Tweed-New Haven Airport Celebrates 95 Years of Flight
Generations of airport employees, families and community partners gather 95 years to the day after the airport’s 1931 dedication
New Haven, CT — Ninety-five years ago, an estimated 12,000 people gathered to dedicate New Haven’s new municipal airport, celebrating what was then a bold investment in the still-young world of aviation. The New Haven Journal-Courier’s headline declared: “Elm City Takes Foremost Place in Flying World.”
On Saturday, August 29, generations of airport employees, families, neighbors and community partners gathered at Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) once again, this time to commemorate the 95 years of aviation, people and history that followed.
Since opening in 1931, Tweed has grown alongside the region it serves, welcoming its first commercial airline in 1933, becoming an Army air base during World War II, and later seeing the arrival of the jet age before entering today’s period of record-breaking growth. Through 95 years of change, Tweed has remained a gateway for Southern Connecticut and part of the region’s history.
“When the New Haven Municipal Airport opened in 1931, aviation was still in its infancy, but the community understood the importance of connecting this region to the world,” said Robert Reed, Chairman of the Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority. “Ninety-five years later, Tweed has become part of the history of Southern Connecticut and the generations of people who have lived, worked and traveled here. This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate that legacy and everyone who has helped carry it forward.”
That history is also reflected in generations of people whose lives have intersected with the airport, whether as travelers, employees, partners, or neighbors.
“Airports connect passengers to places, but it’s the people and communities around them that give them their history,” said Tom Cavaliere, Director of Community Engagement at Tweed-New Haven Airport. “For 95 years, Tweed and the communities around it have grown and changed alongside one another. Generations have worked here, flown from here, watched airplanes from the fence and welcomed family home through Tweed. Our stories are intertwined, and this anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate that shared history.”
Fittingly, Saturday’s celebration was held inside a Robinson Aviation hangar, home to a multigenerational family business with deep roots at Tweed. Founded by Kenneth Robinson Sr. and Ken Robinson Jr., Robinson Aviation remains family-owned today.
“For three generations our family has had the privilege of being part of Tweed, always working to support the airport as it grew around us,” said Sean Robinson, President of Robinson Aviation. “There are countless people and families whose lives have intersected with this airport over the past 95 years, including our own. To celebrate this milestone here in our hangar, surrounded by people who share that connection to Tweed, is especially meaningful to our family.”
The afternoon celebration brought that history to life with a vintage Stearman PT-17 biplane and a historical exhibit developed with support from the New Haven Museum, chronicling the people, aircraft and milestones that shaped Tweed’s 95 years. Lost in New Haven also joined the celebration with airport artifacts from its Hamilton Street collection. The event featured music, New Haven-style pizza and a sparkling Lambrusco tasting from PizzaWine, along with a silent auction benefiting Feeding Families Foundation, a local nonprofit that provides meals at no cost to parents caring for children in the hospital.
The anniversary comes during one of the most significant periods of growth in Tweed’s 95-year history. Last month, the airport welcomed its five millionth passenger since 2021, as a resurgence in commercial service has made HVN one of the fastest-growing airports in the country.
“For 95 years, Tweed has been a vital hub of aviation in Southern Connecticut connecting travelers to the wider world and bolstering the local economy,” said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. “I was thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion with the community and am excited to see what the next 95 years have in store.”
As Tweed looks toward its centennial in 2031, the airport is also preparing for the future, including a new terminal and other planned improvements. But Saturday’s celebration was an opportunity to look back before looking ahead — honoring the people, businesses, and communities that have shaped the airport over nearly a century of flight.
The celebration was made possible with support from Avports, Tweed’s private operator and manager.
About Tweed-New Haven Airport
Dedicated on August 29, 1931, Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) has served Southern Connecticut through 95 years of change in American aviation. Originally New Haven Municipal Airport, its history spans early commercial flight, service as an Army air base during World War II, the arrival of the jet age, the growth of commuter aviation and the resurgence of commercial service in the 21st century. The airport was later named for pioneering aviator and longtime airport manager John H. “Jack” Tweed. Today, Tweed is served by Avelo Airlines and Breeze Airways and operated by Avports under the authority of the Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority.
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Long Island–Connecticut Airways (LiCon) Travel Air 6000 — c. 1935. LiCon inaugurated New Haven’s first commercial air service in 1933.
