New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Tweed becomes central Florida airport’s first destination in years
NEW HAVEN — Avelo Airlines will begin flights between Tweed New Haven Regional Airport and Lakeland, Fla. June 13 — making New Haven the first scheduled destination between the Central Florida airport and anywhere in the U.S., Avelo announced Wednesday.
A Tampa Bay television station, WTSP-10, reported that Avelo’s arrival will mark the first scheduled commercial service out of Lakeland in 35 years and its first passenger service of any kind in 12 years. Lakeland’s last service was charter service but the airline that flew those routes went bankrupt, the station reported.
Lakeland International Airport will be Avelo’s 25th destination from Tweed and its ninth Florida destination from Tweed, Avelo said in a release. The announcement came exactly one week after Avelo announced new service from Tweed to Houston, St. Louis and Traverse City, Mich.
The twice-weekly flights, on Thursdays and Sundays, will be on Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft and will feature introductory one-way fares starting at $72, not including reserved seat selection or checked or carry-on luggage. One personal item such as a laptop or small backpack that fits under the seat in front of you is free.
Lakeland is located off Interstate 4 between Tampa and Orlando — both of which Avelo also flies to from New Haven. Avelo’s other Florida routes include Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Daytona Beach, Sarasota / Bradenton, Destin / Fort Walton Beach and West Palm Beach.
“We are excited to offer Connecticut travelers their 25th nonstop destination,” said Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy. “As one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, we are proud to be the only airline serving Lakeland.”
Levy said the “small hometown airport feel” of Lakeland is similar to the experience travellers get at Tweed Airport.
“Tweed New Haven Airport is a key partner in our overall efforts to attract business and job growth in the New Haven region,” said Gov. Ned Lamont. “More flights and travel options help ensure that the region has the reliable transportation opportunities needed for our economic growth.”
Lakeland is located an hour from Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches. Its attractions include the Detroit Tigers’ spring training facility in Lakeland and the the Legoland Florida Resort in nearby Winter Haven.
Avelo also will begin flights to Houston, St. Louis and Traverse City in June.
The Houston service flies on Mondays and Fridays beginning June 14 to Houston’s smaller William P. Hobby Airport.
The St. Louis service flies Thursdays and Sundays, beginning June 13, to St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
The weekly Traverse City service, which begins June 15 on Saturdays, is to Cherry Capital Airport. Traverse City, known as the “Cherry Capital of the World,” is located on Grand Traverse Bay on the coast of Lake Michigan in the northeast reaches of lower Michigan. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region.
With those four new destinations, Avelo will serve a total of 25 nonstop destinations from Tweed — the most from any airport in Connecticut, the airline has said. The destinations are located in 10 states and Puerto Rico.
Avelo currently is the only airline that serves Tweed New Haven Regional Airport.
Tweed is owned by the City of New Haven, managed by The New HVN, LLC, a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs-owned Avports, LLC. It is located half in New Haven and half in East Haven.
The additional air service comes as Tweed is in the process of seeking approvals to extend its runway from 5,600 feet to 6,575 feet and build a new 80,000-squarefoot, four-gate terminal on the East Haven side of the airport. A new airport entrance would be off Proto Drive in East Haven, with access off the town’s Coe Avenue.
Avelo, which employs more than 200 people in New Haven, began flying from Tweed on Nov. 3, 2021.