New Bedford Developments

Update on Elite Airways and EWB. Slightly changed plans and looks like they will start with EWB-EWR service since they will begin in the middle or tail end of the winter season to Florida. But that may mean service to both EWR and Florida next winter if EWB-EWR does well.
 
gregrc75 said:
Update on Elite Airways and EWB. Slightly changed plans and looks like they will start with EWB-EWR service since they will begin in the middle or tail end of the winter season to Florida. But that may mean service to both EWR and Florida next winter if EWB-EWR does well.
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Do you have a link or source? Any idea when they're looking to start service (This winter or next)?

It would be great if they could partner with United and offer connecting flights on the same itinerary, but I doubt that would happen.
 
Lrfox said:
Do you have a link or source? Any idea when they're looking to start service (This winter or next)?

It would be great if they could partner with United and offer connecting flights on the same itinerary, but I doubt that would happen.
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Press release should be soon!
 
Ground was broken on the hotel at 216-224 Union Street last week. I'm excited for this- a boutique hotel in the center of downtown. That makes 2, both open within the past decade. It's a small property (68 rooms), but it's definitely a good thing. It'll also bring a new restaurant to downtown.

Streetview of the building: https://www.google.com/maps/place/2...1628cbe!8m2!3d41.6341297!4d-70.926757!6m1!1e1

Mayor Jon Mitchell speaks Friday at the groundbreaking of a boutique
NEW BEDFORD — A couple of people — one walking on the sidewalk, the other driving in a car — questioned the reason behind the mayor’s podium standing in front of a vacant building at the corner of Union and Pleasant streets on Friday.

Neither knew about the new hotel coming to the city in summer 2018, but Mayor Jon Mitchell hoped to change that with the groundbreaking outside 218-226 Union St.
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full story: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/news/20170428/officials-break-ground-on-new-bedford-hotel
 
Great re-use of classic downtown building. Reminds me of the Press Hotel project in the former Gannett newspaper headquarters in Portland. Good news for New Bedford!
 
Positive start for New Bedford! Only concern is the close proximity to T.F. Green (41 miles) which is the same issues New London/Groton (45 miles) has been dealing with for decades. New Bedford's advantage for long term success is a much larger population base to draw from. Maybe Elite Airways would be a good fit with it's 50 and 70 seat RJ's?
 
Lrfox said:
Ground was broken on the hotel at 216-224 Union Street last week. I'm excited for this- a boutique hotel in the center of downtown. That makes 2, both open within the past decade. It's a small property (68 rooms), but it's definitely a good thing. It'll also bring a new restaurant to downtown.

Streetview of the building: https://www.google.com/maps/place/2...1628cbe!8m2!3d41.6341297!4d-70.926757!6m1!1e1



full story: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/news/20170428/officials-break-ground-on-new-bedford-hotel
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A little more on this. We now have a name ("New Bedford Harbor Hotel") and a brand ("Ascend"- Choice Hotels):

https://unique.finance/waterford-hotel-group-expands-northeast-portfolio/

Also under development is the New Bedford Harbor Hotel located on Union Street in New Bedford, MA. Waterford has been selected to manage this 68-room, upscale, boutique hotel that will be franchised as an Ascend Collection. The Boston-based Columbus Group is converting the 46,600-square-foot building into a hotel, restaurant, and banquet space. The hotel is slated for a spring 2018 opening.
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This is the single most exciting development in this city in a long time.
 
gregrc75 said:
Elite Airways announces service between New Bedford and Vero Beach, FL

https://res.eliteairways.net/Media
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Is this the fruit of the Part 139 certification, or could this service have existed without it? [I'll answer that: Yes, it is, since Elite Air operates CRJs, with well over the 9-seat limit that applied previously]

Is Elite air as good as it gets, or is the goal something more like Allegiant or Spirit?
 
Arlington said:
Is this the fruit of the Part 139 certification, or could this service have existed without it? [I'll answer that: Yes, it is, since Elite Air operates CRJs, with well over the 9-seat limit that applied previously]

Is Elite air as good as it gets, or is the goal something more like Allegiant or Spirit?
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With a 5400’ runway, it would be challenging for those airlines aircraft. The goal is to add more regular service but this is a start. A new terminal is needed also, or an expansion but I do not believe that is anytime soon.
 
Happy to see my vision for New Bedford's airport back in July actually worked out!
 
Arlington said:
Is this the fruit of the Part 139 certification, or could this service have existed without it? [I'll answer that: Yes, it is, since Elite Air operates CRJs, with well over the 9-seat limit that applied previously]

Is Elite air as good as it gets, or is the goal something more like Allegiant or Spirit?
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It seems that the small, satellite city airport to sunny destination is working for some (see: Porstmouth, NH), but the problem here (as has been pointed out) is that the runway is small, so landing an MD-80, A-318/19/20, or 737 isn't going to work. Also, these Elite flights are on the steeper side. $478 round trip is the early bird "deal." You can fly from PVD to PBI for $250 on United, or from PVD to MCO for $81 on Frontier for during the same period. For a family of 4 or 5, that's a significant difference (though that Frontier flight will shoot up once you start adding bags and seats).

I'm happy to see someone trying it out. However, I think Elite is extremely niche for the market and I wonder how they see this trial run faring? I mean if you book a round trip, you have to go for a week. How many people are going to be able to take a week off on such short notice (less than a month out) to go to Vero Beach? I just can't imagine they're filling up planes for this.

Without a runway expansion, I see New Bedford's future as running feeder flights to a hub like Newark, Charlotte, Atlanta, or Philadelphia, etc.
 
Thanks, I think I took about 50 photos. Lol.
There were about 5 or 6 pax but I hear the next few flights are booked to about 30 so far.
 
gregrc75 said:
Elite Airways wants to add a second destination from EWB in the spring.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/news/20180109/elite-airways-soars-at-new-bedford-regional-airport
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Interesting bit about this, there's an email in the article to "suggest routes." I found that funny, but it's a good way to make locals feel like their input is heard and get the word about the service out there. I like the strategy. I emailed her just for the hell of it and got a really quick reply. I doubt anything will come of it, but it's kind of cool that they're that communicative.
 
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