Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA

Application for Small Community 

Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120 

DUNS # 001766328

Congressional District MA-2 

July 26, 2013

Legal Sponsor: 

Massachusetts Port Authority

One Harborside Drive – Suite 200S

East Boston, MA 02128
1 

APPLICATION UNDER 

SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 

DOCKET DOT-OST-2013-0120 

SUMMARY INFORMATION 

A. PROVIDE THE LEGAL SPONSOR AND ITS DUN AND BRADSTREET (D&B) DATA UNIVERSAL 

NUMBERING SYSTEM (DUNS) NUMBER, INCLUDING +4, EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 

(EIN) OR TAX ID.

Legal Sponsor Name: Massachusetts Port Authority

DUNS Number: 001766328

EIN/Tax ID: 046006429

B. LIST THE NAME OF THE COMMUNITY OR CONSORTIUM OF COMMUNITIES APPLYING: 

1._CITY OF WORCESTER_________________________________ 

2.____________________________________________________ 

3.____________________________________________________ 

4.____________________________________________________ 

C. PROVIDE THE FULL AIRPORT NAME AND 3-LETTER IATA AIRPORT CODE FOR THE 

APPLICANT(S) AIRPORT(S) (ONLY PROVIDE CODES FOR THE AIRPORT(S) THAT ARE ACTUALLY 

SEEKING SERVICE). 

1. Worcester Regional Airport (ORH) 2. 

3. 4. 

D. LIST THE 2-DIGIT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CODE APPLICABLE TO THE SPONSORING 

ORGANIZATION, AND IF A CONSORTIUM, TO EACH PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY.

1. Massachusetts Port Authority/ORH – MA 

2 

2. 

3. 4. 
2 

E. APPLICANT INFORMATION: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) 

Not a Consortium Interstate Consortium Intrastate Consortium 

Community now receives subsidized Essential Air Service 

Community (or Consortium member) previously received a Small Community Air 

Service Development Program Grant 

If previous recipient: Year of grant(s): 2003 

F. PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS: (LIST ORGANIZATION NAMES) 

PUBLIC PRIVATE 

1. Massachusetts Port Authority 1. Worcester Regional Chamber of 

Commerce 

2. Massachusetts Office of Travel and 

Tourism 

2. 

3. City of Worcester 3. 

4. 4. 

5. 5. 

G. PROJECT PROPOSAL: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) 

 Marketing Upgrade Aircraft New Route 

 Travel Bank Service Restoration Subsidy 

 Surface Transportation Regional Service Revenue Guarantee 

 Launch New Carrier Start-up Cost Offset First Service 

 Study Secure Additional Service Other (explain below) 

H. EXISTING LANDING AIDS AT LOCAL AIRPORT: 

Full ILS Outer/Middle Marker Published Instrument Approach 

Localizer Other (specify) GPS based RNAV 

X 

X

X 

X

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X X 

X 

X 

X 
3 

I. PROJECT COST: DO NOT ENTER TEXT IN SHADED AREA

LINE DESCRIPTION SUB TOTAL TOTAL AMOUNT

1 Federal amount requested $350,000

2 State cash financial contribution $150,000

Local cash financial contribution 

 3a Airport cash funds $150,000

 3b Non-airport cash funds $150,000

3 Total local cash funds (3a + 3b) $300,000

4 TOTAL CASH FUNDING (1+2+3) $800,000

In-Kind contribution 

 5a Airport In-Kind contribution** $349,003

 5b Other In-Kind contribution** $20,000

5 TOTAL IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION 

(5a + 5b) 

$369,003

6 TOTAL PROJECT COST (4+5) $1,169,003

J. IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS** 

For funds in lines 5a (Airport In-Kind contribution) and 5b (Other In-Kind contribution), please 

describe the source(s) of fund(s) and the value ($) of each. 

5a. Massport In-Kind Contributions: 

 Waived airport fees and charges - $349,003 

5b. Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce: 

 Central Massachusetts Business Expo conference sponsorship and JetBlue key note address 

- $20,000 
4 

K. IS THIS APPLICATION SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY STATE UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 12372

PROCESS? 

a. This application was made available to the state under the Executive Order 12372 

Process for review on (date) _____________. 

b. Program is subject to E.O. 12372, but has not been selected by the state for review. 

c. Program is not covered by E.O. 12372. 

L. IS THE APPLICANT DELINQUENT ON ANY FEDERAL DEBT? (IF “YES”, PROVIDE 

EXPLANATION) 

No Yes (explain) 

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________ 

X 

X 

Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

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Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary.................................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Introduction and Background ................................................................................................................ 1

1.2 Previous Small Community Air Service Develop Grant Awards ......................................................... 3

2. Overview of the Worcester Regional Airport Market.............................................................. 5

2.1 Catchment Area ..................................................................................................................................... 5

2.2 Regional Economy ................................................................................................................................ 6

2.3 Air Service and Traffic History ............................................................................................................. 7

3. Strategic Plan for Air Service................................................................................................. 13

3.1 Strategic Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................................... 13

3.2 Public-Private Partnership ................................................................................................................... 13

3.3 Strategic Use of Funds ........................................................................................................................ 14

3.4 Funding Plan and Grant Request ......................................................................................................... 16

3.5 Implementation Timeline and Monitoring .......................................................................................... 17

3.6 Legal Sponsor ...................................................................................................................................... 18

Appendix A: Commitments

Appendix B: Community Letters of Support
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

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1. Executive Summary

1.1 Introduction and Background

The Worcester Regional Airport (ORH), owned and operated by the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), 

respectfully submits this proposal to the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) for a small community 

air service grant through the U.S. DOT’s Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP). 

ORH requests a grant of $350,000 to help re-establish regularly scheduled commercial airline services at the 

airport. The grant will be supplemented with $450,000 in state and local cash contributions and $369,003 of inkind contributions marketing, promotion and airport fee waivers for JetBlue daily nonstop services to Orlando 

International (MCO) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) and potential future JetBlue services. 

The Worcester Regional Airport, located in Central Massachusetts, has been without commercial airline services 

since Direct Air suspended public charter services in March 2012. The Worcester Airport’s primary and 

secondary catchment areas have a combined population of one million people and include the City of Worcester, 

the second largest city in New England. The Worcester Airport catchment area generates over 1.8 million annual 

origin-destination passengers. The airport has a long history of commercial airline services and was 

continuously served by major scheduled airlines until 2003 when US Airways discontinued services while 

reorganizing under Chapter 11. Since then the airport has been served sporadically with infrequent services 

provided by two small carriers targeting leisure passengers: Allegiant Airlines from December 2005 to 

September 2006 and Direct Air from November 2008 to March 2012. These services only carried traffic in the 

local nonstop markets and did not provide Worcester passengers with connectivity to any beyond markets. 

After a concerted effort by Massport and the local Worcester community to recruit air carriers to serve the 

airport, JetBlue announced that it will initiate new scheduled services between Worcester and MCO and FLL in 

November of this year. These services represent a unique opportunity to re-establish Worcester Regional Airport 

as a commercial service airport and provide Central Massachusetts residents and businesses with easy, 

convenient and safe access to the national air transportation system. In addition to serving the local markets, 

JetBlue’s MCO and FLL services will provide Worcester passengers with access to its expanding air service 

network with beyond connections to as many as 13 markets in the Caribbean and Latin America, including San 

Juan, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Bogota, Colombia; and San Jose, Costa Rica. If the

MCO/FLL services are successful, JetBlue intends to add services to other top Florida destinations and 

connecting hubs at New York JFK and San Juan, which would further expand Worcester’s connectivity to the 

national air transportation system. A New York JFK service would connect with up to 56 destinations while a 

San Juan route would connect with up to six destinations in the Caribbean based on JetBlue’s current network. 

Regularly scheduled Worcester air services that provide access to the national air transportation network would 

strengthen the competitiveness of the Central Massachusetts region and contribute to the region’s economic 

development. Local government and business leaders recognize the importance of re-connecting ORH to the 

national air service network and worked actively with Massport to recruit JetBlue to the Worcester market. The 

local community is equally committed to ensuring the success of the new JetBlue services and have formed a 

public-private partnership with Massport to develop the public’s awareness of the new services. Since ORH has 

not had regularly scheduled airline services by a major airline since 2003, air passengers traveling to and from 
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

2

Central Massachusetts have become accustomed to driving long distances to surrounding commercial service 

airports (Boston Logan, T.F. Green and Hartford Bradley airports). In addition to Massport’s cash contribution 

($150,000) and airport fee waivers ($349,003), the state and local community have pledged $300,000 in nonairport cash and $20,000 of in-kind contributions to raise awareness of the new services among local passengers, 

as well as visitors from Central/South Florida, and ensure the long-term sustainability of airline services at 

ORH.

Worcester Regional Airport’s application meets four out of the six priority selection criteria outlined in the US 

DOT’s Small Community Air Service Development Program for Fiscal Year 2013. 

 A Significant Local Contribution and Funding from Non-Airport Revenues: The total project cost is 

$1,169,003 to provide marketing and promotional support for the JetBlue services to their MCO/FLL 

focus cities, beyond connecting markets, and future JetBlue services to Fort Myers and their New York 

JFK and San Juan connecting hubs; destination marketing to increase inbound passenger traffic and 

strengthen the routes; and airport cost waivers. The community will provide 70 % ($819,003) of the 

project cost in the form of cash and in-kind contributions. Of this, non-airport sources will provide 27 % 

($320,000) of the total program cost in the form of cash and in-kind contributions. 

 A Public-Private Partnership Has Been Established: Massport has formed a public-private partnership 

with the City of Worcester, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) and the Worcester 

Regional Chamber of Commerce for the purposes of funding the project and providing marketing and 

promotion assistance. 

 The Project will Benefit a Broad Segment of the Traveling Public: Re-establishing commercial airline 

services at Worcester Regional Airport will benefit residents and visitors traveling to and from Worcester 

and the Central Massachusetts region including the general public, business travelers, and the students and 

faculty of the area’s educational institutions. The City of Worcester is the second largest city in New 

England with 181,000 residents. Top employers in the region include healthcare, medical research, 

insurance, IT, high tech and biotech companies. Hanover Insurance, which has corporate headquarters in 

Worcester, writes over $100 million of premiums in Florida and maintains a regional office in Central 

Florida as well as an extensive network of agencies and field personnel in the state. Two biopharmaceutical firms with facilities in the Worcester market area, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Abbott 

Laboratories, also operate facilities in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic that can be reached from 

Worcester via connecting services at JetBlue’s MCO and FLL focus cities. The Worcester region is also 

home to 13 colleges and universities with an enrollment of 33,000 students. 

 Funds will be Used in a Timely Manner: Since JetBlue services at Worcester will commence November 

7, 2013, shortly after grants are awarded, grant monies to promote and market the new services will be 

used in a timely manner. Massport and JetBlue have already developed a marketing and promotion plan 

to raise local awareness of Worcester Airport and the new services. Funds allocated to the project will be 

used to supplement JetBlue’s local advertising campaign, to market ORH and the Central Massachusetts 

region to residents of Central and South Florida, to monitor new services once they begin, and to promote 

and market future JetBlue services to Fort Myers and the New York JFK and San Juan hubs should the 

MCO/FLL services succeed. 

In addition, the ORH application also supports several of the secondary selection criteria. A significant portion 

of the project funds, 27 %, will be contributed by local non-airport sources. Local community leaders and 
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

3

officials were actively involved in recruiting JetBlue to serve Worcester Airport and will participate in raising 

local community awareness and patronage of the new air services. Promoting usage of the JetBlue services 

which will appeal to a broad segment of Worcester air travel market directly addresses the community’s need to 

re-establish viable air services at ORH. 

1.2 Previous Small Community Air Service Develop Grant Awards

2003 S CAS D Grant

In 2003, the Worcester Airport (then owned by the City of Worcester) was awarded a Small Community Air 

Service Development grant of $442,615. The goal of the 2003 air service project was to attract commercial

services to Florida destinations by low-cost, charter type carriers (such as ATA and Trans Meridian) to serve

leisure passengers originating in the Worcester area. Project dollars were allocated for carrier recruitment, local 

public awareness and promotional campaigns and airline operating costs offsets (i.e., fuel, ground handling, 

deicing, landing fees and terminal rents). Allegiant Airlines was successfully recruited and provided service to 

Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB) from December 2005 through the beginning of September 2006. Funds were 

also used to promote services provided by Direct Air, which entered the ORH-SFB market in November 2008.

This current air service project is fundamentally different from Worcester’s previously funded project in several 

respects:

 The JetBlue services to MCO and FLL have been announced and will commence on November 7, 2013. 

For the prior project, a portion of the funds were used to attract a low cost carrier (LCC); there were no 

up-front commitments from airlines to provide service. For the current project, funds will be spent entirely 

on marketing the new JetBlue services and additional services that JetBlue may initiate to top Worcester 

markets.

 Unlike the previous project which targeted low-cost public charter and leisure oriented point-to-point 

carriers like Trans Meridian, ATA and Allegiant, this project will support services by an air carrier that is 

competitive with both LCC and major network airlines. In recent years JetBlue has transformed itself 

from a pure LCC into a hybrid carrier with a focus not only on cost savings but also on an expanding 

network of domestic and international destinations, high levels of customer service and amenities and 

code share relationships to broaden its reach to leisure and business passengers. 

 JetBlue has a strong presence and exceptional brand recognition in the New England and Florida markets 

and can build on the prior successes of Allegiant and Direct Air by appealing to a broader market segment 

that includes business as well as leisure passengers and inbound as well as outbound passengers. 

 MCO and FLL are rapidly expanding focus cities for JetBlue and will provide Worcester passengers with 

greater connectivity than the previous services. Frequent nonstop services to MCO/FLL will allow 

Worcester passengers to connect to more than a dozen markets in JetBlue’s growing Caribbean and Latin 

American networks including San Juan, Santo Domingo, San Jose (Costa Rica) and Bogota. These 

connecting opportunities will appeal not only to leisure passengers but also to business passengers from 

companies such as Bristol-Myers Squibb and Abbott Laboratories that have facilities in Central 

Massachusetts and Caribbean markets served by JetBlue. 
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

4

 JetBlue will be providing year-round, daily services which are more attractive to business passengers, 

whereas Allegiant and Direct Air provided infrequent services (two to three flights per week) and often 

discontinued services during off-peak travel seasons.

 The initial JetBlue services will be to primary large hub airports - MCO and FLL - with potential 

connections to 13 beyond markets in the Caribbean and Latin America. The prior Allegiant and Direct 

Air services were limited to secondary airports such as Sanford (SFB) and Punta Gorda (PGD) with no 

beyond connecting markets. Passengers will not only benefit from the frequent, high quality flight 

services and connectivity provided by JetBlue but they will also benefit from the services and amenities 

available at the large hub destination airports. For example, Walt Disney World, a major Orlando area 

attraction, provides complimentary ground transportation for guests arriving at MCO but offers no such 

service from SFB. 

 The advertising and marketing campaigns to support the JetBlue services are distinctly different from the 

promotional campaigns conducted for the Allegiant services. One of Massport’s public-private partners, 

the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, will conduct destination marketing campaigns to attract 

visitors from Central and South Florida to the Worcester and Central Massachusetts regions. 

 JetBlue services to MCO and FLL are an important first step to re-establishing viable air services at ORH. 

JetBlue operates an extensive network of leisure and business markets in the U.S., Caribbean and Latin 

America and will have numerous future expansion opportunities at Worcester. 

In summary, the goals of the 2013 SCASD Project to re-establish commercial services that will appeal to 

business and leisure passengers as well as inbound and outbound passengers while also providing connections to 

the global air transportation system, are distinctly different and broader in scope than the 2003 Project goals. As 

such, the 2013 Project meets the requirements of the Small Community Air Service Development Program to 

qualify as a new and eligible project. 
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

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2. Overview of the Worcester Regional Airport Market

2.1 Catchment Area

Worcester Regional Airport is located in Worcester County approximately three miles west of the City of 

Worcester’s central business district. The airport is approximately 53 miles west of Boston Logan International 

Airport, 52 miles northwest of T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island, 73 miles south of Manchester-Boston 

Regional Airport in New Hampshire, and 73 miles northeast of Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. 

The Worcester Regional Airport catchment area has a population of more than one million1 and generates more 

than 1.8 million annual domestic and international origin-destination (O&D) passengers. A 2010 survey of 

passengers from the ORH area using 

Boston Logan Airport (BOS) indicates 

that 78% of ORH catchment area 

passengers use BOS.2

 Worcester 

catchment area passengers also use the 

secondary, regional airports: T.F. Green 

(11%); Manchester Boston (6%) and 

Hartford Bradley (5%). Worcester’s 

estimated top domestic O&D markets 

based on the O&D markets for the airports 

used by passengers traveling to or from the 

Worcester catchment area, include business 

and leisure destinations as shown in the 

following table. The top destinations for 

Worcester area passengers using Logan, 

based on the Logan passenger survey, are 

also shown below. According to the Logan 

passenger survey, 39% of the passengers 

traveling to or from the Worcester 

catchment area were traveling on business 

and 31% were visitors to the 

Worcester/Central Massachusetts region. 

 

1

Based on the ORH primary and secondary catchment areas. The primary area includes all cities and towns that are at least 30 minutes 

and 30% closer to ORH than any other commercial service airport and the secondary area includes all other cities and towns that are 

closest to ORH based on drive times.

2

Massport, 2010 Boston Logan International Airport Air Passenger Ground Access Survey.

Worcester Regional Airport Catchment Area 

Generates 1.8M Annual O&D Passengers
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

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Top Domestic O&D Markets for the Worcester Catchment Area

Note: Domestic O&D markets based on top O&D markets for BDL, BOS, MHT and PVD and airport usage patterns of Worcester area passengers determined 

from the 2010 Logan Passenger Ground Access Survey.

Source: US DOT, O&D Passenger Survey, 2012, and Massport, 2010 Logan Passenger Ground Access Survey

2.2 Regional Economy

The Worcester MA-CT Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) has a population of more than 900,000. With 

nearly 183,000 residents, the City of Worcester is the largest municipality in the ORH catchment area and the 

second largest city in New England. Population has been migrating from the Boston MSA westward towards 

Worcester to take advantage of quality low-cost housing and an expanding business base. From 2000 to 2010, 

population in the Worcester MSA increased by 6.6% while population in the Boston MSA grew by only 3.7%. 

The median household income for the Worcester MSA is $60,493, nearly 20% higher than the median U.S. 

household income.

The Worcester economy has been transformed from a traditional manufacturing base into an economy anchored 

by the information technology, bio-technology, medical research, healthcare, insurance and higher education 

sectors. Top IT and biotech employers in the region include Seimens, EMC Corporation, Allegro Microsystems, 

Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genzyme Genetics, Abbot Bioresearch, Astra Zeneca, and Advanced Cell Technology. 

The University of Massachusetts Medical School, located in Worcester, is one of the fastest-growing research 

institutions in the nation and the recipient of more than $200 million in federal and private research grants in FY 

Estimated Top Domestic O&D Markets:

2012 O&D Percent

Rank Market Passengers of Total Rank Market

1 Orlando 98,751 7.0% 1 Baltimore

2 Baltimore 77,730 5.5% 2 Orlando

3 Chicago 59,821 4.2% 3 Los Angeles

4 Tampa 52,419 3.7% 4 Denver

5 Fort Lauderdale 46,906 3.3% 5 Chicago

6 Washington 41,495 2.9% 6 Fort Lauderdale

7 Atlanta 29,639 2.1% 7 Phoenix

8 Denver 27,177 1.9% 8 Charlotte

9 Las Vegas 26,588 1.9% 9 Atlanta

10 Los Angeles 25,797 1.8% 10 Fort Myers

11 San Francisco 24,123 1.7% 11 Washington

12 Charlotte 24,093 1.7% 12 Las Vegas

13 Philadelphia 22,736 1.6% 13 San Francisco

14 Fort Myers 22,182 1.6% 14 Dallas/Fort Worth

15 New York 20,694 1.5% 15 Long Beach

16 Dallas/Fort Worth 19,375 1.4% 16 West Palm Beach

17 Phoenix 19,187 1.4% 17 Detroit

18 West Palm Beach 18,747 1.3% 18 Seattle/Tacoma

19 Detroit 17,115 1.2% 19 Minneapolis

20 Raleigh/Durham 16,161 1.1% 20 San Diego

Subtotal 690,737 48.7%

Total Domestic O&D 1,418,587 100.0%

Top Domestic O&D Markets for Worcester 

Passengers Using Logan Airport:
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

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2009. These organizations rely on air transportation to 

travel to customer and company locations, industry 

conferences and events. 

The Worcester region is also home to 13 four-year 

colleges and universities with a total student enrollment 

of 33,000 and more than 16,000 faculty and staff. These 

institutes of higher learning generate significant amounts 

of air passenger trips as many students, prospective 

students and faculty travel to from Worcester each 

academic year and during school vacation periods as 

well as relatives who visit for school open houses and 

graduations. 

2.3 Air Service and Traffic History

Air S ervice His tory

Worcester Regional Airport has a long and successful 

history of commercial airline service. The Airport was served continuously from the late 1940s when the airport 

opened through February 2003, when US Airways discontinued its Philadelphia service. Since 2003 service has 

been sporadic and as of March 2012 ORH has been without commercial airline service. 

In the 1980s several carriers including Bar Harbor Airlines, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and 

Piedmont Airways provided daily nonstop services between Worcester and major Northeast destinations. At its 

peak in 1988, the Worcester Airport received 15 daily departures to five nonstop destinations: New York 

LaGuardia, Newark, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Detroit. Several of these were burgeoning connecting hubs that 

provided Worcester area passengers with online connections to numerous markets across the country.

Worcester’s service levels began to contract in the early 1990s when the Massachusetts and national economies 

entered a recession. The weak economy led to capacity cuts and consolidation within the airline industry. A 

merger of Piedmont Airlines and US Airways (then USAir) had a negative impact on Worcester as overlapping 

services were eliminated. 

In 1999, Massport entered into an operating agreement with the City of Worcester, which owned the airport at 

the time, and undertook an intensive marketing campaign to increase air service levels at ORH. Several new 

services were initiated between 1999 and 2001. Delta Air Lines commenced nonstop regional jet service to 

Atlanta in February 2000. American Eagle followed with nonstop turboprop service to New York JFK in July 

2000. Pan Am commenced nonstop service to Orlando Sanford Airport in February 2001. Finally, American 

Eagle began nonstop regional jet services to the Chicago O’Hare connecting hub in July 2001. However, in 

2002 in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which weakened passenger demand nationwide and strained 

airline financial resources, these services were discontinued. By February 2003, US Airways, the only remaining 

carrier in the market, also terminated services.

Since then, ORH has been served intermittently by Allegiant Air from December 2005 to September 2006 and 

by Direct Air from November 2008 to March 2012. Allegiant Air provided less than daily service (2 weekly 

Institutions of Higher Education in the 

Worcester Catchment Area 
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

8

departures) to Orlando Sanford Airport. Direct Air, which operated as a public charter carrier, offered nonstop 

service to Florida destinations and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Florida services were mainly to 

secondary airports (Orlando Sanford, Punta Gorda and West Palm Beach), departures were infrequent (two to 

three flights a week), some services were not offered during off-peak travel months and none of the services 

provided connections to beyond markets.. 

P as s enger Traffic His tory

Airport passenger traffic grew rapidly in the late 1980s as passengers responded to an expansion of air services 

at the airport. Worcester’s traffic peaked at 355,000 enplaned/deplaned passengers in 1989. Traffic declined 

during the 1990s in response to capacity cuts and airline consolidation. By 1999, Worcester’s passenger traffic 

had fallen to 49,000. With the reintroduction of scheduled airline services to connecting hubs and major 

destinations passenger traffic climbed to 159,000 in 2001. 

History of Worcester Airport Passenger Traffic

Note: Enplaned plus deplaned scheduled and non-schedules passengers.

Sources: U.S. DOT, T1, T100, and Part 298C Commuter Databases (1980-2006) and Massport (2007-2010)

More recently, the Worcester air travel market responded positively to Direct Air’s services from 2008 to 2012. 

The initial customer response broke records for Direct Air’s new market introduction. Direct Air began nonstop 

service to Orlando Sanford and Punta Gorda and eventually added services to Myrtle Beach and West Palm 

Beach. In 2009, the first full year of services, Direct Air carried 46,000 Worcester passengers. Passenger traffic 

grew by more than 50% in 2010 and again in 2011 exceeding 107,000 as Direct Air added new markets and 

strengthened load factors in existing markets. Data provided by Direct Air shows that 14% of their passengers 

originated in Florida, indicating the potential for inbound passenger traffic to support air services at ORH.3

 

3

Based on Direct Air data for the first quarter of 2009.

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

'85 '90 '95 '00 '05 '10

Passengers

Allegiant Direct Air
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

9

Direct Air Passenger Traffic and Load Factors at Worcester Regional Airport

Source: Massport

Air S ervice Development E fforts

Massport has been actively engaged in air service development for the Worcester Regional Airport. Over the 

past three years, Massport has had numerous meetings and conference calls with route planning executives from 

each of the following U.S. carriers regarding possible service to ORH: Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, 

JetBlue, Spirit, Southwest, United, and US Airways. The air service development objectives for Massport and 

the community are to secure scheduled nonstop service to ORH’s top passenger markets and to connect ORH to 

the nation’s air transportation system through services to an airline connecting hub or focus city. The JetBlue 

services, described below, can achieve both of these objectives for ORH.

J etB lue S ervices

In 2010 Massport assumed ownership of the Worcester Regional Airport from the City of Worcester, Massport. 

Shortly afterwards, Massport, state government leaders, the City of Worcester and the Worcester community 

joined forces in a multi-year marketing campaign to recruit JetBlue services to the Worcester Regional Airport. 

JetBlue representatives made several visits to tour the airport, meet with Massport and other state and local 

officials, and gauge the level of community support for air services. The local community was actively involved 

in demonstrating their support and commitment to Worcester air service. The president of Worcester-based 

Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, local college administrators, area business executives, and civic leaders 

from Central Massachusetts participated in a luncheon with the JetBlue CEO and local citizens also showed 

their commitment and enthusiasm for JetBlue services through a social media video campaign. 

The aggressive marketing campaign culminated in JetBlue’s April 3, 2013 Worcester service announcement. 

JetBlue will inaugurate nonstop services from Worcester to Orlando International Airport and Ft. Lauderdale

Hollywood Airport on November 7, 2013, making Worcester JetBlue’s 80th city and 8th New England market. 

JetBlue will provide one daily roundtrip to each Florida market with 100-seat Embraer E190 regional jets. 

44%

65%

75%

81%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

2008 2009 2010 2011

46,000 

71,000 

107,000 

-

20,000 

40,000 

60,000 

80,000 

100,000 

120,000 

2009 2010 2011

+ 55%

+ 51%

ORH Passengers ORH Average Load Factors
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

10

JetBlue is well known not only for its low fares, but also for its growing domestic and international reach and its 

superior customer service and amenities. As the largest airline serving Logan Airport and with services to seven 

other New England markets, JetBlue has a broad and loyal customer base in the Worcester region. If the initial 

JetBlue services to MCO and FLL are successful, JetBlue will operate additional frequencies in those markets 

and add new nonstop markets. The requested SCASD grant will be used, in part, to assure the success of 

JetBlue’s initial services, which is a critical first step for JetBlue to further expand its presence at Worcester. 

JetBlue Worcester Nonstop and Connecting Services – Phase 1

Note: Services effective November 7, 2013.
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

11

JetBlue Worcester Nonstop and Connecting Services – Phase 1

Note: Services effective November 7, 2013.

In Phase 1 of its Worcester expansion, JetBlue is expected to add additional flight frequencies to MCO and FLL, 

which would increase beyond connecting opportunities for Worcester passengers. If this is successful, in Phase 

2, Massport expects JetBlue to add new nonstop services that would further increase Worcester’s access to top 

O&D destinations through a combination of nonstop and connecting services. New nonstop markets are likely 

to include Fort Myers, New York JFK and San Juan. These are similar to markets that JetBlue has added to the 

Hartford Bradley and Westchester airports after entering those markets with nonstop flights to MCO and FLL. 
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

12

These additional services would greatly expand Worcester’s connectivity by providing connecting services to 

top O&D markets across the U.S. JetBlue’s Phase 2 services would provide Worcester with nonstop or 

connecting service to 16 of its top 20 domestic O&D markets, connecting ORH to the nation’s air transportation 

system. 

JetBlue Domestic Markets Served from Worcester Airport

The forthcoming JetBlue services are distinctly different from the Allegiant and Direct Air services at ORH. 

JetBlue will offer year-round, frequent (daily) scheduled services to the primary Orlando and South Florida 

airports (MCO and FLL). These services will be attractive to both leisure and business passengers. Orlando and 

Fort Lauderdale are focus cities for JetBlue and offer connecting services to 13 destinations in JetBlue’s 

growing Caribbean and Latin American network. Connecting opportunities are expected to increase as JetBlue 

expands its Caribbean and Latin American destinations and augments its ORH services with additional nonstop 

markets in Phase 2 of its Worcester expansion. In contrast, Allegiant and Direct Air were both focused on 

serving the outbound leisure segment of the market with infrequent services (two to three flights per week) 

limited to the peak travel months only. The Allegiant and Direct Air services only carried point-to-point traffic 

since neither carrier operated a connecting hub at the Sanford or Punta Gorda airports. With limited flights and 

no beyond connecting services, the Allegiant and Direct Air services predominantly appealed to leisure 

passengers. 

Airport F acilities

Worcester Regional Airport has in place all the facilities necessary to accommodate JetBlue’s announced 

scheduled passenger services as well as additional airline services. These include: a modern spacious terminal 

Rank Market Phase 1 Phase 2

1 Orlando Nonstop Nonstop

2 Baltimore

3 Chicago Connecting

4 Tampa Connecting

5 Fort Lauderdale Nonstop Nonstop

6 Washington Connecting

7 Atlanta

8 Denver Connecting

9 Las Vegas Connecting

10 Los Angeles Connecting

11 San Francisco Connecting

12 Charlotte Connecting

13 Philadelphia Connecting

14 Fort Myers Nonstop

15 New York Nonstop

16 Dallas/Fort Worth

17 Phoenix Connecting

18 West Palm Beach Connecting

19 Detroit

20 Raleigh/Durham Connecting

JetBlue ORH Service
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

13

with 6 aircraft gates; a Category I instrument approach for Runways 11 and 29 with a planned upgrade to 

Category 3; and 24/7 ARFF and maintenance support facilities. 

3. Strategic Plan for Air Service

3.1 Strategic Goals and Objectives

The community’s overall strategic objective is to re-establish regularly scheduled commercial services from 

Worcester Regional Airport to top destinations on a major airline with an expansive network of services that 

will be attractive to leisure and business passengers. Ensuring the success of the JetBlue services that will 

commence November 7, 2013 is the critical first step to re-establishing ORH as an air service market. The 

specific goals of the project to support this objective are:

 Implement a comprehensive advertising and promotion plan for new JetBlue services to MCO and FLL

and other services that JetBlue may add. 

 Increase public awareness of ORH as an air travel option for residents and businesses in the ORH market 

area, as well as inbound visitors, through marketing and promotional campaigns in support of the JetBlue 

services.

 Waive airport fees for JetBlue services to reduce start-up costs associated with new air service 

introduction. 

3.2 Public-Private Partnership

Massport and local government and business leaders recognize that the return of regularly scheduled 

commercial airline service to ORH is important to the region’s continued economic growth and competitiveness. 

Community leaders actively collaborated with Massport in recruiting JetBlue to serve ORH and will join 

Massport in a public-private partnership to re-establish air services at ORH. Massport’s partners in this 

endeavor include:

 City of Worcester – is the former owner and operator of the Worcester Regional Airport. The City of 

Worcester has a long history of supporting the airport and understands the economic linkages between the 

city’s vitality and being connected to the national and international air transportation networks. 

 Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism - is the state agency dedicated to promoting Massachusetts 

as a friendly, family-oriented destination set in the midst of rich historical and cultural tradition. MOTT is 

responsible for encouraging overnight stays in the Commonwealth, as well as increasing tourism-related 

spending and payroll. MOTT often partners with other public and private entities to promote 

Massachusetts as a leisure destination.

 Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce – the largest Chamber of Commerce in New England. 

Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to enhancing the region’s economic prosperity 

and the vitality of its business community. The mission of the Chamber is to support existing businesses 

and promote economic development in the Worcester region by being a bold, strong, articulate and 

effective advocate. 
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

14

Massport will serve as the legal sponsor and will be responsible for administering the SCASD grant, providing 

marketing support and cost-concessions to JetBlue, and coordinating the community’s marketing and 

promotional efforts. 

The City of Worcester will contribute $150,000 towards the advertising and promotion campaigns for the new 

JetBlue services. In addition, the City will provide intangible support by assisting with the media and marketing 

strategies and providing recommendations for media type, placement, quantity and frequency for media buys in 

the Worcester/Central Massachusetts Region. The value of these intangible services cannot be estimated but 

will represent a meaningful contribution to the overall marketing and advertising campaing. The Massachusetts 

Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) will provide $150,000 in cash to design and implement an inbound 

marketing campaign to attract visitors from Central/South Florida to the Worcester/Central Massachusetts 

region. The Worcester Region Chamber of Commerce will provide in-kind support for the advertising and 

marketing ccampaigns by promoting the JetBlue services to its membership and at sponsored events, including 

the Central Massachusetts Business Expo featuring the JetBlue CEO as the keynote speakers. The value of the 

promotional materials and advertising in conjunction with this event is estimated at $20,000. The Chamber’s 

intangible support will be provided through its on-going activities and cannot be valued. 

3.3 Strategic Use of Funds 

Marketing and P romotion Campaigns

In an effort to help build awareness for the Worcester Regional Airport, and more immediately, for the success 

of JetBlue’s MCO and FLL services, Massport has crafted a multi-faceted community outreach strategy, 

designed to support the efforts of JetBlue’s advertising campaign and attract leisure and business travelers to 

Worcester Airport. Since the service announcement, Massport has been working closely with JetBlue, the City 

of Worcester and MOTT to leverage the marketing plan and media strategy developed by Mullen Advertising 

Agency for JetBlue. Massport’s “JetBlue Worcester” campaign is designed to promote Worcester Airport and 

America’s favorite airline in the Worcester and Central Massachusetts regions.

Target Audiences

Massport’s strategic marketing outreach program utilizes a multidimensional and targeted approach in an effort 

to build awareness in the region through the penetration of various targeted audiences that include: 

 Central Massachusetts business community

 Central Massachusetts leisure/consumer community 

 Worcester regional collegiate community

 Specific campaigns will also be directed at the following sub segments:

− 65+ travelers 

− Families

− Latino community 
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

15

In addition to Massport’s local marketing and advertising campaigns, MOTT will market and promote 

Worcester and the Central Massachusetts region as a destination to generate awareness among Central and 

South Florida passengers and bolster load factors and generate demand to support additional services.

Media Channels 

The comprehensive public awareness, marketing and promotional campaigns for the new JetBlue services will 

rely on multiple media channels including: 

 Radio (WXLO 104.5FM, WSRS 96,Hot 96.9, Country 102.5, Magic 106.7) 

 Print (Telegram & Gazette, Worcester Business Journal, Worcester Living, Sentinel & Enterprise, 

Community Advocate, MNI, Media Max, Boston Magazine, BayState Parent) 

 Out of Home (Clear Channel, Murray, Lamar, Titan) 

 Digital (AOL, Boingo, Crisp Media, GoLocalWorcster.com, Pandora, MNI, Mojiva, Telegram.com, 

Yahoo!, MediaMax

 Sponsorships & Events 

Massport will begin to infuse ORH centric advertising (radio and print) in the Worcester County region in 

advance of the service launch. Massport has also been working with JetBlue to identify regional events and 

opportunities to promote the service inaugural. 

Concurrent with the launch of JetBlue’s full advertising campaign in September, senior Massport leadership will 

promote the JetBlue ORH services at targeted speaking engagements. On October 2, 2013, the Worcester 

Regional Chamber of Commerce will produce the Central Massachusetts Regional Business Expo featuring 

Dave Barger, President and CEO of JetBlue to promote the new services to the Central Massachusetts business 

community. This event will include logos/naming, print/radio/digital/TV advertising, promotional interviews, 

and promotional print support materials. In November, Massport and its partners will host a major inaugural 

event at Worcester Airport with all local and regional media, political, business and community leaders to 

promote and increase public awareness of the services. Ongoing marketing outreach will continue after the 

service launch to continue the JetBlue/ORH awareness momentum.

Airport F ee Waivers

Massport offers an Air Service Incentive Program to help support new airline services at Worcester Regional 

Airport. Any passenger carrier that provides scheduled nonstop roundtrip service from ORH to any new 

destination is eligible to participate in the Air Service Incentive Program. The program incentives include 100% 

rebates for landing fees, jet bridge fees, overnight aircraft parking and terminal rents for the first and second 

years of service. (The Air Service Incentive Program also includes $75,000 in cooperative marketing support per 

new nonstop destination which will be used to support the marketing and promotion campaigns described 

above). 
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

16

3.4 Funding Plan and Grant Request

Massport is requesting a grant of $350,000 to support the Strategic Air Service Development plan for ORH.

This funding will be matched by $450,000 in local cash contributions. Of the local cash contributions, Massport 

will contribute $150,000 (33%) and the City of Worcester and MOTT will each contribute $150,000. Two-thirds 

of the local cash contribution will be funded from non-airport sources.

Project Cost and Funding Sources

Line Description Subtotal Total Amount

1 Federal Amount Requested $350,000

2 State cash financial contribution $150,000

3 Local cash financial contribution 

3a: Airport cash funds $150,000

3b: Non-airport cash funds $150,000

3 Total local cash funds (3a + 3b) $300,000

4 TOTAL CASH FUNDING (1 + 2 + 3) $800,000

In-Kind contribution

5a: Airport in-kind contribution $349,003

5b: Other in-kind contribution $20,000

5 TOTAL IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION (5a + 5b) $369,003

6 TOTAL PROJECT COST (4+5) $1,169,003

Notes:

Line 3b includes $150,000 from the City of Worcester and $150,000 from MOTT.

Line 5a and 5b in-kind contributions itemized below.

In addition to the cash contributions, the local community will contribute $369,003 worth of in-kind services 

and cost rebates. Massport will provide $349,003 in cost offsets to JetBlue over a two-year period, as shown 

below. 

Airport In-Kind Contributions – Airport Cost Rebates

ORH-MCO ORH-FLL Total 

Landing Fee $70,810 $70,810 $141,620

Jet Bridge fee $10,950 $10,950 $21,900

Overnight Parking $0 $36,500 $36,500

Terminal Rent

Counter/ATO $9,810

Support Operations $139,173

Total: Waived Fees/Charges $349,003
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

17

The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce will produce the Central Massachusetts Regional Business 

Expo featuring JetBlue CEO Dave Barger as the keynote speaker. The value of the promotional materials and 

advertising surrounding the event is valued at $20,000. 

3.5 Implementation Timeline and Monitoring

P roject Timeline

The anticipated timeline for the project is shown below. 

Monitoring P rogram

On an on-going basis, Massport will monitor the performance of the JetBlue air services and the effectiveness of 

the marketing efforts. Service performance measures including departures operated, enplanements, and 

passenger load factors will be reviewed monthly using data collected by the airport. Massport will also seek to 

collect and review point of sale data from JetBlue to assess the effectiveness of the marketing efforts and 

potential adjustments to the marketing program. On a quarterly basis, Massport will review passenger airfares 

from the U.S. DOT O&D to compare Worcester fares to average fares at the alternative airports. Massport will 

also be in regular contact with JetBlue to discuss the operating performance of the services and the marketing 

efforts.

Anticipated SCASD Grant Award August 2013

Enter Grant Agreement with DOT September 2013

Develop Detailed Marketing Plan for MCO/FLL Completed

Begin New Service Marketing for MCO/FLL September 2013

New Service Inaugural MCO/FLL November 2013

Monitor Bookings/ Refine Marketing As Needed February 2013, quarterly thereafter

Begin Monitoring MCO/FLL Service Performance December 2013

New JetBlue Service(s) Announcement October 2014

Begin New Service Marketing for Additional JetBlue Route(s) November 2014

New Service Inaugural February 2015

Monitor Bookings/ Refine Marketing As Needed May 2015, quarterly thereafter

Begin Monitoring New Route(s) Service Performance March 2015

Close Grant (2 yr) September 2015

Worcester Regional Airport

SCASD Grant Implementation Timeline
Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA. Application for Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120, DUNS # 001766328, Congressional District MA-2, July 26, 2013

18

3.6 Legal Sponsor

Massport, the public authority that owns and operates Worcester Regional Airport, will serve as the legal 

sponsor for this project and will be responsible for administering the SCASD grant. Massport has the legal 

authority under state laws to carry out all aspects of the grant.

C ontact information:

Massachusetts Port Authority

Thomas Glynn 

CEO and Executive Director

One Harborside Drive

Logan Office Center – Suite 200S 

East Boston, MA 02128 
Appendix A:

Commitments


OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER, CITY HALL, WORCESTER, MA 01608

TELEPHONE (508) 799-1175 | FAX (508) 799-1208

EMAIL: citymanager@worcesterma.gov

Michael V. O'Brien 

City Manager

July 25, 2013

Brooke Chapman, Associate Director

Small Community Air Service Development 

Office of Aviation Analysis

U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Room W86-307

Washington, DC 20590

Dear Ms. Chapman:

In support of JetBlue’s recent commitment to commence commercial air passenger 

service to and from the Worcester Regional Airport and Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, 

Florida in November 2013, the City of Worcester is pleased to have entered into a 

Cooperative Marketing Agreement with JetBlue to promote public awareness of the new 

JetBlue service. 

The City of Worcester, in partnership with the Massachusetts Port Authority, will assist 

with media and marketing strategies to include recommendations as to media type, 

placement, quantity and frequency of insertions and/or media buys in the 

Worcester/Central Massachusetts Region. The City of Worcester will also review 

marketing plans/media buys developed by JetBlue, prior to media deployment and 

cross-sponsorship events and opportunities.

In addition to marketing support, the City of Worcester has agreed to commit $150,000 

towards advertising campaigns to promote the new commercial airline service. These 

funds will be available to JetBlue for media buys as they deem appropriate. 

We are committed to supporting this initiative and appreciate the opportunity provided 

by the Small Community Air Service Development Program. I thank you for your 

consideration of Massport’s proposal and look forward to the Worcester Regional 

Airport becoming one of the success stories of this grant program.

Sincerely,

Michael V. O’Brien

City Manager

CITY OF WORCESTER

Appendix B:

Community Letters of Support
atongrCSl1 of tl1c Nnitcb §tatcs

masl1ington, sill 2051.5

July 26, 2013

Brooke Chapman

Associate Director

Small Community Air Service Development Program

US Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE

Washington, DC 20590

RE: Massachusetts Port Authority Small Community Air Service Development Program Application for

Worcester Regional Airport

Dear Ms. Chapman,

We are writing to express our strong support for the application submitted by Worcester Regional Airport for

a grant through the Department of Transportation's Small Community Air Service Development Grant

Program (SCASDP).

Worcester Regional Airport serves the Central Massachusetts region and is one ofthree airports owned and

operated by the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). Worcester has been without regularly scheduled

service from a network carrier for more than 10 years. Massport and the Worcester community were very

pleased when JetBlue announced earlier this year that it will begin year-round, daily nonstop services from

Worcester Airport to the Orlando International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airports in November.

JetBlue's daily services to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale will not only provide passengers with direct flights

to two of Worcester's top markets, but will also provide convenient connections to several destinations in

Latin America and the Caribbean. These letBlue services and the potential expansion to other key JetBlue

destinations in the future, will serve the needs of business and leisure travelers across all of Central

Massachusetts.

The goal of Massport's SCASD grant application is to support these JetBlue services, and others that the

airline may add, to improve the region's connectivity to the national and global air transportation network. If

approved, the requested grant would be used by Massport to promote and market the new services to ensure

their success.

We respectfully request full and fair consideration ofMassport's application for SCASD funding for

Worcester Regional Airport. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

Michael V. O'Brien CITY OF WORCESTER

City Manager 

July 24, 2013 

Brooke Chapman 

Associate Director 

Small Community Air Service Development 

Office of Aviation Analysis 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Room W86-307 

Washington, DC 20590

Dear Ms. Chapman: 

I am pleased to submit this letter in support of the efforts of the Massachusetts Port Authority 

to receive a grant under the U.S. Department of Transportation Small Community Air Service 

Development Program. 

Identified as one of the country’s 20 strongest performing metropolitan areas by the Brookings 

Institution, Worcester is a rapidly growing community. Home to hundreds of companies, as well 

as ten colleges and universities, there is a substantial travel market in our great City. The 

addition of JetBlue at the Worcester Regional Airport is vital to our economy as it improves 

access for visitors, as well as supports area business, organizations, and academic 

institutions. It is necessary to properly market the new service in order to ensure its success 

and the future growth our airport. This grant represents a remarkable opportunity to further air 

service development in Worcester, while tapping the Central Massachusetts area that is sure 

to be responsive once service is fully marketed.

An airport with ample flight options and competitive fares is widely seen as essential to both 

quality of life and economic development. Through an aggressive public/private marketing 

initiative, the Worcester Regional Airport hopes to garner more domestic and connecting 
international travel resulting in new and increased passenger demand for the Airport, 

increased jobs, infrastructure development, and new air service.

We are committed to supporting this initiative and appreciate the opportunity provided by the 

Small Community Air Service Development Program. I thank you for your consideration of 

Massport’s proposal, and look forward to the Worcester Regional Airport becoming one of the 

success stories of this grant program. 

Sincerely, 

Michael V. O’Brien

City Manager 

ASSUMPTION COLLEGE

WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS | ROME, ITALY

500 Salisbury Street | Worcester, MA 01609-1296 | TEL 508.767.7321 | FAX 508.767.7169 | www.assumption.edu

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

July 23, 2013

Brooke Chapman, Associate Director

Small Community Air Service Development

Office of Aviation Analysis

U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE (Room W86-307)

Washington, DC 20590

Dear Ms. Chapman:

As president of Assumption College, I would like to offer my full support of the city of Worcester’s Small 

Community Air Service Development Program grant application. In addition to welcoming JetBlue 

service in November to Worcester, this grant award would help spur opportunities for economic 

development, increased tourism, and recruitment efforts for colleges and universities.

Assumption College is one of 10 institutions of higher learning in the Worcester region. With thousands 

of students, faculty, and staff working and living here, it is vital the city have quality and dependable

service at Worcester Regional Airport. As with other local colleges and universities, many Assumption 

students hail from outside New England and require air travel to get home and back to Worcester. Our 

faculty attend countless conferences and presentations across the country throughout the year. In addition, 

many of our staff members often travel to all corners of the United States to meet with prospective 

students and donors. A robust, dependable, and convenient Worcester Regional Airport will not only 

attract prospective students to Worcester, but will also make for ease of travel in everyone’s busy life.

I believe that what is good for Worcester is good for Assumption College. The positive economic and 

cultural benefits that our city will gain via JetBlue will no doubt be significant, and we look forward to 

additional opportunities through the Small Community Air Service Development Program grant. Thank 

you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Francesco C. Cesareo, Ph.D.

President
Ms. Brooke Chapman

Associate Director, Small Community Air Service Development Program

U.S. Department of Transportation

Office of Aviation Analysis

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, D.C. 20590

Worcester Regional Airport

Dear Ms. Chapman:

This letter is written on behalf of the Massachusetts Port Authority- Worcester Regional

Airport. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is a New York Stock Exchange-listed company,

with $14 billion in assets. We are headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts and write business

in all 50 states. We also write international business through our Lloyd’s of London managingagency, which underwrites $1 billion of net written premium annually.

We have approximately 5100 employees, 2000 of whom are located in Worcester and

live in or about the city and its surrounding areas. We write over $100 million of net written

premiums in Florida and have an extensive network of agencies and field personnel in the state;

in fact, Florida is our eighth largest state. In addition, the Southeast region ofthe country is an

important overall region for The Hanover: four of our top 12 states are located in the Southeast.

The Hanover has enjoyed vigorous growth over the past several years, which has

contributed to the growth and vitality of Worcester and the central Massachusetts area. For

example, over the last ten years, we have increased our property and casualty segment net

written premiums from $2.27 billion to $4.4 billion and we expect to be close to or exceed $5billion in the near future. Commensurate with this growth, our total employee base has grown

from less than 4000 in 2007 to our present 5100 employees.

Development of commercial air transportation from the Worcester Regional Airport is

important to The Hanover’s continued growth. Currently, nearly all employees who visit the

home office from our other offices throughout the country must travel through Logan Airport inBoston. In addition to being a very busy airport, Logan is approximately one hour travel time

away (Boston’s traffic is notorious, so this is on a good day). We also have countless agents,

440 Lincoln Street • Worcester; MA 01653 P h o n e 508 - 855 - 2600 F a x I 508 - 852 - 7588

The Hanover Insurance Company Citizens Insurance Company of America

www.Hanover.com
A robust commercial airport in the City of Worcester would make travel infinitely more

convenient for our many employees in Worcester who travel regularly as part oftheir

responsibilities, the employees located throughout the country who visit the home office and themany other businessmen and women with whom we do business.

The prospects of a thriving regional airport would also help us recruit and retain

employees, which is a major focus of our efforts to grow and develop as a company. In addition

to making access to the region easier, many of them would find Worcester Regional Airportconvenient for their personal travel.

Admittedly, the entrance ofJetBlue to the Worcester market would not, in and of itself,

address all of our commercial business needs or the personal needs of our employees; however, it

would be an enormous start and undoubtedly would meet some of our immediate needs.

Importantly, the proposed flight destinations offered by Jet Blue would also offer connecting

flights for our employees or others traveling to or from the central Massachusetts region.

In summary, enhanced accessibility to Worcester and the central Massachusetts region

through the proposed JetBlue service is very important to The Hanover. We believe that it will

contribute to our ability to recruit and retain employees and to the growth of our company and

the region. We would expect that many employees of The Hanover will use this service, either

for direct or connecting flights, for business and personal purposes. We also believe that it is a

critical step to bringing other services to the airport, which will serve more and more of our

needs.

Sincerely,

Frederick Eppin rPresident and Chief Executive Officer