Formal discussions concerning the establishment of an airport in New Bedford were held in March of 1939. The proposed building of the airfield would become a WPA (Works Project Administration) project.
Ground was broken for the New Bedford Municipal Airport on April 9, 1940. The airport was officially dedicated and approved as a commercial landing field by the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission on April 28, 1942. The airport consisted of two 3,500 ft. paved runways with lighting systems.
On November 12, 1942 upon request from the War Department the City turned the airport over to the U.S. Government to support the World War II effort for the duration of the war and for 6 months after its end. The field was occupied by the Army Air Corps which performed Atlantic Coast Patrols. At that time, the two runways were extended to 5,000 ft. in length and a hangar and several support buildings were constructed.
In April of 1944, the U.S. Navy took over control of the Airport and used it as a training post and auxiliary facility to the U.S. Air Station at Quonset Point, Rhode Island.
Anticipating the release of the Airport from the War Department, the City Council Committee on Ordinances, in 1946, proposed an ordinance for the creation of the Airport Commission. The Commission has the responsibility of the “care, custody, control and management” of the airport.
In August of 1950 an Administration Building was constructed along with an Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting building. Both buildings were completed in October of 1951. In 1957 Aviation history was made at the Airport when Omega Aircraft Corporation test flew the world’s first twin engine utility helicopter. In 1958, the FAA took over the Air Traffic Control, old military structures were removed and major drainage and lighting improvements were performed.
A Super Constellation on display at EWB
In the 1960’s and 1970’s, the airport continued to improve its facilities by continuous expansion of airport aprons and airport infrastructure.
In the 1980’s the airport served as a regional passenger hub with direct flights to Boston and New York. Over 50,000 passengers used the airport in one year.
PBA Martin 404
During the 1990’s New Bedford Municipal Airport became New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB), an accurate reflection of the geographic region served by the airport. This designation aligns with the City of New Bedford serving as the hub city for the South Coast region of Massachusetts.
DC9 taking off at EWB
In 1998 the Airport Commission received a major grant from the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission for remodeling and renovation of the Terminal Building as the airport became a convenient aerial gateway to Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Air Force Two arriving at EWB during the 1990’s
During the mid-2000’s New Bedford Regional Airport became home to the Bridgewater State College aviation program, operated by Delta Connection Academy (DCA). Following the departure of DCA, in 2008 Bridgewater launched an in-house flight school. Presently, now known as Bridgewater State University, the school operates a fleet of eleven (11) aircraft and continues to make up a large portion of the annual operations at New Bedford Regional Airport.
From 2010 through 2014 the airport underwent an extensive 5-year, $30 million program of projects aimed to modernize the facilities and prepare the airport for future success. The projects included obstruction removal, safety area construction and eventually the reconstruction and 400-foot extension of Runway 5/23. The result is a fully compliant, 5,400’, grooved, Runway 5/23 served by an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and new MALSR approach lighting systems; a truly all-weather runway. New Bedford Regional Airport is also home to the only “Localizer Back-Course” approach procedure in the Northeast United States.
For the first time in nearly three decades, New Bedford Regional Airport hosted a larger volume commercial airline. Elite Airways provides nonstop jet service from New Bedford to Vero Beach, Florida, that began Dec. 16, 2017.
“We were looking for a Boston-related airport that did not have service into it,” Elite Airways President John Pearsall said. “We look at New Bedford and think we’ve got, for what we do for our customers, the best of both worlds. You’ve got access to Boston. You’ve got access to the Cape. And you’ve got access to Rhode Island. We think it will be a total home run.”
The 17-jet airline known as Elite Airways, began in 2006 and serves private charters as well as commercial service. The fleet consists of two kinds of jets: the Bombardier CRJ-200, which seats 50 passengers, and the CRJ-700, which carries 70 passengers. Both will fly out of New Bedford.
“It’s a nice moment to celebrate, but there’s still a lot of planning to do and getting more airlines interested,” said our Airport Director Scot Servis. “Getting the first airline here and interested is the first high hurdle to clear. It starts to build a track record when we talk to other airlines to come.”
The partnership between Elite Airways and New Bedford began with a simple door knock in Florida. Chairperson of the New Bedford Regional Airport Commission, Paul Barton, traveled to Florida three years ago and pitched the value of the airport to Pearsall.
“He’s very persistent in a friendly way,” Pearsall said. “I would say he made this happen. A lot of credit goes to him, and, of course, everyone else on the airport board.”
Three years after meeting Pearsall, the partnership became possible after the airport experienced multiple renovations including 139 certification among other things such as TSA checkpoint. “We are encouraged that the recent hard work to secure FAA approval for commercial air service from our airport is already paying off,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said.
The upgrades will continue, too. The FAA provided $7.6 million in funding for the reconstruction of runway 14-32. The City Council is set to appropriate that funding Tuesday night to begin construction. Servis said the airport plans to add another smaller airline soon, which would compete with Cape Air in service to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
The airport continues discussions with airlines similar to Elite Airways, but no new additions are imminent. The hope is that passenger data from a successful partnership with Elite Airways could lure more business.
Elite Airways CRJ-700 on the Commercial Ramp
History
Formal discussions concerning the establishment of an airport in New Bedford were held in March of 1939. The proposed building of the airfield would become a WPA (Works Project Administration) project.
Ground was broken for the New Bedford Municipal Airport on April 9, 1940. The airport was officially dedicated and approved as a commercial landing field by the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission on April 28, 1942. The airport consisted of two 3,500 ft. paved runways with lighting systems.
On November 12, 1942 upon request from the War Department the City turned the airport over to the U.S. Government to support the World War II effort for the duration of the war and for 6 months after its end. The field was occupied by the Army Air Corps which performed Atlantic Coast Patrols. At that time, the two runways were extended to 5,000 ft. in length and a hangar and several support buildings were constructed.
In April of 1944, the U.S. Navy took over control of the Airport and used it as a training post and auxiliary facility to the U.S. Air Station at Quonset Point, Rhode Island.
Anticipating the release of the Airport from the War Department, the City Council Committee on Ordinances, in 1946, proposed an ordinance for the creation of the Airport Commission. The Commission has the responsibility of the “care, custody, control and management” of the airport.
In August of 1950 an Administration Building was constructed along with an Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting building. Both buildings were completed in October of 1951. In 1957 Aviation history was made at the Airport when Omega Aircraft Corporation test flew the world’s first twin engine utility helicopter. In 1958, the FAA took over the Air Traffic Control, old military structures were removed and major drainage and lighting improvements were performed.
A Super Constellation on display at EWB
In the 1960’s and 1970’s, the airport continued to improve its facilities by continuous expansion of airport aprons and airport infrastructure.
In the 1980’s the airport served as a regional passenger hub with direct flights to Boston and New York. Over 50,000 passengers used the airport in one year.
PBA Martin 404
During the 1990’s New Bedford Municipal Airport became New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB), an accurate reflection of the geographic region served by the airport. This designation aligns with the City of New Bedford serving as the hub city for the South Coast region of Massachusetts.
DC9 taking off at EWB
In 1998 the Airport Commission received a major grant from the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission for remodeling and renovation of the Terminal Building as the airport became a convenient aerial gateway to Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Air Force Two arriving at EWB during the 1990’s
During the mid-2000’s New Bedford Regional Airport became home to the Bridgewater State College aviation program, operated by Delta Connection Academy (DCA). Following the departure of DCA, in 2008 Bridgewater launched an in-house flight school. Presently, now known as Bridgewater State University, the school operates a fleet of eleven (11) aircraft and continues to make up a large portion of the annual operations at New Bedford Regional Airport.
From 2010 through 2014 the airport underwent an extensive 5-year, $30 million program of projects aimed to modernize the facilities and prepare the airport for future success. The projects included obstruction removal, safety area construction and eventually the reconstruction and 400-foot extension of Runway 5/23. The result is a fully compliant, 5,400’, grooved, Runway 5/23 served by an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and new MALSR approach lighting systems; a truly all-weather runway. New Bedford Regional Airport is also home to the only “Localizer Back-Course” approach procedure in the Northeast United States.
For the first time in nearly three decades, New Bedford Regional Airport hosted a larger volume commercial airline. Elite Airways provides nonstop jet service from New Bedford to Vero Beach, Florida, that began Dec. 16, 2017.
“We were looking for a Boston-related airport that did not have service into it,” Elite Airways President John Pearsall said. “We look at New Bedford and think we’ve got, for what we do for our customers, the best of both worlds. You’ve got access to Boston. You’ve got access to the Cape. And you’ve got access to Rhode Island. We think it will be a total home run.”
The 17-jet airline known as Elite Airways, began in 2006 and serves private charters as well as commercial service. The fleet consists of two kinds of jets: the Bombardier CRJ-200, which seats 50 passengers, and the CRJ-700, which carries 70 passengers. Both will fly out of New Bedford.
“It’s a nice moment to celebrate, but there’s still a lot of planning to do and getting more airlines interested,” said our Airport Director Scot Servis. “Getting the first airline here and interested is the first high hurdle to clear. It starts to build a track record when we talk to other airlines to come.”
The partnership between Elite Airways and New Bedford began with a simple door knock in Florida. Chairperson of the New Bedford Regional Airport Commission, Paul Barton, traveled to Florida three years ago and pitched the value of the airport to Pearsall.
“He’s very persistent in a friendly way,” Pearsall said. “I would say he made this happen. A lot of credit goes to him, and, of course, everyone else on the airport board.”
Three years after meeting Pearsall, the partnership became possible after the airport experienced multiple renovations including 139 certification among other things such as TSA checkpoint. “We are encouraged that the recent hard work to secure FAA approval for commercial air service from our airport is already paying off,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said.
The upgrades will continue, too. The FAA provided $7.6 million in funding for the reconstruction of runway 14-32. The City Council is set to appropriate that funding Tuesday night to begin construction. Servis said the airport plans to add another smaller airline soon, which would compete with Cape Air in service to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
The airport continues discussions with airlines similar to Elite Airways, but no new additions are imminent. The hope is that passenger data from a successful partnership with Elite Airways could lure more business.
