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August 13, 2021

East Haven politicians unite to question Tweed Airport expansion plan

PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED The Tweed New Haven Airport Authority wants to lengthen the runway as part of a major expansion plan..
By Liese Klein

East Haven’s mayor and a state representative joined forces this week to raise questions about the expansion of Tweed New Haven Regional Airport.

Rep. Joe Zullo said: “The path to Tweed’s ideal expansion plans runs through the Town of East Haven. We hold the cards and East Haven will NOT be steamrolled by state, regional or private actors when it comes to Tweed.”

Zullo, a Republican, and Mayor Joe Carfora, a Democrat, said they had set aside their political differences to issue a joint statement, their first. “Both cite the need for a bipartisan approach to protecting the Town’s best interests,” the statement said. 

Tweed New Haven Airport Authority Executive Director Sean Scanlon said, “We are committed to meeting with, listening to, and working with East Haven officials and residents throughout this process. We have been doing that and will continue doing that, and I'm very confident we can move this expansion forward while also addressing community concerns.”

At issue are plans to lengthen the airport’s runway, build a new terminal and add flights to  Tweed, which is bordered by both New Haven and East Haven. The plan would also move the main airport terminal to the East Haven side of the airport.

Zullo and Carfora said they had concerns about potential costs to East Haven taxpayers, along with longstanding worries about traffic, noise, health, environmental and public service impacts. 

“I’m not an obstructionist, but I am here not only posing the tough questions, but also demanding the tough answers so that our local leaders and residents can make informed decisions on an issue that we all recognize will affect generations to come,” Zullo said. 
East Haven residents want more details on economic benefits for town residents as well as assurances that investors in Tweed will guarantee benefits even if the expansion falls short financially, the duo said. 

“We’re both committed to pursuing aggressive fact-finding and public awareness campaigns to ensure we get the information we deserve, disseminate it to residents, and provide them meaningful opportunities to sound off and contribute to the conversation,” Carfora said. 

Airport officials plan additional hearings for both East Haven and New Haven residents as the plan progresses through municipal approval processes. 

Meanwhile, the startup airline planning to make Tweed its East Coast hub announced expansion of its service from Los Angeles. Avelo Airlines now flies from its Burbank hub to Monterey, California; Fort Collins-Loveland, Colorado; and Provo and St. George, Utah. 

Avelo also launched a contest last month offering Connecticut residents an opportunity to win free tickets when it begins flights from Tweed in November. Visit Aveloair.com/HVNSweepstakes for details. 

Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.

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