Bradley International Airport celebrates return of transatlantic service

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT – When Bradley International Airport’s long-awaited daily nonstop international service to Amsterdam was cancelled on October 1, 2008, the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Office of Marketing & Route Development immediately began a focused effort to seek resumption of the service.

The Department’s formal proposal to re-establish the service centered on the proven performance of Bradley’s market demand for service to Europe and included incentives offered through the Bradley Enterprise Fund, matched by contributions from the MetroHartford Alliance and Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council. Today, thanks to the hard work of these authorities, Bradley International Airport has announced that nonstop flights will resume between Bradley and Amsterdam, effective June 2, 2009.

Delta Air Lines has committed that its Northwest Airlines subsidiary will operate the flight starting June 2 using 160-passenger Boeing 757-200 aircraft. Service will operate five times weekly.

The flight will operate in cooperation with Delta’s European partner KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, providing easy connections beyond KLM’s Amsterdam hub to 81 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India.

Governor M. Jodi Rell said, “We’re thrilled. The flight was contributing millions in economic development to the region. The Department of Transportation, airport officials, and a coalition of the MetroHartford Alliance and Western Mass Economic Development Council should be commended for their efforts, especially during these tough economic times. We applaud Delta Air Lines for its commitment to Bradley International Airport and for reinstating this important route for summer 2009.”

“We refused to give up on this service, and our efforts have been rewarded,” said DOT commissioner Joseph F. Marie. “To have this service reinstated at a time when the airlines are going through a severe downturn is nothing short of miraculous. The department is proud of the partnerships forged with the board of directors and economic development agencies and looks forward to continued success.”

“The fact that this service is coming back is a testament to a coordinated public-private partnership that worked diligently to prove that Bradley could indeed support a flight of this nature,” said Bradley board chairman L. Scott Frantz. “There are an estimated 4.7 million travelers located within a 90-mile radius of Bradley International Airport, including the eastern portion of New York state and western New England, who deserve a hassle free, on-time travel experience in contrast to traveling through the often-congested New York and Boston airports.”

“We’re excited to see Hartford-Amsterdam return this time as part of the network of the world’s largest airline,” said Bob Cortelyou, Delta’s senior vice president – network planning.

Nonstop Flight Schedule Between Hartford and Amsterdam, effective June 2, 2009:

NW098 BDL-AMS – depart BDL 5:40 pm – arrive AMS 6:50 am (next day)

NW097 AMS-BDL – depart AMS 1:25 pm – arrive BDL 3:40 pm

Equipment: Boeing 757

Operation will be 5 times a week and will not operate on Tuesday or Friday (each direction).