| Bradley International Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: BDL – ICAO: KBDL – FAA LID: BDL
BDL
|
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| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner | State of Connecticut | ||
| Operator | Connecticut Airport Authority | ||
| Serves | Hartford, Connecticut & Springfield, Massachusetts | ||
| Location | Windsor Locks, Connecticut / Hartford County, Connecticut | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 173 ft / 53 m | ||
| Website | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 6/24 | 9,510 | 2,899 | Asphalt |
| 15/33 | 6,847 | 2,087 | Asphalt |
| 1/19 | 4,268 | 1,301 | Asphalt |
| Statistics (Total Passengers) | |||
| 2010 | 5,380,987 | ||
| 2009 | 5,317,352 | ||
| 2008 | 6,058,398 | ||
| 2007 | 6,519,181 | ||
Bradley International Airport (IATA: BDL, ICAO: KBDL, FAA LID: BDL) is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut.[1]
The airport is situated in the towns of Windsor Locks, Suffield and East Granby, about halfway between Hartford and Springfield. It is Connecticut's busiest commercial airport with 350 daily operations, and the second-busiest airport in New England after Boston's Logan International Airport.[2] The three largest carriers at Bradley International Airport are Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines and US Airways with market shares of 25.8%, 20.5%, and 9.0% respectively.[3] Continental Airlines and United Airlines, which are owned by the same company, have a combined market share of about 15%.[4] As a dual-use military facility with the U.S. Air Force, the airport is also home to Bradley Air National Guard Base and the 103d Airlift Wing (103 AW) of the Connecticut Air National Guard.
In 2008, Bradley was ranked the 55th busiest airport in the United States by number of passengers enplaned.[5] Bradley is branded as the "Gateway to New England" and is also home to the New England Air Museum.
The now defunct Bradlees department store chain was named after the airport, when investors held a meeting there. [6]
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Bradley has its origins in the 1940 acquisition of 1,700 acres (690 ha) of land in Windsor Locks by the State of Connecticut. In 1941 this land was turned over to the U.S. Army, as the country began its preparations for the impending war.[7]
Soon after its establishment, the airfield at Windsor Locks suffered its first fatality. Among those serving there was 24 year-old Lt. Eugene M. Bradley of Antlers, Oklahoma, assigned to the 64th Pursuit Squadron. While piloting in a dogfight training drill, Lt. Bradley's P-40 crashed on August 21, 1941. Following his funeral in Hartford, Lt. Bradley's remains were interred at San Antonio National Cemetery in Texas.
Following a groundswell of sentiment in favor of naming the Windsor Locks airfield in Lt. Bradley's honor, the airfield became Army Air Base, Bradley Field, Connecticut on January 20, 1942. In 2009, a team led by the Connecticut state archaeologist used ground-penetrating radar to pinpoint Lt. Bradley's crash location under the end of current Runway 33.[8][9][10]
Bradley Field was used by the First Air Force primarily as a group training airfield for single-engine P-47 Thunderbolt fighter groups, which obtained their new aircraft from the Republic Aviation production plant on Long Island prior to their deployment to overseas combat theaters.
U.S. Army Air Force units known to have trained at Bradley:
Other units assigned to Bradley:
The airfield was deactivated in March 1945. Following the end of World War II, control of the airfield was transferred to the State of Connecticut in 1946.
The airfield began civilian use in 1947 as Bradley International Airport. Its first commercial flight, Eastern Air Lines Flight 624, arrived that same year. International cargo operations at the airport also began that year. Bradley eventually came to replace the older, smaller Hartford-Brainard Airport as Hartford's primary airport.[7]
In 1948, the federal government deeded the Airport to the State of Connecticut for public and commercial use.[7]
In 1950, Bradley International Airport exceeded the 100,000-passenger mark, handling 108,348 annual passengers.[7]
In 1952, the Murphy Terminal was opened. Later dubbed Terminal B, the terminal was the oldest passenger terminal in the US when it closed in 2010.[11]
The April 1957 OAG shows 39 weekday departures: 14 American, 14 Eastern, 9 United and 2 Northeast.
In 1960 Bradley passed the 500,000 mark, handling 500,238 passengers.[7]
In 1971, the Murphy Terminal was expanded with an International Arrivals wing. This was followed by the installation of instrument landing systems on two of the runways in 1977.
In 1979, a tornado ripped through Windsor Locks, wreaking destruction along the eastern portions of the airport. The New England Air Museum sustained some of the worst damage. It reopened in 1982.
In 1986, new Terminal A and Bradley Sheraton Hotel was completed. The Roncari cargo terminal was also constructed.[7]
In 2001, construction commenced on a new parking garage. When completed, the garage could not immediately be used. The intervening attacks of 9/11 led to regulations requiring parking structures to be set back farther from the tarmac. After opening, for several weeks every vehicle had to be individually inspected, severely reducing its value. Bradley eventually received a waiver for normal operation of the garage from the Department of Homeland Security.
2001 also saw the commencement of the Terminal Improvement Project to expand Terminal A with a new concourse, construct a new International Arrivals Building, and centralize passenger screening. The airport expansion was part of a larger project to enhance the reputation of the Hartford metropolitan area as a destination for business and vacation travel. The new East Concourse opened in September 2002, and the new International Arrivals Building opened in December 2002.[7]
On October 2–3, 2007, the Airbus A380 visited Bradley as part of its world tour, stopping in Hartford to showcase the aircraft to Connecticut workers for Pratt & Whitney and Hamilton Sundstrand, both divisions of United Technologies, which helped build the GP7000 TurboFan engines, which is an option to power the aircraft. Bradley Airport is one of only 68 airports worldwide large enough to accommodate the A380.
On October 18, 2007, Bradley International Airport was named one of the top five small airports in the North American Airport Satisfaction Study by J. D. Power and Associates.
On October 7, 2008, Embraer, an aerospace company based in Brazil, selected Bradley as its service center for the Northeastern United States. An $11 million project was begun with support from teams of the Connecticut Department of Transportation and Connecticut's Economic and Community Development. The center is intended to be a full maintenance and repair facility for its line of business jets, and is expected to employ up to 60 aircraft technicians. The facility was temporarily closed ten months after opening due to economic conditions, reopening on February 28, 2011.[12][13]
On June 21, 2011, the new Boeing 747-8F stopped at Bradley on its introductory world tour.
Bradley International Airport's main passenger Terminal A has two concourses: The East Concourse (gates 1-12) hosts United Airlines (Flights to Cleveland and Newark), Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, and Southwest Airlines. The West Concourse (gates 20-30) hosts, Air Canada, American Airlines, United Airlines (Flights to Chicago-O'Hare and Washington-Dulles) and US Airways. Currently gate 22 is unassigned and open for growth. Gate 5 is also unassigned and open for growth but is used by Delta as an overflow gate.
Terminal B, the 1952 Murphy Terminal, was closed to passenger use on April 15, 2010. The structure continues to host the Bradley offices of the Connecticut State Police and is used for storage. Bradley's Master Plan calls for the eventual demolition of Terminal B, and its replacement with a new 24-gate terminal, consisting of two 12 gate concourses.[14] Demolition of Terminal B is currently projected to occur in 2013, although the process may be accelerated if conditions warrant.[15]
All international arrivals (except flights with customs preclearance) are handled at the International Arrivals Building, located to the west of Terminal B.
| Airlines | Destinations | Gates |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Express operated by Air Georgian | Montreal-Trudeau, Toronto-Pearson | A20 |
| Air Canada Express operated by Jazz Air | Toronto-Pearson | A20 |
| American Airlines | Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, San Juan | A24-A26 |
| American Eagle | Chicago-O'Hare | A24-A26 |
| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta Seasonal: Cancun, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul |
A5, A7, A9-A12 |
| Delta Connection operated by Chautauqua Airlines | Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Washington-National [ends July 10, 2012] Seasonal: Raleigh/Durham |
A5, A7, A9-A12 |
| Delta Connection operated by Comair | Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Detroit | A5, A7, A9-A12 |
| Delta Connection operated by Compass Airlines | Minneapolis/St.Paul Seasonal: Detroit |
A5, A7, A9-A12 |
| Delta Connection operated by ExpressJet | Detroit, Washington-National [ends July 10, 2012] Seasonal: Atlanta, Raleigh/Durham |
A5, A7, A9-A12 |
| Delta Connection operated by Mesaba Airlines | Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul | A5, A7, A9-A12 |
| Delta Connection operated by Pinnacle Airlines | Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Raleigh/Durham Seasonal: Detroit |
A5, A7, A9-A12 |
| Delta Connection operated by Shuttle America | Detroit | A5, A7, A9-A12 |
| JetBlue Airways | Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, San Juan, West Palm Beach [begins January 12, 2012][16] | A8 |
| Southwest Airlines | Baltimore, Chicago-Midway, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Orlando, Tampa Seasonal: Fort Myers [begins February 12, 2012] |
A2, A4, A6 |
| United Airlines | Chicago-O'Hare, Washington-Dulles | A21, A23 |
| United Express operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines | Washington-Dulles | A21, A23 |
| United Express operated by Chautauqua Airlines | Cleveland | A1, A3 |
| United Express operated by CommutAir | Newark | A1, A3 |
| United Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines | Cleveland, Washington-Dulles Seasonal: Newark |
A1, A3, A21, A23 |
| United Express operated by GoJet Airlines | Chicago-O'Hare, Washington-Dulles | A21, A23 |
| United Express operated by Mesa Airlines | Chicago-O'Hare, Washington-Dulles | A21, A23 |
| United Express operated by Shuttle America | Chicago-O'Hare, Washington-Dulles | A21, A23 |
| United Express operated by Trans States Airlines | Washington-Dulles | A21, A23 |
| US Airways | Charlotte, Philadelphia, Washington-National | A27-A30 |
| US Airways Express operated by Air Wisconsin | Philadelphia, Washington-National | A27-A30 |
| US Airways Express operated by Chautauqua Airlines | Philadelphia Seasonal: Washington-National |
A27-A30 |
| US Airways Express operated by Piedmont Airlines | New York-LaGuardia, Philadelphia | A27-A30 |
| US Airways Express operated by Republic Airlines | Charlotte, Philadelphia, Washington-National | A27-A30 |
| US Airways Express operated by Trans States Airlines | Pittsburgh | A27-A30 |
| Rank | Airport | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, Maryland | 250,000 | Southwest |
| 2 | Orlando, Florida | 250,000 | Delta, JetBlue, Southwest |
| 3 | Atlanta, Georgia | 246,000 | Delta |
| 4 | Chicago (O'Hare), Illinois | 235,000 | American, United |
| 5 | Charlotte, North Carolina | 216,000 | US Airways |
| 6 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 138,000 | US Airways |
| 7 | Detroit, Michigan | 133,000 | Delta |
| 8 | Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas | 133,000 | American |
| 9 | Washington (Dulles), D.C. | 118,000 | United |
| 10 | Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota | 115,000 | Delta |
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| ABX Air | Seasonal: Rochester (NY) |
| Capital Cargo International Airlines | Rochester (NY) Seasonal: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Toledo |
| FedEx Express | Indianapolis, Memphis, Newark Seasonal: Baltimore, Harrisburg, Manchester (NH) |
| FedEx Feeder operated by Wiggins Airways | Bridgeport, Long Island/Islip, Newark, Manchester (NH), Portland (ME) |
| UPS Airlines UPS Sorting Hub |
Albany, Chicago-Rockford, Louisville, Newark, Philadelphia, Providence Seasonal: Boston, Des Moines, Manchester (NH), New York-JFK, Ontario (CA) |
In addition to the regular cargo services described above, Bradley is occasionally visited by Antonov An-124 aircraft operated by Volga-Dnepr Airlines, Polet Airlines and Antonov Airlines, transporting heavy cargo, such as Sikorsky helicopters or Pratt & Whitney engines internationally.
In December 2002, a new International Arrivals Building opened to the west of Terminal B.[7] This structure houses the Federal Inspection Station and has one jetway for deboarding the aircraft. The IAB replaced the old FIS in Terminal B and will be enlarged as volume demands.[19] Two government agencies provide crucial support at the facility, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The FIS Terminal (International Arrivals Building) is a two-story, 28,000-square-foot (2,600 m2) facility adjacent to Terminal B and the recently constructed Remote Deicing Collection Facility. This entire construction project included the FIS Terminal and associated landside and airside improvements; entrance roadway, sidewalks and concrete hardstand for arriving aircraft parking. The FIS Terminal can process more than 300 passengers per hour from aircraft as large as a Boeing 747. International departures will be handled from the existing terminal complex. This facility cost approximately $7.7 million, which included the building and site work. A unique, 9’ x 20’ American flag tile mosaic was donated by Robert LaRosa, president of LaRosa Building Group, which designed and constructed the facility. The mosaic is visible upon entering the front of the building. This project was funded through the Bradley Improvement Fund.[20]
All international arrivals except for those from airports with customs preclearance are processed through the IAB.
The nearby Windsor Locks and Windsor train stations are both served by Amtrak.[21] Connecticut Transit buses travel between the Windsor train station and the airport. The State of Connecticut has planned for commuter rail between New Haven and Springfield; and increased bus service, if not a complete rail link, has been discussed to link the expanded rail service with the airport.
Connecticut Transit route 34 provides local service connecting Bradley with Windsor and Hartford. Route 30 (the "Bradley Flyer") provides express service to downtown Hartford.[22]
The Connecticut Air National Guard 103d Airlift Wing leases 144 acres (0.58 km2) in the southwest corner of the airport for their Bradley ANG Base. The base is currently being assessed to determine if it should be placed on the National Priorities List and designated as a Superfund site.[23]
Bradley has also been identified as one of the last remaining tracts of grassland in Connecticut suitable for a few endangered species of birds, including the Upland Sandpiper, the Horned Lark, and the Grasshopper Sparrow.[24]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.