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April 16, 2018

American to fly daily from Worcester to Philadelphia

Photo/Courtesy American's announcement of a new flight between Worcester and Philadelphia comes a month before JetBlue begins flights to and from New York.

American Airlines will become the third airline to fly commercial out of Worcester Regional Airport when it launches its daily service to Philadelphia International Airport in October.

Flights will depart Worcester at 9:30 a.m. and arrive in Philadelphia at 10:39 a.m, and return trips will leave Philadelphia at 8:00 a.m. and arrive in Worcester at 9:05 a.m.

The new destination is the fourth with year-round service for Worcester. Currently, JetBlue flies to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and flights to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York begins next month.

Rectrix Aviation began seasonal flights to Hyannis last summer, and the company previously said it plans to fly to Baltimore/Washington, but that route has never been officially announced.

“What an incredible convenience and asset this is,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who made the announcement to reporters and public officials on April 9.

Polito cited a report saying the airport is expected to generate more than $369 million in economic activity over the next 10 years, including the 187 new jobs created by the expanded airport and its $61-million payroll.

“What an impact that has on the central region,” Polito said.

More destinations

American's flights will be on the 50-seat Embraer 145 beginning Oct. 4, said Jason Reisinger, managing director American's Global Network Planning.

“The new services provides access to the City of Brotherly Love and with a convenient arrival time, further connections to 115 destinations and 20 countries,” Reisinger said.

MassPort CEO Thomas Glynn said the agency took ownership of the airport in 2010 because of the connectivity opportunities the airport brings.

“The introduction of American Airlines service to Philadelphia is a clear dividend of that investment and we look forward to seeing what new opportunities this brings to and from Central Massachusetts,” Glynn said.

Signs of a city on the move

The service not only provides transportation for tourists, but also the business community, said Timothy Murray, president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“The daily connection provides access to a whole bunch of companies,” Murray said, commenting on the parallels of Philadelphia to Worcester and Central Massachusetts.

Murray, speaking after Mayor Joseph Petty and City Manager Ed Augustus, said the new service underscores the city's forward progress.

“As the city manager and mayor said, this really reinforces that there is momentum underway,” he said.

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