Tweed Supporters' Responses
I love Tweed and use it whenever I fly. It is so practical and convenient. And, its MUCH closer to the center of Connecticut's population than Bradley. Frankly, I think it was a mistake to sink so much money into Bradley, which is literally way out in left field, and probably that is why Tweed gets so little. BUT, if Tweed is ever properly supported and marketed and gets more service, half of Fairfield County will prefer to fly because its much closer and more manageable than the New York airports. Sorry I cannot come to the things next week.
Ron, New Haven
As the President and CEO of VaxInnate, a biotech company with laboratories in New Jersey and Connecticut, Tweed Airport is an essential element of our ability to operate in Connecticut. Our company is headquartered near Princeton, and I live in Doylestown, PA, north of Philadelphia. Flying from Doylestown (KDYL) to Tweed takes just under one hour in my single engine Cirrus. Driving can take 3-5 hours depending on traffic patterns. Tweed makes New Haven a viable location for us.
Alan R. Shaw, PhD
President, CEO
VaxInnate Corporation
Cranbury, NJ
Tim, New Haven has always been a pain to get to. Westchester and Bradley are at best marginally ok. Flying through PHL is character building at best. We'd rather have root canal than do NYC and CT Limo. How about Non Stop flights to Florida, or??? or use Reagan or BWI or anything but PHL for connections? Tweed is wonderful if you can get to it. It is by far the best place to serve the Southern CT population and its visitors. There are no good other options. This negative situation has choked and will continue choking New Haven and its potential.
Improvement could only lead to economic growth. New Haven is uniquely blessed with a population that has Brains and Bright. Bright is not transferable and can't be taught. Please let New Haven use its incredible resource by allowing ease of travel to and from New Haven. The current travel hurdle causes too many to skip over New Haven and move to a lesser plan "B". This is a lose lose. How about a win win?
Michael S. Gimbel
Gimbel & Associates
Fort Lauderdale, FL
I fly into Tweed from San Jose four times a year to visit my sons in Hamden. I have flown Tweed for 20+ years, and have nothing but the highest regard for its staff and services. I am always pleased by the staff at Tweed, especially when I arrive late at night and the rental car people are still there waiting for me. I also send props to the US Air folks for making it easy to get my bags as I step off the plane.
Chris Clark
San Jose, CA
I am a native of New Haven but now live out of the area but visit several times per year from California. I am unable to lend my support in person at the events mentioned in your message. Please advise how I can encourage better air service at Tweed via e-mail.
I recently had a short business trip from San Jose to Reno. The Reno airport serves the Reno-Sparks MSA having a population of 342,885 at the 2000 census. It is large and well used - I'm sure you have access to flight and passenger data.
I'm not sure 'gambler specials' from Albany, Binghamton, Rochester, Harrisburg, etc. with bus service to Foxwoods would make sense, but the casinos may want to extend their 'reach' and provide some incentives for their popular form of 'entertainment'.
I like the central convenience of Tweed; however that did not prevent Pilgrim, United, Delta from pulling out. I used all of them quite happily verses a trip to BLD. BLD is a great air facility - but convenience has value too. So much simpler to be dropped off and picked up at Tweed for flights than BLD plus the trip duration parking expense has become quite high.
Good luck with your service expansion initiative.
Bill Soby
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