Sikorsky Memorial Airport

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Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport

IATA: BDR - ICAO: KBDR
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		City of Bridgeport
Serves		Stratford, Connecticut
Elevation AMSL		9 ft (2.7 m)
Coordinates		41°09′48.5″N, 73°07′34.2″W
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
11/29	4,761	1,451	Asphalt
6/24	4,677	1,426	Asphalt
Helipads
Number	Size		Surface
Number	ft	m	Surface
H1	40	12	Asphalt

Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport (IATA: BDR, ICAO: KBDR) is an airport located in Stratford and east of Bridgeport, in Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA. In the past, the airport was usually referred to on destination maps and flight status displays as just "Bridgeport", the largest city in Connecticut.

The airport is made up of a passenger terminal, general aviation terminal, and various private hangars. The passenger terminal contains airline check-in counters and offices, three arrival/departure gates, rental car desks, and a restaurant. At one point in the 1980's, the airport was simultaneously serviced by three carriers, US Airways Express, Delta Connection, and Continental Connection. Service to the airport declined rapidly in the 1990's. Airlines complained that the short length of the runway was preventing them from flying larger planes into the airport, and reducing profit. Continental Connection discontinued service to the airport in 1994, followed soon after by Delta Connection, which ended service to Bridgeport in 1997. In November 1999, US Airways Express ended service to the airport, leaving Bridgeport with no commercial service.

The airport has been the subject of heated debate in the communities of Stratford and Bridgeport. While the City of Bridgeport owns the airport, the majority of the property is located in Stratford. Bridgeport has constantly pushed for runway and terminal expansion, hoping to attract new service to the airport. The city has argued that service to the airport is necessary for the continued growth of Bridgeport's economy. Stratford, however, has always regarded the airport with hostility. The town has opposed runway and terminal expansion, and even when the airport was served by major carriers, pushed for strict limits on flights departing from and arriving to the airport.

In June 2006, US Helicopter began scheduled service to New York's Downtown Manhattan Heliport, with continuing service to John F. Kennedy International Airport. This marked the first time since 1999 that the airport welcomed regularly scheduled commercial airline flights.