Gov. Dannel P. Malloy recently reinforced his commitment to revitalize Connecticut”™s airports and aviation industry.
“This initiative can drive activity into Connecticut,” he said.
Malloy cited legislation he signed in June and said a newly formed Connecticut Airport Authority would be part of an economic development effort to promote the state”™s airports.
He said the authority will create a more efficient management structure and a more competitive environment for the state”™s aviation industry.
The governor in coming weeks will appoint board members to the authority, which is scheduled to be empanelled Jan 1.
Malloy said Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks would be the authority”™s prime interest because it has the most promise. A proposed enterprise zone around the airport would provide 80 percent property-tax breaks for five years and a 25 percent forgiveness on yet-to-be detailed state taxes for up to 10 years.
“Bradley is most certainly the most promising of the airport,” said Malloy. “But this effort includes five regional airports within the state”™s control.”
Bradley has reported a 9 percent increase in traffic over recent years. The state Department of Transportation reported last year that Bradley generated $3.5 billion in revenue annually for the state.
“That speaks to potential,” said Malloy. “An increase in traffic in a very difficult economy is really a tribute to the hard work of the people at Bradley.”
Malloy said he has been in discussions with representatives of foreign governments, mostly in Europe, who are interested in the prospect of linking their international service to Bradley.
In December JetBlue will start direct flights from Bradley to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Malloy called Bradley a “gem in the rough.”
“We recognize the significance of spending a substantial amount of time, effort and allocation of resources to see Bradley reach its full potential.”
Malloy mentioned Waterbury-Oxford Airport in Oxford as part of the economic development initiative, but did not list the other three airports. The general aviation airports that had the greatest number of commercial passenger boardings in recent years were Tweed New Haven Regional in East Haven, Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial in Stratford and Groton-New London in New London, making them appear to be the most likely candidates.
“If a proposed enterprise zone around the Waterbury-Oxford Airport can get approved, it will help create hundreds more jobs,” said Herman Schuler, director of Oxford”™s Economic Development Commission.
He said enterprise zones around transportation hubs like airports can only promote investment in the property.
Nice article on a great bi-partisan effort for CT Airports. Just to clarify, the Zone around Bradley is not an enterprise zone, but actually the Bradley Airport Development Zone, and is no longer a proposal, it was signed into law in 2010.