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Nominee Sebastian Lombardi Praises Bradley Projects as Committee Leaves Vote Open
Summary
The Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee heard Sebastian Lombardi’s renomination to the Connecticut Airport Authority on April 1. Lombardi highlighted recent investments at Bradley International and a push for direct service to London; the committee moved the nomination and left the roll call open until 3 p.m.
The Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee on April 1 heard the renomination of Sebastian Lombardi of Simsbury to the Connecticut Airport Authority board of directors and left the committee vote open until 3 p.m., the panel announced.
Lombardi, who has served on the authority since May 2021, told the committee he is “honored” to be renominated and outlined ongoing projects at Bradley International Airport, including a recently opened ground transportation center and a multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar terminal upgrade intended to add gates and improve passenger flow.
The nomination matters because the Connecticut Airport Authority oversees Bradley International and five general aviation airports across the state, which Lombardi said support jobs, emergency services and business travel. Committee members questioned Lombardi about economic studies and financing for a proposed nonstop route to London Heathrow and about funding for general aviation airports.
Sebastian Lombardi, the nominee, described his four years on the board and the authority’s recent work. He said the ground transportation center “took more than 260,000 shuttle trips off the road each year” and cited a roughly $250 million investment in the terminal that will add gates and change passenger circulation. He said Bradley now offers more than 45 nonstop destinations and was named among the top 10 U.S. airports for the eighth straight year.
On the proposed London service, Lombardi said a study identified roughly 250 passengers per day within Bradley’s service area who would use such a route and that the authority is seeking a $15 million revenue‑guarantee bond authorization over two years to attract an airline. “Without the revenue guarantee, this is not something that’s likely to happen,” Lombardi told the committee.
Members pressed Lombardi about safety, general aviation funding and outreach. Committee Chair Chairman Duff praised the authority’s work and noted Bradley’s recovery to near pre‑pandemic passenger levels. Lombardi said he has served on the authority’s Human Resources and Governance Committee and on the search committee that recommended the current executive director.
On funding for general aviation airports, Lombardi said the system faces uncertainty because a user fee applied to aviation fuel that helped fund those airports is currently on a two‑year tax holiday. He told the committee that without a stable revenue stream the authority’s planned capital projects for general aviation airports are at risk.
A motion to approve the nomination was made by Representative Godfrey and seconded by Chairman Duff. The clerk called the roll and several members recorded “yes” votes during the transcript, but the committee formally left the roll open until 3 p.m. for any remaining votes.
The hearing concluded with committee members expressing support for Lombardi’s renomination and for the authority’s work on customer experience and economic development. Lombardi said he would be “honored to serve another four years” if confirmed.
