This really is new: Northwest to fly Hartford to Amsterdam

Live in New England and want to fly to Europe, but don't want to put up with the airport crowds at New York or Boston? Consider Hartford. Soon, you may be able to.

Northwest Airlines, currently fighting to emerge from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, plans to launch nonstop service from Hartford's Bradley International Airport (BDL) to Amsterdam Schiphol International (AMS) on July 1, 2007, just in time for the height of the tourist season. The service will mark Hartford's only nonstop Eurolink.

Amsterdam is the site of KLM's megahub, from where passengers can connect to the rest of the carrier's globe-girdling route system. Northwest and KLM are comprehensive code-sharing partners.

NW intends to use a specially modified Boeing 757-200 on the route. The narrowbody aircraft will be fitted with special singlets, vertical fins on the end of the wingtips. The devices improve fuel efficiency and thus range. The craft will also be fitted with 16 World Business Class seats up front. The rest of the 144 seats will be economy class.

When service commences, Bradley International will become Northwest's 18th European gateway. The carrier recently announced that it intends to launch nonstop Detroit (DTW) to Brussels (BRU) service on May 7, 2007; and nonstop DTW to Düsseldorf (DUS) flights on June 5, 2007.

© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler

Comments

[boris]

This is why NWA isn't making it. BDL is a small airport. I travel to Europe often and having one flight a day doesn't help. Parking costs at BDL are way too much. Limited Duty Free. Sorry, but it is easier to drive to JFK or BOS.

[Mike]

Where do you live Boris? I'm not trying to be rude, but just becuase BDL doesn't have as much shopping as New York airports and BOS, you say that it's easier to drive three hours (wihout traffic, which you probably know is rare) or 1.5 hours to BOS, when you can be at BDL in about 45 minutes (from where I live in northeastern CT, but it may be a different case for you if you live more south, like on the NY line).

I'm also sorry to tell you, but you were a little wrong on the parking situation. I just looked it up, and long-term parking, in the garage where you can walk right to your terminal is $18 for a daily maximum and only $69 per week (5-7 days).

Parking at JFK is $15, and that's for parking in a lot, where you have to lug all your stuff on a shuttle bus, and sit on it until it reaches your terminal. But, if you're really looking to save money, you could park in BDL's economy lot for only $6 daily and $36 weekly (6-7 days).

I may not travel to Europe often, in fact I've never been to Europe, but if I had to go to Amsterdam, I don't think it would be easier to drive to NYC or BOS because: 1. Parking at JFK is more expensive than BDL, not the other way around. (I was too lazy to check the others though) 2. If I was going all the way to Europe, shopping in the airport wouldn't be that high on my list of priorities, I mean, I could even see you not wanting to make a long connection somewhere with not a lot of stuff to do, but when you leave for the airport, do you plan extra time for shopping?

This was a little excessive, and I probably have some grammar issues, but I'd just like to also say that I think the BDL-AMS route will work, with the most important reason being there's probably enough people to support it, CT has a population of about 3.5 million people, and is right in the middle of one of the largest cities in the world, and one of the larger cities in our country. Again, I apologize for the lengthiness of this post and any spelling/grammar issues I probably have.

[BOURGEY]

I travel NWA/KLM to Schipol about six times a year on business. The stress and expense of going to JFK from CT these days are terrible. A welcome addition to Bradley.

[Ed]

This is great. Duty free? With the value of the dollar being what it is, there are few deals. There are few airports worth spending anytime in, including Boston and JFK. Food, drinks are even more expensive. Great addition.

[deepak]

I travel to India frequently and flying from BDL would be ideal for me as I am in Waterbury and lots of my overseas folks would prefer this flight than go to Newark or JFK. It's just not Europe, it opens up whole travel beyond from Schiphol with KLM.

[Fred]

I've never taken NWA to Europe. Anyone know how the Business Class compares to others? I'm in Western Mass and much prefer using Bradley to JFK or Logan. Very easy getting into and out of.

[Ed . S]

I 100 percent agree with this as a great thing. I normally leave from JFK to go to Ireland (final destination Belfast, Northern Ireland). Now I can leave from Bradley which is 15 minutes from me and just get a cheap connecter flight from Amsterdam to Belfast.

[Eric]

Are you serious? You think driving to NYC or BOS is easier than Bradley? The only reason I could see someone using JFK is Lower Fairfield County, and even then people will drive the 1 hour 15 minutes to BDL for international flights.

You can be dropped off curbside, check-in, and be at the gate within 10-15 minutes, can you do that at JFK or BOS?

The area has enough wealth and corporate presence so this flight should do well, and hopefully in the near future NW will upgrade to Airbus A330s or another carier will step in with service to London or Paris.

[Chris]

I fly from JFK to AMS two to three times per year on business and I can't wait for this route. I live halfway between BDL and JFK, but I'd choose BDL any day over JFK. The parking is easier and cheaper, and the airport is quick and small. It's difficult to say how checking through customs/immigration is going to be, since BDL has mainly been a domestic airport until now (except for Canada flights?). Anything would be better than coming back through Delta's disgusting international terminal at JFK.

[Staci]

I think this route is really going to take off. Being a CT native living in the Netherlands, I plan to use this route regularly. Now we don't need to sit in a car for three or four hours, trekking back to CT after an eight-hour flight!

Besides leisure passengers there are also many Dutch businesses nearby BDL that will welcome this route.

I'm not so sure about the comfort level of a 757-200, but if this route pays off, I can image KLM/NWA putting a A330 on the route.

Our maiden voyage is coming up soon, it will be nice to finally fly direct after 13 years!

[jesse]

My other half and I just booked a trip to Paris and Amsterdam for the Thanksgiving holiday. We are looking forward to flying out of Bradley rather than the other big three. We paid 600 for each of us. The cheapest out of the other big three was almost 700 and up. When you figure in the huge parking and travel costs, Bradley makes the most sense. I hope Europe service is expanded to include London, Frankfurt, and Paris.

[Danielle Scheltens]

I'm a Dutch native living in Guilford, CT, and travel to Holland frequently. Just took my first trip Bradley-AMS with my two children and loved it. It took two hours off my usual travel time from New Haven to Newark, JFK or La Guardia. Plenty of leg space on the aircraft, too.

[chantha son]

I was kind of skeptical about this. Why would NWA put Hartford to AMS nonstop? With a small plane? Do you know if the flight will fill up and convert to a 330? Transatlantic on a 757? But it is easier than driving to BOS or JFK. Maybe Hartford will become a bigger international hub in the times to come?

[Darren]

I'm flying the BDL-AMS flight next week and can't wait to just drive 20 minutes to Bradley. For the first time, I won't have to drive three plus hours to JFK, wait for an air tram to the terminal from long-term parking (which constantly breaks down), wait endlessly to be checked in, wait endlessly again to go through security, pay an arm and a leg for a bite to eat, then, upon my return, pay a fortune for parking and then fight rush hour traffic from NYC through Connecticut! Thank God for the new BDL-AMS service! It'll pay off.

[jesse]

We flew the BDL-AMS flight over Thanksgiving. Although an upgrade to an A330 would be great, the convenience of flying from BDL made up for any drawbacks. Checking in and to gate at BDL was less than 15 minutes and we were in the air in about 15 minutes after pushback. On the return it was less than 30 minutes from touchdown, through customs, get luggage and out the door. The plane was full as well. A good sign. I read the first post on this thread from Boris and I started to hear the Twilight Zone theme playing!

[jdb]

Also a Dutch native living in Guilford. Take Bradley anytime over Boston or New York. Use an airport/plane to get from A to B fast and not for overpriced shopping. Stress-free boarding and re-entering the USA.