Our Review of Hartford Bradley Airport (BLD)

Our Review of Hartford Bradley Airport (BLD)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides, since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this Guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Hartford Bradley Airport (BLD)

Pros

• Efficient Car Rental Process: The airport features a modern Ground Transportation Center with all major rental companies (Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, etc.), making pick-up and drop-off fast and convenient. Facilities are adapted for travelers with reduced mobility and operate with extended hours.
• Affordable and Direct Public Transport: CTtransit’s 30-Bradley Flyer bus offers a direct, low-cost ($2–$4) connection to downtown Hartford in under 30 minutes, making it a budget-friendly option for solo travelers.
• Strategic Location: BDL is conveniently located about 16 minutes from downtown Hartford and 30 minutes from Springfield, MA, making it ideal for accessing central Connecticut and western Massachusetts.
• Wide Range of Destinations: The airport offers nonstop flights to over 40 destinations, including major US hubs and some international cities, with service from leading airlines.
• Traveler-Friendly Facilities: The airport is open overnight, has a connected hotel (Sheraton), and provides amenities like free Wi-Fi, charging stations, and accessible parking, enhancing passenger comfort.

Cons

• Limited Train Access: There is no direct rail link at the airport; the nearest station (Windsor Locks) is three miles away and only accessible by local bus on weekdays, which can be inconvenient for travelers relying on trains.
• Taxi and Private Transfer Costs: Taxi fares to Hartford are relatively high ($80–$100), and private transfers can cost $120–$180, making these options expensive compared to public transport.
• Limited Late-Night Dining: Most restaurants and shops close by early evening, so late-night travelers may find food and shopping options limited12.
• Occasional Rental Car Issues: Some travelers report receiving rental cars with minor damage or cleanliness issues, though the return process is generally smooth.
• Peak-Time Congestion: During busy travel seasons, security lines and baggage claim can become crowded, leading to longer wait times and potential delays1011.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Bradley International Airport (BDL) is the busiest airport in Connecticut and the second busiest in New England after Boston Logan. Located in Windsor Locks, it’s about halfway between Hartford, CT, and Springfield, MA, making it a strategic hub for the region.

Terminals & Layout

BDL has one main terminal (Terminal A), split into two concourses:

• East Concourse (Gates 1–12):Serves Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest.
• West Concourse (Gates 20–30):Hosts American, Frontier, Spirit, and United.
  The third floor houses administrative offices. The old Terminal B (Murphy Terminal) was closed and demolished; international arrivals now use a dedicated customs building.

Airlines & Destinations

The airport’s main airlines are Southwest, Delta, JetBlue, and American, which together account for over 75% of passenger traffic.
BDL offers nonstop flights to more than 40 destinations, including Atlanta, Chicago, Orlando, Miami, Denver, Dublin, and Toronto.
Tip: Mondays are the busiest day for departures—arrive early if you fly then.

Transportation Options

• Bus:CTtransit’s 30-Bradley Flyer connects the airport to downtown Hartford in about 28 minutes for $2–$4. Buses depart from Terminal A’s arrivals level, door #6, every hour.
• Taxi:Taxi ranks are outside Terminal A. A ride to Hartford takes about 16 minutes and costs $80–$100.
• Car Rental:All major companies are in the Ground Transportation Center, a short covered walk from the terminal.
• Towncar/Private Transfer:Pre-booked towncars cost $120–$180 and are ideal for business or group travel.
• Driving:The airport is 15 miles from Hartford; parking is available on site with several options.

Facilities & Services

• Free Wi-Fi, charging stations, and water refill points throughout the terminal.
• Dining and shopping options are available both pre- and post-security, though late-night options are limited.
• The New England Air Museum is nearby for aviation enthusiasts.

Final Notes

Bradley International is efficient, easy to navigate, and well-connected, making it a smart choice for both business and leisure travelers in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Hartford-Bradley Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Hartford-Bradley Airport (last month)