Tarr Seeks Worcester Airport Alternatives
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr wants a commission to study alternatives for the struggling and mostly empty Worcester Regional Airport - including the possible sale of the property.
The Massachusetts Port Authority owns the airport in Massachusetts' second-biggest city and spends about $4 million a year to run it.
Tarr plans to offer amendments to the transportation bond bill the Senate is scheduled to debate at 1 p.m. One amendment calls for a seven-member commission to study "the feasibility of the continued operation of the airport in its present form," and ways to maximize its benefits while reducing operating costs.
The Gloucester Republican wants the commission to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether selling or leasing the airport property would be a good option.
The commission would include the secretary of transportation, the secretary of administration and finance, the executive director of the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission, the inspector general, the secretary of housing and economic development, the mayor of Worcester and the state auditor, or designees appointed by any of those officials.
Worcester Regional Airport was served by one charter air service, Direct Air, until that company canceled flights last month and filed for bankruptcy. Previous attempts at commercial air service out of Worcester also failed.
Massport officials have said the airport is viable and has the potential to be a transportation hub, despite Direct Air's recent collapse.
Following Direct Air's announcement that it was canceling flights, Massport released a statement saying: "In the three plus years they operated at Worcester Regional Airport, the carrier saw consistent growth and the highest load factors in its system, which are clear indicators that Worcester is a viable market."
Though the passenger terminal in Worcester is empty these days, the airport supports general aviation activity. Rectrix Aviation, a Bedford-based company that provides general aviation services, announced in January that it would invest $5 million to build hangar and office space at Worcester Regional Airport.
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