New UConn Study Shows Expansion of Tweed-New Haven Airport Will Bring Continued Economic Opportunity to Region
A new study from the University of Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis (CCEA) has reaffirmed that the planned expansion of Tweed-New Haven Airport will generate significant economic output including the creation of thousands of new jobs in the years ahead. The findings are consistent with earlier data from FLARE Aviation Consulting, which completed a similar study in 2020. Both studies provide validated, complementary data showing that the expansion of HVN, and the resulting increase in air travel, will generate substantial long-term economic benefits for local residents, municipalities, and the State of Connecticut.
The new report from CCEA evaluates the potential economic impacts of expanding Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) through two scenarios. The first, a more conservative projection, focuses on planned airport expansions supported by current airline operations. The second incorporates additional, complementary drivers of growth, as detailed in the full report.
Even under the conservative scenario, CCEA finds that HVN’s expansion will generate:
- A total jobs impact of 2,281 in 2026, climbing to 2,465 by 2029. By 2060, annual County job impacts will reach 5,187.
- Approximately $100 million in construction impact by 2030, part of $277 million in total construction by 2060. In terms of total economic output, by 2027 HVN will contribute $444 million to the state of Connecticut, and $368 million to New Haven County specifically.
- By 2032, their conservative estimates find that state impact will grow to $480 million, with $390 million of that occurring in New Haven County.
- By 2060, the impacts amount to more than $1.3 billion and $1.15 billion, respectively.
The full CCEA study can be found here.
“This project is about more than expanding an airport, it’s about unlocking long-term economic potential for our region,” said Michael Jones, CEO of The New HVN. “It reinforces the vital role Tweed can play in growing Southern Connecticut’s economy and strengthening the assets that drive our communities forward.”
“Tweed-New Haven Airport plays a critical role in the region’s economic future,” said Robert Reed, Chairman of the Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority. “We’re looking at the creation of good jobs, renewed investments in our neighborhoods, and long-term, sustainable growth across the region. These studies make clear that Tweed will help drive the next wave of development in Southern Connecticut.”
CCEA’s 2025 report uses a dynamic model based on current enplanement levels (>669,000), and focuses only on jobs held by New Haven County and Connecticut residents. The CCEA model also accounts for additional future impacts such as the construction of a new, nearby hotel, the emergence of eVTOL air taxi service, and increases in medical tourism. In contrast, the FLARE model is a static snapshot based on 1 million annual enplanements and includes all jobs generated as a result of airport activity, regardless of residency.
The studies, conducted five years apart using different models, offer complementary insights validating the opportunities enabled by The New HVN revitalization plans. Together, they reveal that HVN’s expansion will create thousands of jobs and generate billions in economic activity for New Haven County and the state in the years ahead.
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