Thomas MacMillan Photo
Tweed-New Haven’s air traffic control tower will close April 7, dealing a blow to the airport but not ending commercial flights, officials announced Friday in response to a decision by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA announced Friday that, despite pleas from city officials and members of Congress, it will go ahead with plans to close the air traffic control tower at Tweed-New Haven Airport and five other small Connecticut airports. Tweed is one of 149 small airports slated to lose their towers due to automatic budget cuts prompted by the federal “sequester.”
Politicians had joined the airport in fighting to keep Tweed’s tower open. At question was whether the airport would be able to stay open without the tower. The answer depends on whether Tweed’s sole commercial airline, US Airways, which offers four daily flights to Philadelphia, would skip town.
Airport chief Tim Larson announced Friday that US Airways will continue service at Tweed. “The FAA decision is not ideal because it will negatively impact how quickly Tweed can grow and become more of an asset for the regional economy. But it will not end our commercial service,” he said in a press release issued by the city.
Mayor John DeStefano, who lobbied the FAA to keep the tower open, blasted the FAA decision. “It’s unfortunate that important public policy decisions, that have significant impact on our economy and public safety, are being made as a result of sequestration,” he said. “This tower closure will do little to help grow Tweed, which is fast becoming an economic engine within the region.”
In a joint press statement, U.S. Sens. Dick Blumenthal and Chris Murphy said they are “deeply disappointed” in the FAA’s decision. “Closing air traffic control towers at all six of these airports, including one that provides commercial service, will cause needless harm to the residents who work there and the regional economies that depend on their services.”
The Senators failed in one effort to attach an amendment to a bill to save the towers. They vowed to “continue to fight to restore federal funding for these towers,” by offering another amendment Friday night.
In a separate statement, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro also said she is “deeply disappointed.” “Millions of dollars have been invested in improving Tweed over the past five years and the same FAA that made today’s announcement has also said that Tweed is instrumental to the future of aviation in New England and hoped to expand it. This is exactly the wrong direction for our community.”