Bradley's Board of Directors Adjourns

With the state legislature recently approving an airport authority, the Board of Directors had its last meeting Thursday.

Members of the board said they are happy to see the management of Bradley moving to a new model.  They said actions taken during the past few years will leave the new authority in a good position to improve the airport and be competitive.

Board Chairwoman Caren Kittredge said all healthy organizations change and grow. Kittredge said during the past few years Bradley officials have built good relationships with the airlines, vendors and businesses.

"I do think there has been a solid foundation laid," Kittredge said.

She cited the recent ending of 30-year lease agreements with airlines for new shorter agreements as an example.

"The new airport authority will have great standing, a more competitive situation," Kittredge said.

Board Member Michael Long, who is the longest tenured member, also said the changes are welcome. He has long advocated changes to the way the airport is run as well.

“This is another move, this is another evolution that started many years ago,” Long said. “We’re moving forward, that’s positive.”

The legislature passed a bill that creates a new, 11-member Connecticut Airport Authority whose  main goal is to turn airports like Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks into job-making engines of economic development, Sen. Gary LeBeau, D-East Hartford said after its approval.

“Over the past several years we have missed opportunities to bring new routes and carriers to Bradley and to otherwise capitalize on the transportation hub there,” LeBeau said in a statement. “The state DOT is very good at running Bradley as far as maintaining aircraft and clearing runways, but not so good at the business side. That’s where the new authority will excel.”

LeBeau said the authority has the duty to: manage, operate and develop Bradley, the general aviation airports and other airports; establish rules and regulations for same; approve the capital operating budgets for same; ensure that appropriate mission statements, business plans, minimum development standards and sets strategic goals for same; ensure customer service standards; approve community relations policies;  and issue bonds.

Board Member Steven R. Wawruck Jr. said the new authority will not face the same obstacles as the current structure at Bradley. Because the airport is still under the state Department of Transportation, state hiring freezes or budget cuts have prevented the airport from filling key positions, such as the marketing director, in a timely manner, he said.

State budget constraints have also prevented airport officials from regularly traveling to conferences where they can meet with airlines and talk about creating new routes to and from Bradley, Wawruck, who is also Windsor Locks’ first selectman, said.

“I think it’s going to be a plus for the airport,” Wawruck said. “It’s been a long time coming. You want to be competitive.”

Patrick McMahon, economic development director for Suffield, echoed that the state Department of Transportation does a good job of running the flight operations of the airport. But the new authority looks to have more autonomy in making business decisions, he said. Hiring a new marketing director is a key need.

McMahon said it is important that the airport re-establish Trans-Atlantic flights, which were very popular with businesses in the area. The airlines were able to fill seats, but the cost of oil caused them to stop the service, he added. 

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy praised the bill when it was passed by the legislature. The bill, as of Thursday, has not been signed by Malloy.

“Bradley Airport is centrally located, easily accessible and it could be a major economic driver in our state – if we approach its operations and management strategically,” Malloy said in a statement. “This bill will free Bradley from the bureaucracy that has hamstrung the airport in the past and help to make it more attractive to new routes, new airlines and new ways to increase our state’s economic viability. I look forward to working with those who are as committed as I am to make Bradley International Airport an integral part of our state’s economic strategy.”