The hum of a small regional airport, once a familiar sound across the American landscape, is fading. These vital arteries, connecting smaller communities to the national and international stage, are increasingly facing closures and service reductions. In November 2020, a stark example of this trend emerged when Tweed New Haven Airport in southern Connecticut found itself devoid of commercial air service for the first time in nearly nine decades. American Airlines, a long-time operator of several flights a week through its American Eagle regional service, made the difficult decision to cease operations, effectively leaving the airport without scheduled passenger flights. This wasn’t an isolated incident; it was a symptom of a deeper malaise affecting the health of America’s regional airports.
The departure from Tweed New Haven, while unsettling, wasn’t entirely unexpected. The aviation industry, like many others, had been grappling with the unprecedented challenges brought on by the global pandemic. American Airlines had already announced it would be pulling regional service from Williamsport Regional Airport in Pennsylvania and New York’s Stewart International Airport, highlighting the widespread impact of the crisis.
Even as the world began to emerge from the depths of the pandemic in 2022, and travel demand started to rebound, regional airports continued to bear the brunt of the ongoing challenges. In late January, United Airlines announced the curtailment of service on 17 regional routes, impacting communities such as Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana. By September, Delta, American, and United had all announced service cutbacks, either partial or complete, to several regional airports across the country. Cities like Toledo, Ohio; Ithaca, New York; Long Island, New York; and Dubuque, Iowa, found themselves facing reduced connectivity and diminished access to the national air network.
At a time when Americans are increasingly exploring their own country, the question arises: why is access to and from these regional destinations being diminished?
Small Airports With Big Impact
The importance of regional airports often goes unnoticed, yet their impact on the nation’s connectivity and economy is significant. According to the Regional Airline Association (RAA), regional airlines are the primary air service providers to 29 states – more than half of the country. These smaller airports serve as crucial links for tertiary markets, connecting communities to regional and national markets, supporting local economies, and facilitating travel for business and leisure.
Typically, regional airports are located in cities and towns with populations ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 residents. They are designed to accommodate multi-engine propeller planes and, in some cases, smaller regional jets. While their physical size may be modest, their role in connecting the nation is substantial. According to RAA data, regional airlines accounted for 41 percent of all scheduled departures last year. Furthermore, 68 percent of airports in the United States rely exclusively on regional air service.
These statistics underscore the vital function of regional airports in maintaining connectivity and supporting economic activity in smaller communities. They are the gateways that allow residents to access essential services, conduct business, and explore the world beyond their local area. The disappearance of America’s regional airports would have far-reaching consequences.
Despite their significance, regional airlines and airports have faced considerable headwinds. Even as the broader travel industry experienced a rebound in 2021, the number of passengers utilizing regional flights remained significantly below pre-pandemic levels. Passenger numbers bottomed out at around 123 million, marking the lowest regional passenger count in a decade, excluding the anomaly of 2020. This figure represents a substantial decrease of 42 million passengers compared to the decade’s peak in 2019.
Travel analyst Henry Hartveldt, founder of Atmosphere Research, estimates that 50 or more regional airports may have lost air service entirely in recent years. This decline raises critical questions about the sustainability of regional air travel and the factors contributing to its decline. How can a service that connects 90 percent of the country’s airports experience such a sharp downturn, especially when major airlines only serve a third of the nation’s airports?
The answer, as is often the case in the world of aviation, lies in economics.
Driving Forces Behind the Decline
The decline in regional air service is a multifaceted issue resulting from the convergence of several factors. The primary driver is the sluggish recovery in passenger numbers since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the business travel sector. With fewer passengers flying, regional carriers have been forced to reduce service, consolidate routes, increase fares, or, in the most drastic cases, exit the market altogether. None of these actions are particularly beneficial to the consumer.
The economics of operating an airline are complex and often unforgiving. Flying a plane is an inherently expensive undertaking, with significant costs associated with labor, fuel, maintenance, and airport fees. Smaller markets, by their nature, have lower overall demand, necessitating the use of smaller aircraft with fewer seats. While the average regional seating capacity has gradually increased over the past decade to 66, regional airliners generally accommodate between 30 to 76 passengers, depending on the specific aircraft type.
According to Hartveldt, the economics of regional air travel are particularly sensitive to labor costs. "This is especially important when you have higher pilot labor costs, and for that matter higher flight attendant labor costs; it’s easier to amortize those costs across an airplane with 76 seats than an airplane with just 50 seats," he explains. The pilot shortage that began during the COVID crisis has disproportionately affected regional airlines. Larger airlines, such as United, Southwest, and JetBlue, are actively recruiting pilots, both to replace those who left or retired during the pandemic and to staff new aircraft as part of their expansion plans.
One first officer pilot for a major legacy carrier, who requested anonymity, suggested that the pilot shortage is not necessarily a lack of qualified pilots, but rather a shortage of pilots willing to work for the comparatively lower wages and less favorable working conditions offered by regional airlines.
He recounted his own experience when he started his career with SkyWest eight years ago. He was offered a starting wage of only $21 per hour with a guarantee of 76 hours per month. He frequently had to be on call at the airport for up to eight hours, only a little more than half of which was paid. He was denied paid time off for his wedding and had to call in sick.
"Pay is not everything," he added, emphasizing the importance of factors such as work-life balance, career progression opportunities, and overall job satisfaction. "And that’s where I think the regionals are gonna have to start really kind of changing their game if they want their retention to stay high." The financial pressures on regional airlines are therefore compounded by the challenge of attracting and retaining qualified pilots. These economic realities are contributing to the decline of America’s regional airports.
Small Communities Pay the Biggest Price
The consequences of declining regional air service are felt most acutely by the small communities that rely on these airports for connectivity and economic vitality. Connectivity is essential for economic growth, opportunity, and overall quality of life. A market that loses regional air service may struggle to recover. The loss of connectivity can lead to fewer jobs, reduced business opportunities, and a decline in the local population and economy, making it even less likely that regional air service will be restored.
Sporadic scheduling or the complete cessation of regional air service also makes it more difficult for local residents to travel or commute to work. The nearest airport may be hours away, adding extra time and expenses that may make travel cost-prohibitive for many. This can limit access to healthcare, education, and other essential services, as well as hindering business development and tourism.
On a more abstract level, reduced connectivity and limited travel opportunities can lead to a sense of isolation and detachment from the wider world. In a time when America is more divided than ever, the loss of regional air service may further exacerbate these divisions by limiting opportunities for people to experience different regions and cultures.
Paving the Runway for New Airlines
Despite the challenges facing regional air travel, there are glimmers of hope on the horizon. One notable example is the story of Tweed New Haven Airport, which, after losing all commercial service in November 2020, has experienced a remarkable turnaround. Nearly two years later, the airport has re-emerged as a thriving east coast hub for Avelo Airlines, a new budget carrier that began flying out of Tweed New Haven in 2021.
Avelo launched in May 2021 with a mission to serve underserved secondary airports, such as Hollywood Burbank Airport and Sonoma County Airport in California. Avelo is currently the only airline operating out of Tweed New Haven, connecting the immediate area to numerous destinations, including Chicago, Charleston, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, Savannah, Sarasota, Washington, D.C., Wilmington (North Carolina), West Palm Beach, Raleigh, Orlando, and Fort Myers.
Avelo founder Andrew Levy stated that in November 2021, the company endeavored to make air travel faster, easier, and more affordable for Connecticut travelers. Over the past year, the company has transformed Tweed from a sleepy single-destination airport into a vibrant gateway to 14 destinations spanning seven states.
The revival of Tweed New Haven serves as a prime example of turning adversity into opportunity. While it may be too early to declare a widespread regional air service revival, Avelo’s success offers a potential model for other communities seeking to restore or enhance their air connectivity. Whether it’s a sign of a broader trend remains to be seen, but it demonstrates the potential for innovation and entrepreneurship to address the challenges facing America’s regional airports. The future of these vital links in the national transportation network depends on the ability of communities, airlines, and policymakers to find creative solutions and ensure that smaller cities and towns remain connected to the world.
