Worcester Regional Airport Celebrates One Millionth Passenger Milestone

Passenger awarded two roundtrip tickets by Delta Air Lines

WORCESTER – The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) today joined local, state, and federal elected officials, community leaders and airline partners to celebrate reaching one million passengers served at Worcester Regional Airport (ORH) since 2013. To honor the milestone, Delta Air Lines awarded two roundtrip tickets to ORH’s one millionth passenger. Massport also paid tribute to Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and the Baker Administration for their support and commitment to the rebound and future success of ORH.

“Congratulations to Worcester Airport for reaching this incredible accomplishment of connecting one million passengers to their destinations around the world,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “ Over the past several years we have seen the development of the Worcester Airport and what it has brought to the Central Massachusetts region and I am pleased to celebrate this milestone today as Massport and this airport continue to grow and succeed."

“Today I’m proud to celebrate the incredible milestone of one million passengers served at Worcester Regional Airport,” said Congressman Jim McGovern. “In recent years, Worcester Airport has pumped millions into our economy, made it more convenient for our community to travel, and helped make our region a more attractive place for businesses to invest. I look forward to all the successes to come as we continue our partnership with Massport to keep Worcester Airport strong and thriving.”

Currently, ORH is home to three major airlines –JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Combined, the airlines offer five daily nonstop flights including JetBlue’s two daily flights to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and one daily flight to Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Delta’s daily flight to New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and American Airlines’ daily nonstop service to JFK. These flights not only offer travelers direct access to New York and Florida, but also provide opportunities to connect to hundreds of additional destinations throughout the U.S. and across the world.

“The City of Worcester is truly the heart of Massachusetts and investments from Massport and the Baker-Polito Administration in the Worcester Regional Airport have enabled us to see over one million passengers served,” said Mayor Joe Petty. “The support of Congressman McGovern and further investments from Massport has brought us to this day of celebration and I’m excited to see what the future holds for the airport.”

“I’m thrilled to celebrate the amazing milestone of reaching one million passengers served at Worcester Regional Airport and all the hard work it took to make it happen,” said Acting City Manager Eric D. Batista. “Thank you to Massport and our partners in the federal, state and local government who have continued to support Central Massachusetts and what it has to offer, and for working to connect Worcester to the world.”

“Worcester Regional Airport plays a key role in the city’s economy,” said State Senator Anne Gobi. “I look forward to working with our local stakeholders to ensure the airport’s continued growth and success.”

Prior to the pandemic, ORH was experiencing growth in passenger volumes and newly inaugurated services while generating an economic impact of almost $100 million annually, according to a 2019 study conducted by MassDOT. Since assuming ownership of the airport in 2010, Massport has partnered with federal, state and local officials and community leaders to revitalize the airport and grow commercial services to meet the transportation needs of the Central Massachusetts community.

“This is an important milestone for Worcester Regional Airport and the city,” said State Representative John Mahoney. “I want to thank Massport and the airline partners who have maintained their commitment to investing in our great city.”

“Worcester is an amazing city and we continue to see economic growth and investment,” said State Representative Jim O’Day. “Worcester Regional Airport is an asset to all of us and I am confident we will continue to build on this success.”

“Worcester is home to premier academic institutions, a growing business community and a thriving innovation economy and Worcester Regional Airport has been an essential component of our transportation system here in Central Massachusetts, allowing students, residents and businesses to connect to destinations across the globe,” said Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tim Murray. “It’s an exciting day for Worcester as we celebrate the airport reaching one million passengers, and I thank my federal, state and local partners and Massport for their leadership and support in this effort.”

Since taking ownership of the airport, the Authority has invested millions of dollars in improvements at ORH, including a Category III Instrument Landing System, completed in 2018. Two new jet bridges were installed in 2019, doubling the number to four. And in 2020, Massport took advantage of the reduced passenger activity to resurface half of the airport’s primary runway and install energy-efficient LED runway signs using FAA funding. Next year, Massport will begin work to resurface the other half of the primary runway and construct a new taxiway. These investments allow ORH to accommodate more flights and serve more passengers in the future.

“Reaching one million passengers is a great milestone for Worcester Regional Airport and I’m thrilled to be celebrating this achievement today,” said Worcester County Sheriff and Chairman of the Massport Board of Directors Lew Evangelidis. “The future for ORH looks bright and I’m proud to be part of such a dedicated team of local, state and federal partners that have brought this great success to our area.”

“This milestone of one million passengers served at ORH underscores our commitment to grow this vital transportation gateway in Central Massachusetts and support the region’s revitalization and economic development,” said Massport CEO Lisa Wieland. “Thank you to our federal, state and local officials and our airline partners for their commitment to grow with us. Together, we have accomplished so much in the past decade and today’s milestone is just one stop in the airport’s historic journey.”

ORH serves Central Massachusetts, Worcester - the second fastest growing county in Massachusetts, along with the Boston Metro West region and the bustling Interstate 495 corridor. The facility offers travelers comfort and accessibility, with all the features and amenities of a major airport, as well as extensive general aviation services.

Follow @FlyWorcester and @Massport on Twitter for more information and updates.

Powering What’s Possible. The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) owns and operates Boston Logan International Airport, public terminals in the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field, and Worcester Regional Airport. For more information, please visit massport.com.

###