The Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) is actively pursuing nonstop flights between Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and London, United Kingdom. The effort aims to strengthen connections with the U.K., Connecticut’s sixth-largest export destination, which received about $1.1 billion in goods from the state last year, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Pratt & Whitney Engine Deals Highlight Connecticut-U.K. Aviation Links
At the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2026, Connecticut-based Pratt & Whitney announced agreements with British Airways to supply GTF engines for 33 Airbus A320neo aircraft, with options for 30 additional planes. Pratt & Whitney President of Commercial Engines, Rick Deurloo, said the GTF
engines will support British Airways’ international fleet expansion and improve passenger experience. British Airways currently operates nonstop flights from London Heathrow to JFK, Newark Liberty, and Boston Logan airports but has not confirmed any route to Bradley International.
Economic and Geopolitical Factors Challenge New International Routes
CAA officials acknowledged the difficulty of securing new long-haul international routes in the current economic and geopolitical environment. “The CAA is continuing to actively pursue nonstop service to London, as well as a number of other major international and domestic destinations,” they said. Officials noted ongoing discussions with existing and prospective airline partners but declined to disclose specific negotiations. They described the
growth environment for airlines as constrained due to recent global factors.
Bradley Airport Faces Mixed Results with International Service
Bradley International resumed Aer Lingus flights to Dublin in March 2023 after a three-year pandemic hiatus. Meanwhile, Air Canada restarted its Toronto route from Bradley in June 2022 but later paused service, with no immediate plans for resumption according to CAA. Ultra-low-cost carriers have exited the airport recently: Avelo Airlines ceased operations from Bradley at the start of 2026 after serving Caribbean destinations, and Spirit Airlines ended service in October 2025 before shutting down entirely. These changes contributed to a 3.5% decrease in passenger traffic in the first four
months of 2026, totaling about two million travelers.
Domestic Route Growth Partially Offsets International Declines
Domestic flight options at Bradley are expanding, with United Airlines launching year-round service to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport on May 22, 2026. Breeze Airways began seasonal flights to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on May 29, 2026. Despite declines caused by the loss of Avelo and Spirit Airlines, CAA expressed confidence that passenger volume will recover as other carriers increase service over time.
Connecticut’s manufacturing sector, exemplified by Pratt & Whitney’s aviation deals, and the insurance industry, fostered by initiatives like the 2022-established InsurTech Corridor, support potential demand for nonstop Bradley-London
service. The InsurTech Corridor connects insurance firms between Hartford and the U.K., with major companies such as W.R. Berkley maintaining operations in both regions despite office sales.
CAA emphasized the strategic importance of these sectors in sustaining future international routes from Bradley. They said they regularly meet with airlines to explore opportunities, but “until negotiations are concluded, we are unable to share additional information about particular airlines involved.” The authority also noted that nonstop Canada-U.S. flights face unique challenges currently.
“The CAA believes that passenger traffic lost due to contraction in the ultra-low-cost carrier market segment will be recaptured in
the future with other airlines increasing their service over time,” CAA officials stated. “All of the airlines are currently operating in a growth-constrained environment given recent economic and geopolitical conditions, and this will be a gradual change.”
