March 10, 2011 

FORUM TO FOCUS ON FUTURE OF BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL
AND OTHER STATE AIRPORTS
Boosting airports’ use critical to economic growth

State Representative Peggy Sayers (D-Windsor Locks, Windsor) of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, and whose district includes Bradley International Airport, hosted a forum discussion on the future of Bradley and other Connecticut airports at the State Capitol.

Speakers at the forum included representatives of the Bradley Advisory Board, Bradley Development League, Metro Hartford Alliance, Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, and State Rep. Timothy Larson (D-East Hartford, South Windsor) who is Executive Director of Tweed New Haven Airport. Members of the legislature’s Transportation and Commerce committees also participated.

“Bradley is a multi-billion dollar economic driver for Connecticut and its future is critical to sustaining long term growth,” Sayers said. “When you add our other airports into the mix, particularly as it relates to business travel, there is potential for even greater growth.”         

For the first time in five years, Bradley Airport served more passengers going from 5.3 million in 2009 to 5.4 million in 2010. New airline carriers and additional destinations along with terminal renovations and upgrades are credited with the increase.

Pending legislation introduced by Sayers (HB 6139) and Governor Dannel P. Malloy (SB 1003) aim to better utilize state airport assets to encourage economic growth by increasing the independence and authority of airport governing boards. Sayers’ bill is currently before the Transportation Committee while the Governor’s bill was recently approved by the Commerce Committee.