Yale Bulletin and Calendar

February 27, 2004|Volume 32, Number 20

Yale-led coalition helps bring
Delta Air Lines to Tweed

As the result of the efforts of a community group spearheaded by Yale, Delta Air Lines will begin service at Tweed New Haven Regional Airport on May 27.

The announcement was made on Feb. 23 by the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority and the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce.

Comair, a Delta Connection carrier, will operate three flights daily to Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Airport with the 40-seat Canadian regional jet. From Cincinnati, passengers from the New Haven area will have access to Delta's global network, connecting to more than 560 flights to over 125 destinations.

"The advent of Delta service is the culmination of years of commitment to improving air service," said Lawrence J. DeNardis, chair of the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority and president of the University of New Haven. "Tweed will now offer daily scheduled service to two major hubs on the national air network."

Mayor John DeStefano Jr. added: "This is one more example of how New Haven has become a premiere American city. To grow as a hub of world class culture, education, biotechnology and new economy business, the world must be able to get here quickly. Delta's jet service to Tweed will allow you to get here fast from anywhere in the world. Just as important as welcoming the world, today we celebrate the local partnership between the city, the business community and our great university which together brought Delta to New Haven."

Delta's commitment to serving Tweed was made possible by the support of a consortium of local area businesses led by Yale. This community-based partnership entered into a joint venture to secure Delta's service.

"The business community and non-profit institutions banded together for the good of the region's future," said Bruce Alexander, vice president and director of Yale's Office of New Haven and State Affairs, who led the fundraising effort. "We cannot have new jobs to replace the old and a strong tax base to support municipal services without economic growth. Air service is vitally important to attracting business to southern Connecticut."

The four major sponsors that made Delta service possible are the Knights of Columbus, Yale, New Haven Savings Bank and The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Other important donors are Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Fleet Bank, United Illuminating Company, SBC, New Haven Register, WTNH-Channel 8 and Webster Bank. Also contributing are Sargent, People's Bank, Wachovia, Citizens Bank and College Street LLC.

The new commercial service is expected to aid both business and leisure travelers. "The Chamber of Commerce has a long history of support for Tweed and is solidly behind this effort," said Anthony P. Rescigno, president of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. "I am proud that the business community has stepped up and formed a partnership with Delta Airlines to benefit the entire region. We owe a great deal of thanks to Yale for leading this initiative."

Fred Buttrell, president and chief executive officer of Delta Connection, commented: "Delta Connection looks forward to beginning all-jet service between New Haven and Delta's second largest hub at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. We appreciate the tremendous cooperation and partnership of the community in helping increase air service options for their citizens."

Tweed New Haven Regional Airport, located near the border of East Haven and New Haven, is also served by U.S. Airways with four daily flights to and from Philadelphia.

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