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 New England features one of the strongest and most participatory regional airport systems to be found anywhere in the U.S. Focused on reducing traffic at New England's primary airport -- Logan International Airport, this winning strategy promotes a cohesive, multi-airport system.
Increasingly larger numbers of air passengers, the result of the region's vigorous global economy, are seeking more choices for regular service, closer to home and at a competitive price. New England's regional airport system responds perfectly to their requirements.
By giving passengers multiple choices for getting where they want to go in a timely, hassle-free and cost-effective fashion, New England's regional airport system successfully relieves the pressure on Logan and achieves the desired slowdown in its overall growth.
For more information about New England's Regional Airports, please visit www.flynewengland.com
Over the last nine years, more than $600 million has been invested to improve, expand and modernize these two regional airports so that they can carry a larger share of New England's air passengrs.
Both airports have new terminals. Providence now has 19 gates. Manchester is currently building a new garage and adding another three gates to increase capacity to 17. Manchester also has lengthened its runways--one of them to 9,000 feet--which is long enough to handle international flights. As evidence of their successl, Manchester and T.F. Green --right now are served by nearly every major air carrier that flies out of Logan.
In addition, considerable planning has been done on a multi-state level to improve air service throughout New England. The six New England state aviation directors have been working with the FAA, Massport, the new England Council and managers of 9 New England airports since 1994 to improve air service throughout new England. To date, this collaborative effort has accomplished the following:
- identified existing air service levels at each regional airport
- estimated the number of passengers closest to the regional airports that were bypassing the regional airport and using another airport (e.g. Logan)
- analyzed the potential to improve air service
- initiated and conducted route development conferences to market air carriers
- designed a regional air service fare sampling methodology to assess and track air fares at the regional airports
- increased capital investment at the regional airports including new terminals, runway extensions, roadways and other support facilities
This was all part of a carefully crafted plan developed by local aviation officials, Massport and the FAA to create a more coordinated aviation system for our area. And to help keep that momentum going, Governor Paul Cellucci refiled legislation to extend commuter rail service to Providence's T.F. Green Airport and refiled plans to expand Route 3 to Manchester.
The final part of the regional plan involves the revitalization of Worcester Municipal Airport so that residents of central Massachusetts will no longer have to travel to Boston or Providence for air travel.
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