Looking back at 2010: State takes over Worcester airport

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This year, the Worcester Business Journal marks its 25th anniversary. In each print edition, we will highlight a major event that took place within the Central Massachusetts business community between 1990 and 2014 and how that event impacts today's business scene.

Later this year, on Oct. 13, we will publish a special 25th Anniversary commemorative edition in which we will look at the companies and business leaders who made a difference in the region, and we'll look ahead to what the coming years could bring.

EVENT: The Massachusetts Port Authority (MassPort) buys Worcester Regional Airport from the city for more than $15 million.

RECAP: As part of what Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray labeled an “integrated” approach to transportation, the state took the airport off the city's hands. The $15 million covered capital and operating costs the city incurred over the previous seven years of airport ownership, debt on the airport's terminal, and costs associated with the airport employees. Before the transfer, the airport had been running an annual deficit of about $3 million.

FAST FORWARD: Following 20 months in which the airport was without a commercial passenger carrier, the MassPort takeover helped bring JetBlue to Central Massachusetts in November 2013. And the state agency has brought in commercial aviation services to the airport. It's also committed to bringing in an advanced instrument landing system that will help cut down on the number of delayed, diverted and canceled flights due to fog at the high-elevation airport.

Looking back to 2002: Building 19 buys Spag's

Looking Back to 2004: The Galleria Mall is sold

Looking back to 1998: Digital Equipment is sold to Compaq

Looking back to 2011: Fidelity ships out of Marlborough