Airports In Connecticut: A Comprehensive Guide

Connecticut is home to Bradley International Airport, the second-biggest airport in New England, as well as five general aviation airports. These include Danielson, Groton-New London, Hartford-Brainard, Waterbury-Oxford, and Windham. The largest airports in the state are Bradley International Airport and Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport.

Airports in Connecticut

Bradley International Airport

In 1979, a tornado ripped through the eastern portions of the airport, causing significant damage to the New England Air Museum, which reopened in 1981. The airport underwent expansion in the early 2000s, with the construction of Terminal A, the Bradley Sheraton Hotel, and the Roncari cargo terminal. The Terminal Improvement Project, which began in 2001, aimed to expand Terminal A, build a new International Arrivals Building, and centralize passenger screening. As part of this project, the new East Concourse opened in September 2002, followed by the new International Arrivals Building in December 2002.

Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport

Connecticut is home to several airports, including Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport (IATA: HVN, ICAO: KHVN, FAA LID: HVN). Located three miles southeast of downtown New Haven, in New Haven County, the airport is partly located in the City of New Haven (which owns the airport) and partly in the Town of East Haven. Tweed-New Haven is one of only two airports in Connecticut with regularly scheduled commercial service, the other being Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks.

Over the years, Tweed-New Haven Airport has been served by various airlines and aircraft. From 1985 to 1986, jet flights from New Haven to Chicago O'Hare Airport were introduced, initially operated by Air Wisconsin using BAe-146s. United Airlines also offered non-stop flights to O'Hare from 1991 to 1996, utilising their Boeing 737-300s and 737-500s. Other airlines that have served New Haven include Atlantic Coast Airlines, Continental Express, Business Express, Ocean Airlines, Astec Air East, East Hampton Aire, and Trans International Express.

More recently, Tweed-New Haven Airport has continued to expand its services and connections. In 2017, American Eagle, the only airline serving New Haven year-round, introduced daily round trips to Philadelphia using regional jets. In 2019, Southern Airways Express began seasonal nonstop service between Tweed and Nantucket, Massachusetts. Additionally, Shoreline Aviation, based at the airport, announced a merger with Cape Air, offering a popular seaplane service connecting HVN with the New York Skyports Seaplane Base. In 2021, Avelo Airlines chose Tweed-New Haven as its first East Coast base, operating routes to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, and Tampa.

Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport

Connecticut is served by Bradley International Airport, as well as five general aviation airports: Danielson, Groton-New London, Hartford-Brainard, Waterbury-Oxford, and Windham. The state is also adjacent to John F. Kennedy (JFK) and La Guardia (LGA) airports in New York City.

One of the general aviation airports in Connecticut is Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport, a public airport in Fairfield County, owned by the city of Bridgeport. The airport is located in Stratford, three miles southeast of downtown Bridgeport, and was formerly known as Bridgeport Municipal Airport. It was rededicated in 1972 to honour Igor Sikorsky, whose Sikorsky Aviation Corporation was established in Stratford in 1929.

The airport has three fixed-base operators and several private hangars. In 2016, Tailwind Air Service began seaplane flights between Sikorsky and the New York Skyports Seaplane Base in Manhattan. The airport averaged 136 aircraft operations per day in the year ending February 28, 2019, with 94% general aviation and 6% air taxi. It is also a base for blimps conducting flyovers of regional sporting events due to its convenient location and space availability.

A notable structure on the airport grounds is the Curtiss Hangar, built in 1928 by Glenn Curtiss. The hangar was once home to a branch of the Curtiss Flying School and was witness to significant aviation milestones, including early Sikorsky helicopter development and Howard Hughes storing his aircraft there.

Groton-New London Airport

While the airport currently has no scheduled commercial airline service, it retains its FAA Airport Operating Certificate (AOC) and is maintained to commercial airport standards. This ensures the airport remains prepared for the potential resumption of commercial passenger service. Several domestic airlines have served the airport over the years, including Pan Am Clipper Connection, NewAir, Allegheny Airlines, Piedmont, and Pilgrim Airlines. The airport also has a significant military presence, serving as the home base for the Connecticut National Guard's 1109th Theater Aviation Support Maintenance Group (TASMG) and playing a role in military flight operations.

Danielson Airport

Connecticut is home to several airports, including the Bradley International Airport, as well as five general aviation airports: Danielson, Groton-New London, Hartford-Brainard, Waterbury-Oxford, and Windham.

The airport has undergone upgrades over the years, including during the Infrastructure Renewal Program of 1984, when it received new security fences, a rotating beacon, and improved surfaces on roadways. The Connecticut Wing Civil Air Patrol 074th Cadet Squadron (NER-CT-074) operates out of Danielson Airport. Effective July 1, 2013, the FAA approved the transfer of the airport, along with the state's other five airports, from the Connecticut Department of Transportation to the Connecticut Airport Authority.

Frequently asked questions