Bradley International Airport’s motto is “Gateway to New England.” However, Kevin Dillon, the executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, thinks passengers may not know where in New England they are flying into.
He said in a statement to 22News, “As we continue to market the airport in international and west coast markets, we have found that these populations are challenged to locate us.”
So, this week, the CAA Board of Directors approved a study that will look at the possibility of a name change.
“I definitely think it would help people who are unfamiliar,” said Drew Lineback, who was flying into Bradley from Seattle.
Others don’t think a name change is necessary.
“They’re saying nobody knows about Bradley and the initials are BDL,” said Glastonbury resident Jane Edmondson. “Well, I go to St. Louis all the time and it’s Lambert. I mean, what’s the difference?”
The airport is named after Lt. Eugene Bradley, who died in 1941 during a training exercise here at the airport, while preparing for WWII. Walter Cantarero, an active duty marine, told 22News the name shouldn’t change because of this.
“It should stay the way it is to show homeage to the people who have sacrificed and done big things for our country and helped us out,” said Cantarero.
Dillon said if the name of the airport is changed, they will work to preserve Bradley’s memory.
The study should be done by the end of this year.
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