"This is big for us, because we could just take one direct flight from Bradley right into Europe."
Cheyenne Harris-Starling
After eight years without transatlantic flights, Bradley International Airport is expanding its international boundaries beyond Canada and Mexico. Starting next September, Connecticut travelers will once again be able to jet over the Atlantic Ocean without first driving to New York or Boston.
Governor DannelMalloy announced Wednesday thatAerLingus, Ireland’s national airline, will offer nonstop flights from Bradley to Ireland’s capital, Dublin, and beyond.
Travelers can book their flights on Aer Lingus’ website starting November 3.
Local residents and workers largely gave the news a big thumbs-up at lunch time Wednesday in downtown Hartford, near the corner of Central Row and Main Street.
MarahBoisoneau works for a technology consulting firm downtown, and is part Irish. She prefers Bradley over the international airports in New York City and Boston.
“I think it’s wonderful... The ease of getting to Bradley is great,” Boisoneau said. “The parking is easy. And I also like the shortened travel time, because whenever you have to transfer flights, it adds several hours. I find [Bradley’s] security lines are a lot less than flying out of one of the big cities.”
Boisoneau also thought of what this announcement means to her family.
“I’ve been around Europe, and Ireland is actually one of the nicer countries that I’ve been to,” Boisoneau said. “I would consider taking my kids over there at some point.”
"I'm very interested in where my name comes from, and it would be nice knowing."
James McCants
James McCants probably knows Bradley Airport better than most of us, since he used to provide security through a private firm for Bradley, before the TSA. He’s excited about the possibility of new jobs for the Windsor Locks airport, which used to be a military airfield.
“It will probably be an increase of probably 20, 30 jobs at the airport, at least,” McCants said. “And from there, probably exponentially, probably another 60 or 70, which is always good in the industry.”
McCants has long thought about his ancestry, so he would like to visit Ireland someday.
“I’m very interested in where my name comes from, and it would be nice knowing,” McCants said. “From what I hear from people from Ireland, it’s a lush, green place. I don’t mind lush, green places; I just mind the iciness that goes along with them.”
"Ireland is an up-and-coming powerhouse, so flights to and from Bradley to Ireland can't be anything but good."
Richard Palmer
Richard Palmer, a program manager in downtown Hartford, sees Ireland’s potential as a vital component to Connecticut’s economy.
“I know that Ireland is an up-and-coming powerhouse, so flights to and from Bradley to Ireland can’t be anything but good,” Palmer said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for cross-Atlantic economic development and jobs.”
“In Connecticut, you have a highly educated, highly trained, very capable workforce, so it’s gonna be much more convenient for that workforce to travel to and from Ireland locally, as opposed to going to either New York or Boston,” Palmer said.
Then he thought about the possibility of flying on AerLingus through Bradley.
“I think it would be way more convenient. Parking would be easier, cheaper; shorter time to get there and back. So it’s all good,” he said.
Bradley’s announcement has also inspired at least one young person to consider visiting Ireland.
"We don't have to worry about layovers and things like that."
Cheyenne Harris-Starling
Cheyenne Harris-Starling is a senior in high school thinking about her future, and her roots.
“Since we come from a school that’s all about global and a lot of us are talking about senior trips, this is big for us because we could just take one direct flight from Bradley right into Europe, and I’m sure that’ll make everyone happy,” Harris-Starling said. “We don’t have to worry about layovers and things like that.”
She is part Irish and has always thought about going to Ireland.
“It would be nice. I’d like to see what it’s actually like,” Harris-Starling said. “I still wanna go see it because it’s where I have ancestry. I’ve heard it’s beautiful from other people so, one day, definitely.”
"If they're gonna give them $5 million, is it coming from the cuts, the aid to the hospitals?"
Craig DiAngelo
Only one worker was troubled by Connecticut’s cost to bring Aer Lingus to Bradley. A recent Associated Press report indicated that the state offered a $5 million incentive package to Aer Lingus.
“I’m a little concerned about that, especially with our budget crisis,” said Craig DiAngelo, who works at Founders Plaza in East Hartford. “If they’re gonna give them $5 million, is it coming from the cuts, the aid to the hospitals?”
But despite this, DiAngelo is encouraged by Bradley’s news. He’s visited several European cities in the past. Would he consider using Bradley for an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight?
“[It] depends on the rates. If it’s the best cost, probably,” DiAngelo said. “So I’ll take a look at Bradley. I’d probably use Aer Lingus to go over to Europe.”
Bradley Airport isn’t the only one expanding its international boundaries. If these positive reactions are any indication, some Connecticut travelers will be expanding their horizons.
Leyda Quast is an intern at WNPR.
