Connecticut Department of Transportation

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NEWS RELEASE
2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546
NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7456
FOR RELEASE: April 1, 2009
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062
FAX: (860) 594-3065
WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot
Roundtrip Charter Air Service Begins Between Groton and Nantucket
Newington, Conn.  (April 1st, 2009) – While some like to think of Nantucket as the far away island, visiting this popular vacation spot just got a whole lot easier for travelers in the Northeast. The Connecticut State Department of Transportation today announced seasonal air charter service between Groton, Conn. (GON) and Nantucket, Mass. (ACK) airports in conjunction with Aviation Technologies, Inc. dba PublicCharters.com, a public air charter company. Regional jet service is scheduled to commence June 4, 2009 and operate through September 7, 2009. Flights will operate Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday using a 30-seat Embraer EMB-120 ER Aircraft operated by Charter Air Transport.
“Currently, the options for reaching Nantucket are to fly from New York, Boston or New Bedford or take the ferry from Hyannis. This new service is more convenient to Connecticut and New York residents and it is a significant step in reestablishing Groton’s commercial air service capability for the Southeast region of the State, which is something we should all applaud,” said Governor M. Jodi Rell.
Adds Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph F. Marie, “Groton Airport has been the region’s best-kept transportation secret for years. This new service opens a range of options for summer travelers, and cuts hours off the drive for those who would normally head further east to fly or ferry across to Nantucket. This is the first of many new initiatives to expand service out of Groton.”  
Roundtrip airfare starts at $199. All of PublicCharters.com’s fares include the following at no extra cost: first checked bag (standard weight), in-flight beverages (non-alcoholic), family seating together, and on-line booking. 
“PublicCharters.com recognizes the growing demand for non-stop and direct air transportation while adding convenience that travelers can afford. Our mission is to offer scheduled charter flights between airports with growing demand for quality service. We are excited to add Groton/New London and Nantucket to our expanding list of underserved airports.  We believe this service will meet the seasonal market demand to Nantucket,” said James Gallagher, president and owner of Aviation Technologies, Inc. and PublicCharters.com.
By contracting the services of a charter airline, PublicCharters.com has the flexibility to set the pricing, routes, frequency and non-stop schedules that the traveling public wants, without wasting time on connecting flights.  Travel can be booked on-line at www.PublicCharters.com, by contacting local travel agencies, or booking through popular on-Line search engines.   PublicCharters.com currently holds memberships with IATA, SABRE, AMADEUS, and ARC. 
PublicCharters.com is owned and operated by Aviation Technologies, Inc.,  active in the charter business since 1995. The company acts as an “indirect” air carrier offering public charter inventory through a variety of Air Taxi, Commuter, and Commercial Carriers. 
Groton-New London Airport is a State-owned public facility accommodating both passenger air transportation and general aviation interests.  It is a regional airport serving the coastal communities within a 25-mile radius of the Town of Groton and the City of New London.  The 489-acre facility was established as the first State of Connecticut airport in 1929. Today, the Airport is one of six State-owned airports operated by the Bureau of Aviation & Ports in the Connecticut Department of Transportion.
These charter flights are subject to Department of Transportation Public Charter Rules according to Rules 14CFR Part 380. (For more information on Public Charter flights: www.dot.gov
For Further Information ContactOffice of Marketing & Route Development – (860) 292-2019
# # #