor and mayor of New Haven, other local officials, especially of East Haven which shares the airport site and the area where the new terminal will be built, were less than thrilled.

"It is certainly an understatement to say that I am disappointed," East Haven Mayor Joseph A. Carfora said. "The town has committed a number of well-placed assets to provide the FAA with detailed information about our concerns from traffic, public safety to the environment. The substantial impact that the proposed action will have on our community is monumental. Our experts and my staff will fully evaluate the FAA’s findings before announcing our next steps."

State Rep, Joseph Zullo "railed against" the FAA go-ahead, noting he was "disappointed and bewildered."

Zullo said that the federal agency's "finding that there will be no significant impacts" from the plan, which includes an 80,000 sq. ft. east terminal, the construction of a new apron at the east terminal, and the construction of approximately 4,000 new parking spaces, he said.

Across the river, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker applauded the FAA decision, calling it "a big step, but just one of many steps, as we support Avelo and build the new terminal all with the lens toward economic growth and the wellbeing of the surrounding community.”

Gov. Ned Lamont, who was on hand in mid-November when Avelo Airlines, the only airline at the airport, took its first "overseas" flight to Puerto Rico.

“Convenient and reliable travel options from the New Haven region are an important component of our efforts to stimulate and attract business and job growth in the area," Lamont said, adding, "the service that Tweed-New Haven Airport provides is a key contributor to these goals.”

The draft environmental assessment, which was submitted to the FAA in March, was conducted by HVN with the support of national aviation consulting firm McFarland Johnson. The environmental assessment process included multiple public meetings and public comment period, allowing the public to learn more about the proposed project and to provide input.

In the final Environmental Assessment, the Airport Authority makes clear that the planned project would improve the airport’s future environmental impact, including:

• Reducing noise by reducing the number of total necessary flights and shifting aircraft ground noise further from residences.

• Reducing impact on air quality when compared to a future in which no improvements are made to the airport.
• Building a new terminal that is within the footprint of a closed runway and taxiway field, and which minimizes impact on undisturbed wetlands.
• Keeping impact to wildlife and plant life below all federal and local thresholds (the project site contains no critical habitats for threatened or endangered species).
• Mitigating the impact of current driver experience as studied across 11 key local intersections.

FAA Decision HVN Runway Ext... by Ellyn Santiago

“We remain committed to ensuring that this expansion is executed in an environmentally sustainable manner,” said Jorge Roberts, CEO of Avports. “We also remain committed to an active dialogue with our neighbors. Tweed New-Haven will continue to see additional activity in the coming years, and the environmental assessment makes clear that this project can and will reduce the airport’s overall environmental impact to the region as that growth occurs.”

The total cost of the runway extension and the expansion of the terminal is $165 million.

Zullo added that while the decision is made, a “fair outcome on Tweed means a fair outcome for all stakeholders, and the current proposal falls well short of protecting and benefiting the Town of East Haven. I am confident others will reach similar conclusions and trust that the Town of East Haven, its special legal counsel, Mayor Carfora, and other interested parties will weigh in further in forums that will shed better light on the hypocrisy and short-sightedness of these findings."