Latest news with #Manchester-BostonRegionalAirport
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Malafronte to be nominated as next director at Manchester airport
Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais this week will nominate Tom Malafronte to serve as the next airport director at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. The nomination is expected to be made at Tuesday's meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, which begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Malafronte has been serving as deputy director of the airport since 2015, and as acting airport director since early April. Ted Kitchens announced in March that he would be leaving his post as director of aviation on April 4. Malafronte has been with MHT for 35 years, serving in seven different roles. In addition to deputy director, Malafronte has served as manager of airport operations and facilities, assistant director of air service development, marketing and public relations. Ruais said Malafronte started as a maintenance specialist doing everything from "inspecting aircrafts to operating snowplows for the runways," working his way up to deputy director. "He is a foundational guy who knows the airport from top to bottom," Ruais said. "That type of experience is hard to come by these days and is deeply valued. Tom is also a true aviation professional with broad knowledge of the industry. He has my full support as our new director. "I am confident he is the right person to the lead MHT at this time.' Kitchens guided the airport through the pandemic and helped draw new airlines to Manchester in recent years. 'I have accomplished the goals that I had when I arrived six years ago: the airport is financially stable; we have been able to attract new air service for the airport, as exemplified by the recent commitment made by JetBlue; and to build organizational resiliency that enabled us to not only survive the pandemic, but to come out of the period in a stronger situation,' Kitchens said in his resignation letter to city officials. Kitchens was the highest-paid city employee, earning nearly $250,000 in Fiscal Year 2023. That same year Malafronte was paid $158,993. Ruais praised what Kitchens accomplished for Manchester. Kitchens 'has attracted five airlines, constructed a 64,000-square-foot cargo warehouse used by Amazon that created 300 full-time jobs for Manchester residents, tripled the amount of federal funding for capital development projects, diversified airport revenue streams, and restructured 70% of its long-term debt,' the mayor said in a statement. 'His tenure will be most remembered for bringing JetBlue to the airport, along with its $48 million investment,' Ruais said. Kitchens said he plans to 'pursue new horizons and turn the airport over to new management to build upon the sound foundation that exists.' 'New leadership can bring a new vision and strategies that will continue the Airport on its current positive trajectory,' Kitchens wrote. In May the Department of Business and Economic Affairs honored Kitchens with its Collaborator of the Year award at its annual tourism summit. The award, presented by Commissioner Taylor Caswell, recognizes strong commitment and exceptional support to the state in advancing tourism and economic development. 'Ted provides a great example of how vision turns into reality,' Caswell said. 'Beyond attracting five airlines to the airport, he successfully led Manchester-Boston Regional Airport through a pandemic and poised it for further growth.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NH lawmaker sues Avelo over ICE deportation flights, First Amendment rights
A Democratic state representative from Dover is suing Avelo Airlines after the carrier agreed to operate U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation flights on behalf of the Trump administration. After Rep. Seth Miller started a campaign to boycott the airline and paid for billboards to go up outside a Connecticut airport urging travelers to 'Just say AvelNO!' the company sent him a cease-and-desist letter threatening thousands of dollars in fines if they were not taken down. After the advertising company Miller paid to display the billboards took them down, he filed a lawsuit claiming his First Amendment rights were violated. 'Avelo is free to disagree with Miller, to criticize him, and to advocate its position to the public,' the lawsuit states. 'It is free to call Miller a naif, a fool, or worse. But it is not free to use baseless threats of litigation to suppress Miller's criticism.' After Avelo agreed to operate ICE deportation flights (which have already begun, the company said), Miller started a campaign to boycott the airline, which offers flights from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport to the Carolinas. Just arrived Ground crew members prepare to unload Avelo's inaugural flight from Raleigh-Durham to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in June 2023. Miller, who represents Strafford District 21 in the House, raised enough money — $6,000 — to pay for two billboards to go up in New Haven, Connecticut, a busy hub for the airline, including one adjacent to the Tweed-New Haven Airport. Court documents show the billboards contain an altered image of a tail of an Avelo plane and say, 'Does your vacation support their deportation? Just say AvelNO!' Avelo sent Miller a cease-and-desist letter four days after the billboards first appeared, claiming trademark and copyright infringement and demanding the billboards be removed or else he could face up to $150,000 in fines. In response, Miller filed a lawsuit this week in federal court in Nevada against Avelo (where the airline is incorporated) claiming the messaging on the billboards is protected free speech and doesn't infringe on trademarks. Court documents show a letter was also sent by Avelo's lawyers to Lamar Advertising, the company Miller paid for the billboards, 'threatening them with liability.' The billboards were taken down by Lamar Advertising shortly after receiving the letter. In the letter to Miller, Avelo writes, 'Given your clear familiarity with Avelo and its trademarks, the blatant use of our client's trademarks and trade dress with 'The AvelNo! campaign' and associated websites, billboards, and marketing material, constitutes deliberate and willful trademark infringement and unfair competition.' 'The billboard display outside the Tweed-New Haven airport is a deliberate attempt to interfere with Avelo's air transportation services because, as you are undoubtedly aware, New Haven is Avelo's hub for east coast flights,' the letter states. 'Thus, the appropriation of the AVELO house mark and targeting of Avelo's customers directly affects our client's ability to offer and render its services to current and prospective consumers. 'We have already been notified of instances of actual confusion wherein consumers have mistakenly believed that the billboard is sponsored or affiliated with Avelo, demonstrating that confusion is not only likely but inevitable.' The lawsuit asks the court to declare Miller hasn't violated Avelo's copyright and trademark, and allow the public to continue seeing Miller's messaging as protected free speech. 'Miller's speech cannot possibly infringe Avelo's marks because it is entitled to protection under the Rogers First Amendment test — Miller's speech does not function as a trademark, it clearly mocks Avelo's trademark, and it is therefore paradigmatic protected speech,' the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit goes on to say Miller's speech 'could not possibly have confused any reasonable person about the source of airline passenger service.' A spokesperson for Avelo on Friday said the airline had no comment on the lawsuit. 'Avelo's main priority will continue to be maintaining the safety and timeliness of our operation for our customers,' the spokesperson said in an email. A request for comment from ICE was not immediately returned Friday.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Travelers passing through Manchester airport fly through security on first day of Real ID
Darcie Wigfall of Salem didn't have any delays getting through airport security for her girls trip to Florida on Wednesday. With a Real-ID compliant and newly designed New Hampshire driver's license, she sailed through the Transportation Security Administration's checkpoint at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. It was the first day every traveler 18 or older was required to have a Real ID or passport, or face extra screening to fly within the U.S. For Wigfall and most others, it was a breeze, even with the redesigned IDs, which gave some TSA agents scanning troubles in other parts of the country since the new licenses rolled out in January. Wigfall gave a thumbs-up as a TSA agent quickly checked her in, just as fast as one of her companions who all had Real IDs. 'They better not (have difficulties). Not today,' Wigfall said of the new license before going through security. 'They better not give me a hard time.' They didn't. Nor did TSA agents in Orlando, Florida, give a hard time to Gilford's Becky Orton, who flew back to New Hampshire on Wednesday morning without a Real ID-compliant driver's license. Orton made it with only a brief pause for extra screening, which was mostly just security agents swabbing her hands while verifying she was who she said she was. 'I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but they just pulled me aside and basically swabbed my palms,' Orton said. 'That was it. I gave my license. Oh, and they called me non-compliant.' How long did it take? 'Two seconds,' Orton said. Before coming home though, Orton did do her due diligence by having her passport mailed to Florida because she anticipated extra scrutiny flying back the day Real ID enforcement went into effect. Sadly, her passport didn't arrive in time, but thankfully it wasn't a big deal, she said. Nearly everyone who came through Manchester-Boston Regional Airport had a mostly normal experience Wednesday, said Elizabeth Selecky, federal security director for the TSA in New Hampshire. 'We've had a really strong showing of folks who are arriving with compliant IDs. Initially, it started out in the morning around 98% compliant, and we're still hovering around the 90% area,' Selecky around 12:30 p.m. Passing the test in NH John Marasco, the state's Division of Motor Vehicles director, said earlier this week the TSA informed him 62% of the credential authentication technology scanners had been upgraded nationwide. The other 38% of machines are expected to be able to accept the state's new licenses by May 12, he said. The Department of Homeland Security certified New Hampshire's new design as compliant on March 27. The CAT scanner upgrades were given priority in Manchester and the state's two other commercial airports in Portsmouth and Lebanon. Some problems have persisted at other smaller airports scattered around the U.S., and some Granite Staters coming into Boston Logan International Airport had reported scanners rejecting the new licenses earlier this year. Last week, the DMV and TSA tried to assure residents anyone with the new licenses or state-issued IDs should be able to travel without long delays. Both urged residents to bring a passport just in case. Public awareness pays off Not only has the DMV executed a media blitz for the last year to make sure residents understood how, why and when they should get a Real ID, the TSA did its part as well. Leading up to the deadline, Selecky and officials from the Manchester airport and Londonderry Police had a table near the entrance to the TSA checkpoint with games and information for travelers to help make something as mundane as having the proper ID fun and engaging for the public, she said. 'Because people were traveling out ahead of the kickoff date, they'd be traveling back after Real ID enforcement went fully into effect. So, it was just a good opportunity to answer those questions ahead of kickoff,' Selecky said. She said most travelers were well-informed and already had compliant IDs. Safety in the air The Real ID Act came about after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The goal of the program was to establish national safety standards and be able to verify the identities of anyone flying commercially or entering a federal building or nuclear power plant. Selecky said the bottom line is public safety. 'It's an additional layer of security and also something where it helps ensure that people are who they say they are,' she said. For more information about the Real ID, visit dpierce@
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Yahoo
Avelo flight from Manchester reports laser strike
The crew of an Avelo Airlines flight out of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport reported seeing a blue laser about 15 miles into a flight on Friday night. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the report, which happened around 9:40 p.m. on Avelo Flight 1170 from Manchester to Concord, North Carolina. The flight continued on safely without injuries or incident. Pilots reported 12,840 laser strikes in 2024, FAA officials said via email on Sunday. 'While that is a 3% decrease from 2023, the numbers are still too high,' officials said. Anyone caught interfering with a flight by shining lasers at an airplane could face a fine up to $11,000 per violation and up to $30,800 for multiple incidents, according to the FAA. Violators can also face up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, as well as state and local penalties, officials said. To report a laser strike on an aircraft, visit or contact your local law enforcement. dpierce@
Boston Globe
13-02-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
In New Hampshire, Manchester works to remake its reputation
Lang is part of a growing movement of city leaders, Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up In recent years, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport last year recently ranked Manchester as the Advertisement But it is unclear how long it might take to wash away decades of bad feelings about Manchester. The battle over the city's reputation was highlighted in New Hampshire's recent gubernatorial race when former mayor of Manchester Joyce Craig, a Democrat, ran against now-Governor Kelly Ayotte, a Republican. Ayotte and Advertisement 'Manchester took it on the chin in the election cycle,' said Scott Spradling, a longtime political reporter for WMUR who now runs a PR consulting business. He said Ayotte's attacks were not a fair depiction of the city where he works and has lived. 'The challenges that we face are not unique to a city of this size,' he said, voicing a common refrain among the city's cheerleaders. On a recent afternoon, even in the dead of winter, the major business district on Elm Street was lively – a significant change from just a few decades ago when locals said many storefronts on the street were boarded up. Families ambled around with kids in tow, people squeezed in a workout at a local gym, and workers clutched plastic bags of takeout gyros, Thai, and Halal food as they headed back to their jobs after a lunch break. Manchester, NH. 01/09/25 - At Dishon Bakery, owner Evan Lang (cq) pops loaves of bread into the oven. Manchester leaders hope to improve the reputation of their city with a rebranding effort. (Lane Turner/Globe Staff) Reporter: (Amanda Gokee) Topic: (xxnhmanchester) Lane Turner/Globe Staff Manchester, NH. 01/09/25 - The colorful paint of Margaritas Mexican Restaurant brightens Elm Street. Manchester leaders hope to improve the reputation of their city with a rebranding effort. (Lane Turner/Globe Staff) Reporter: (Amanda Gokee) Topic: (xxnhmanchester) Lane Turner/Globe Staff There were still some signs of hardship. A group of weather-worn men huddled near a shopping cart piled with possessions. The homeless rate in Manchester was three times higher than in other parts of New Hampshire, a With $1.5 million in federal COVID relief funds, city officials renewed marketing efforts that had been dormant since the mid-2000s. In 2023, they launched a survey to see what people's perceptions of Manchester were, and discovered those within the community held the worst views of the city. 'Dangerous,' 'unsafe," 'run-down,' and 'outdated' were among top responses from community members describing Manchester in the survey. Asked how others from the region would describe the city, crime and bad news topped the list, followed by the large unhoused population. Advertisement A homeless person in Veteran's Memorial Park on April 22, 2023, in Manchester, N.H. Andrew Burke-Stevenson for The Boston Globe Andrew Burke-Stevenson/Andrew Burke-Stevenson for The Boston Globe 'One of the things we struggled with was our civic pride, despite The city is also using its marketing budget on branding efforts such as developing a The stereotype they're working to undo has been around for a long time. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, New Hampshire was mostly farm and forest. Emily C. Walton, a sociology professor at Dartmouth College, said there has long been a stigma against cities among residents of more-rural areas, who associate them with vices and crime. Manchester, NH. 01/09/25 - Long buildings stretch out on Commercial Street. Manchester leaders hope to improve the reputation of their city with a rebranding effort. (Lane Turner/Globe Staff) Reporter: (Amanda Gokee) Topic: (xxnhmanchester) Lane Turner/Globe Staff Manchester, NH. 01/09/25 - Traffic flows on I-293 past the Merrimack River and the Manchester skyline. Manchester leaders hope to improve the reputation of their city with a rebranding effort. (Lane Turner/Globe Staff) Reporter: (Amanda Gokee) Topic: (xxnhmanchester) Lane Turner/Globe Staff Manchester was also a manufacturing city that attracted immigrants like the Irish and French Canadians, whose accents and religions were different from other residents. The tensions were so severe that a violent mob of American-born citizens 'It's a huge culture clash,' said Mark Hayward, a Manchester resident and former longtime Union Leader reporter. 'The rest of the state is white and old and rich,' he said, while Manchester is diverse, young, energetic, and home to Advertisement Anna Brown, a resident, remembers derogatory nicknames for Manchester from her childhood. Growing up in the neighboring town of Londonderry, 'We absolutely called it 'Manchvegas' all the time,' she said. Londonderry is significantly whiter, with a median income almost twice that of Manchester. Now, Brown finds herself coming to the city's defense. 'There's this, like, hostility toward Manchester that I really feel is unwarranted.' Local leaders are concerned that a negative perception could deter visitors, new residents, or investors. Residents and officials say the focus on the city's shortcomings ignores the city's progress. 'By every objective measure Manchester, NH. 01/09/25 - Sandwich Boards line Elm Street. Manchester leaders hope to improve the reputation of their city with a rebranding effort. (Lane Turner/Globe Staff) Reporter: (Amanda Gokee) Topic: (xxnhmanchester) Lane Turner/Globe Staff Manchester, NH. 01/09/25 - City Hall. Manchester leaders hope to improve the reputation of their city with a rebranding effort. (Lane Turner/Globe Staff) Reporter: (Amanda Gokee) Topic: (xxnhmanchester) Lane Turner/Globe Staff During the year he has been in office, Ruais said, he focused on the big issues: homelessness, addiction, mental health, the cleanliness of the downtown. He believes there's evidence the city is turning things around: he noted that 707 housing units are under active construction, there has been a housing through a city effort called the Engagement Center. But the city's negative image persists, according to Spradling, the business consultant. 'You still hear some of that stereotypical kind of attack on the city: Don't go downtown. It's super dangerous. There's too many homeless… It's a violent city,' he said. 'Honestly, I don't think it's fair.' Looking back, Ayotte insists her campaign messaging was in-bounds, focused on her opponent's record, rather than the city of Manchester itself. 'Manchester is obviously, as our largest city, such an important city. I believe in Manchester. I have a lot of pride,' she said. 'I was pretty clear about that on the campaign trail, but the things we discussed were really about the failure of leadership of my opponent on those issues in the city, and that was, I think, a fair discussion.' Advertisement For Lang, opening his bakery downtown was ultimately the right move. He said he already has a loyal customer base of people who enjoy his gluten-free treats. And he said the negative chatter has done little to tarnish his perception of Manchester, a city he believes is only getting better. 'We absolutely love it here,' he said. 'I think we got here at the right time.' The Merrimack River flows through Manchester, N.H. Lane Turner/Globe Staff Amanda Gokee can be reached at
