Hanscom Field and Tradewind Aviation, a regional boutique airline, are launching new commercial flights from Bedford to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket starting Thursday.
Tradewind has sold more than 300 seats for routes to and from Hanscom. The three daily round trips from each island will run through Sept. 14. One-way flights run from about $300 to $500 and last roughly 40 minutes.
David Zipkin, the airline’s cofounder and chief commercial officer, said Tradewind is different from other airlines. Instead of driving to Logan, clearing security, checking bags, and waiting hours, Tradewind allows fliers to arrive 30 minutes before departure and skip security lines, though the airline still screens customers.
“You aren’t dealing with the friction or hassle of an airline,” Zipkin said. “The market has been there, and it’s been underserved.”
Typically, when flying short distances, “you’re spending more time in the airport than in the air,” Zipkin said.
For these new routes, Tradewind operates two carbon-neutral airplanes. Each one holds a maximum of eight passengers.
To be carbon neutral, Tradewind has a partnership with 4AIR, a sustainability and consultancy firm, which helps it contribute to wind farm and forestry projects.
Travelers from Hanscom will check luggage with airline staff and depart from a private terminal. Passengers who embark through Nantucket can access the airline’s exclusive lounge. Tradewind is building out another lounge at Hanscom, Zipkin said.
The airline’s service will help connect frequent fliers to tech and business companies near I-95, said Christopher Willenborg, airport director at Hanscom Field.
Tradewind flies private charter and scheduled commercial flights out of the Northeast, Southeast, and the Caribbean. It’s operated since 2001 and is headquartered in Oxford, Conn.
In past years, some airlines offered commercial flights at Hanscom Field, but no major carriers currently operate. The field serves two flight schools, collegiate sports teams, private business charters, and military transport. It shares airspace with an adjacent US Air Force base.
A plan to build an additional hangar, office, and research spaces at Hanscom has been on hold since the fall, as the developer reviews the project in light of environmental regulatory hurdles amid strong community opposition.
Redmond Bernhold can be reached at redmond.bernhold@globe.com.