Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | April 27, 2020 | Worcester Business Journal 7 Worcester airport will rebound from COVID-19 F L AS H P O L L Will the Worcester Regional Airport recover its full complement of airlines and flights once the coronavirus pandemic has passed? Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, Worcester Regional Airport was slowly adding more airlines and direct flights, with three carriers offering five direct flights. However, after the COVID-19 social distancing restrictions hit, the carrier with the most flights, JetBlue Airways, requested to temporarily suspend its service in Worcester. The U.S. Department of Transportation denied the request, but JetBlue still eliminated its direct flights to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando and its direct flight to New York City was booking at 15% capacity. When polled online, nearly two-thirds of WBJ readers said the airport will return to its pre-pandemic levels. Yes, the airport was trending up before the crisis. 29% Yes, as long as it keeps improving its infrastructure and systems. 36% 12% No, since the airport was struggling to fill flights before the crisis. No, because the airline industry will be significantly changed after the crisis passes. 23% Closer Coverage SM means more value, delivered with a personal touch. It's easier to protect a customer when you can see them from your window. That's how we work, too. We live and work in the same communities your clients do, so our local underwriters understand their needs firsthand. At Acadia Insurance, our consultative experts listen first and are ready to help by providing fast, responsive service, tailored coverage, and a consistent appetite. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WORKING WITH ACADIA INSURANCE, VISIT US ONLINE: AC ADIAINSURANCE.COM JetBlue stopped flights to the two Florida cities, and the flights to JFK are booked to 15% capacity. JetBlue's request, filed in early April, pointed to significant financial concerns in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which air travel has all but halted. While the airline is currently bringing in $1 million a day, during April 2019 the company was accruing $22 million a day. Maine vet lab buys Grafton site for $7M Idexx Laboratories, a Maine-based veterinary diagnostics and water testing provider, has paid more than $7 million to buy its 30,000-square-foot Graon site. Idexx bought the site it was leasing from a limited liability corporation registered to Giannandrea Verri of Boston. Verri is a co-founder and principal of ree 33 Properties, a real estate manager and developer in Gloucester. e deal closed Feb. 26. Mass. unemployment funds are half depleted Initial unemployment claims in Massachusetts remained at crisis levels last week but fell 22%, the third straight weekly drop. e unprecedented surge in claims has already forced the state to use more than half of its unemployment insurance fund, which stood at more than $1.6 billion at the start of March. e fund was down to $748 million through April 16, a drop of 54%. For the week ending April 18, there were 80,345 new unemployment claims made. at was a drop of roughly 23,000 from the prior week. In the last five weeks, 651,862 Massachusetts workers have filed unemployment claims – equal to about 18% of the state's workforce. Auburn automotive building sells for $2.8M A limited liability corporation registered to the general manager of Motorsports International has bought the company's Route 20 site in Auburn for just under $2.8 million. e buyer is Jeremy Wentworth, the company's general manager. COMMENTS: "And, it still needs better marketing across a wider geography and to promote some of its advantages like the cost of parking and short lines. Covered parking or a garage right there will also be great to add to it and a bus to Union Station and even Springfield and Providence!" A JetBlue airplane at Worcester Regional Airport W

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