Seaplane flights from NYC’s East River to suburban DC start next month
There will soon be a new way to travel the congested southern portion of the Northeast Corridor.
Tailwind Air is launching amphibious seaplane flights between New York's East River and Maryland's historic College Park Airport (CGS), which is located just outside of Washington, D.C.
The flights start Sept. 13 and will be operated using eight-seat Cessna Grand Caravans with floats attached, though those won't be needed for arrival to landlocked College Park.
Tailwind launched service between the East River and Boston Harbor last year. With the new flight, Tailwind will serve the entire Northeast Corridor. It's also selling one-stop through tickets between Boston and Washington with a stop in New York.
Flights on the NYC to D.C. route are on sale from $395 one-way, and Tailwind is running a free companion ticket promotion. Tickets purchased through Sept. 10 for flights departing between Sept. 31 and Dec. 21 are eligible for a free companion ticket when using the code "TWDCBOGO," though some restrictions apply.
Flights between New York (SkyPort Marina at the eastern end of 23rd Street) and College Park Airport — which is walking distance from the Green Line on Washington's Metro system and about a 30-minute drive from the U.S. Capitol — will take between 80 and 90 minutes. The flight will operate between one and two daily round trips.
"Adding College Park, in the Washington, D.C., area to us is an exciting next chapter for us as we aim to bring the Northeast together again in a faster way," Peter Manice, Tailwind's director of scheduled services told TPG in an interview.
College Park Airport, which is also near the main campus of the University of Maryland, is the world's oldest continually-operating airport, having seen its first operations in 1909. Its single runway is very short — just 2,607 feet — which could mean possible weight restrictions on the hottest of summer days, Manice said, though he was generally unconcerned about any significant operational impacts.
Manice, who is also a co-founder of Tailwind, sees the seaplane route as a viable competitor to rail service, particularly Amtrak's popular high-speed Acela Express.
More: The new seaplane service between New York and Boston on Tailwind Air
"We think it's going to be considerably faster than anything that Acela can do, or that the commercial air airlines can do — very similar to what we do up in Boston," he said. Most Acela trains between New York's Penn Station and Washington's Union Station take just under three hours.
The airspace around D.C. is heavily restricted for security reasons, an issue that foiled Tailwind's original plans to land in the Potomac River. But that won't upend its latest plan to fly to the Maryland suburbs, according to Manice.
He said that the operator worked with the Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration to obtain the necessary clearances to operate into and out of College Park. Manice also added that Tailwind is not giving up on its Potomac aspirations.
"One day we'll be in the water in the Potomac, hopefully," he said.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.