BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BDL) INFORMATION

Bradley International Airport is located about halfway between Hartford, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts, in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. The airport is a public international airport, but it is also the home of the New England Air Museum and the home to the U.S. Air Force’s 103d Airlift Wing of the Connecticut Air National Guard.

Bradley-Hartford International Airport, as it is sometimes called, is the second largest and the second busiest airport in the New England region after Boston Logan International Airport.

Bradley Airport has the IATA code BDL and the ICAO code KBDL and it is owned and operated by Connecticut Airport Authority.

The airport has its origins in the acquisition of land in Windsor Locks by the state of Connecticut in 1940 before the land was turned over to the U.S. Army in 1941 in the preparations for World War II.

The airfield is named after Lt. Eugene M. Brandley who died during a dogfight training drill on August 21, 1941. 24-year old Bradley and his pregnant wife, whom he had married only a few months earlier, had just recently arrived in Connecticut for his training. While voices have been raised to change the name the airport still remains named after Lt. Bradley.

In 1947 the airfield began civil use as Bradley International Airport, eventually replacing Hartford-Brainard Airport as the primary airport for the Hartford area, and 1948 it was deeded to the State of Connecticut for public and commercial use.

The airport grew and in 1960 it handled more than 500k passengers and in 1979 the eastern parts of the airport sustained severe damage when the “Windsor Locks tornado” ripped through it.

In 1986 Terminal A was completed along with the on-airport Sheraton Hotel, which is directly connected to the airport via a corridor. Terminal A handles all domestic flights as well as international departures. The current Terminal B is used exclusively for international arrivals and only has one serving gate.

The airport has been improved and updated over the years and more and more airlines have found their way there with international flights to several different locations in Europe as well as Mexico and other destinations.

The airport has 2 runways, both asphalt, of 2,899 m/9,510 ft and 2,087 m/6,847 ft respectively.

BDL served a total of 2,427,478 passengers in 2020.

Arrivals, Departures and Airlines at Bradley International Airport

• See live flight arrivals information at Bradley International Airport
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• See all airlines and routes that serve Bradley International Airport

Transfers to and from Bradley-Hartford International Airport

Curbside drop-offs and pick-ups – Drivers may stop at curbside outside the terminals to drop off or pick up a passenger without parking the car or leaving it unattended.

Rental Cars – The rental car companies at Bradley International Airport have their offices outside of the airport terminal and a shuttle ride is required to reach their offices. The complimentary shuttles are operated by the companies themselves and operate during their respective opening hours.

Buses – Two bus routes service Bradley Airport through 30-Bradley Flyer - the semi-express shuttle to downtown Hartford and Route 24, the local bus connecting Windsor and Windsor Locks with each other and the airport.

Trains – The Hartford Line and Amtrak trains are servicing the train stations in Windsor, Windsor Locks as well as in Hartford.

Taxis – Taxis are found on curbside at Bradley Airport, on the Arrivals level.

Ride Shares, Limousines and Shuttles – These are arranged on our Bradley Airport transfers page, or through the individual companies’ app or website and passengers may be picked up in specific locations outside the terminal.

Hotels near Bradley International Airport

There are a number of hotels to suit all budgets and requirements at or near Bradley International Airport.

Parking at Bradley-Hartford International Airport

There are several options for parking at Bradley Airport and more than one is located near Terminal A and does not require a shuttle transfer, and two are located in between the two terminals.

The covered Parking Garage is divided into short and long-term parking and it is directly connected with Terminal A through covered bridges on the third floor and via the crosswalk on ground level.

Express Lot 1 as well as Park & Walk Lot 2 are open air parking lots that are located in between the two terminals with only a few minutes’ walk to each terminal. From Park & Walk Lot 2 walking is the only option of transfer from the vehicle to the terminal building, but from Express Lot 1 a complimentary shuttle service offers trunk to trunk luggage assistant as well as the very short drive to the Lot 1 Elevator which connects with the ticketing level of the terminal via the Sheraton Hartford corridor.

Other open air parking lots are available a few minutes’ drive from the terminal with complimentary 24/7 shuttles available for transfer to or from Terminal A.

The Cell Phone Waiting Lot is also located a few minutes’ drive from the terminal making it possible for greeters to wait for the traveler without having to circle around the airport area or pay a parking fee. Instead they can comfortably wait for the traveler to have collected their luggage and are ready for pick-up on curbside.

ATMs and readyStations® at Bradley-Hartford International Airport

There are a total of 6 ATMs/cash machines available in Terminal A with one located on landside on the ticketing level, one is in the Baggage Claim area, and the other four are located in the concourses on airside/post security.

Two readyStations®, cash-to-card-converting machines, are located in the ticketing area of the terminal. Through these machines cash can be converted into a prepaid credit card up to $1,000 for a $5.00 fee.

Currency Exchange at Bradley-Hartford International Airport

There is no currency exchange service available at BDL.

Defibrillators at Bradley-Hartford International Airport

Defibrillators are located in various locations of the terminal, on both landside and airside for use in emergency situations.

Food, Beverage and Shopping at Bradley-Hartford International Airport

BDL is almost like a small mall once past the security control with a great variety of places to eat, drink and shop while waiting to board the departing flight.

There is also a Duty Free Shop named International Shoppes. Only travelers leaving the United States, usually for more than 48 hours, to enter another country are eligible to shop in the Duty Free Shop. Regulations and restrictions of the country of arrival apply.

WiFi at Bradley-Hartford International Airport

Bradley Airport offers free WiFi to their visitors.

Smoking at Bradley-Hartford International Airport

Smoking is prohibited except in the designated smoking areas located outside the terminal.

Pet Relief Areas at Bradley-Hartford International Airport

A total of three pet relief areas are available for traveling pets/service dogs. There is one on each end of the terminal on Baggage Claim level, and one inside once through security.

New England Air Museum at Bradley-Hartford International Airport

As mentioned, Bradley International Airport is also the home to the New England Air Museum, an American aerospace museum consisting of three display hangars, additional storage and restoration hangars. The museum’s collections include aircraft from early flying machines to supersonic jets, engines and other flight-related equipment or pieces.

The Escape Lounge at Bradley-Hartford International Airport

Any passenger can pay to gain access to the Escape Lounge. It is located near Gate 1 and American Express Platinum cardholders have free entry.

Lost and Found at Bradley-Hartford International Airport

For items lost on the airplane or during boarding, please contact the airline. For items lost during the TSA security screening, please contact TSA. For items lost at the airport, please contact the State Police (number listed below) as all found items are handed over to them.

Things to do in Bradley International Airport

There are a number of activities to suit all ages and interests in the region - see a selection of tourist activities in Hartford, Connecticut in the United States of America.

Bradley International Airport Contacts

Address: Bradley International Airport, Schoephoester Rd, Windsor Locks, CT 06096, USA
General Phone: +1 860 292-2000
Lost and Found Phone (State Police): +1 860 292-7400
Official Website: https://bradleyairport.com/

Local Information

Drive on: Right
Electricity: 120V/60Hz
Plug: A, B
Currency: US Dollar, USD, $