The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Flights between Tweed, Charlotte begin Saturday
NEW HAVEN — American Airlines’ American Eagle regional jet service between Tweed New Haven Regional Airport and Charlotte begins Saturday, giving Tweed a destination beyond Philadelphia for the first time since Delta Connection stopped flying to Cincinnati in 2006.
The jet service will begin as one weekly flight in each direction, with the 7:30 a.m. flight from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport arriving at 9:20 a.m. Saturday, then departing for Charlotte at 10:11 a.m, arriving just before 12:30 p.m.
Tweed officials are hoping that will grow into a schedule with greater frequency.
Meanwhile, the initial flight has been upgraded from the originally scheduled 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft to a Bombardier CRJ700 with 70-75 seats, said Tweed New Haven Airport Authority Executive Director Tim Larson and Airport Manager Jeremy Nielson.
“Obviously, we’re excited about it,” said Larson. “It’s going to be a new destination. It has a lot of promise for travelers . ... It’s a new opportunity to open that southern swing for travelers.”
In preparation for the new service, Tweed has rehabilitated the longunused jetbridge last was used for the Delta Connection flights, as well as the second-floor waiting area for the gate that use it.
“We’ve upgraded the upstairs, said Larson. “We’re trying to enhance the passenger experience in accordance with what American wanted.”
Among the improvements are more TV screens and greater connectivity, including upgraded Wi-Fi, he said.
American currently offers American Eagle regional jet service between Tweed (HVN) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), after upgrading from turboprop service last year.
Charlotte (CLT) is American’s second-largest hub, offering connections to 150 destinations, including many in Florida and the Caribbean. Connections to hundreds of additional destinations in more than 50 countries are available through Philadelphia.
Tickets for the new service are available now at www.flytweed.com and www.aa.com.
About 20 to 25 percent of the 1.4 million travelers within Tweed’s catchment area fly to Florida or the Caribbean and Charlotte provides those destinations through the American network, Larson has said.
“We’re excited to start the service,” American spokeswoman Nichelle Tait has said. “We’re just really excited and happy to give you” additional options.
Tweed straddles the New Haven-East Haven line and is located in both municipalities, bordering both residential and commercial neighborhoods. It is located 15 minutes from downtown New Haven.