Philadelphia International Airport

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For the ISO abbreviation, see the Philippines.

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Philadelphia International Airport (IATA: PHL, ICAO: KPHL, FAA LID: PHL) is an airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley region. It is presently the 9th busiest airport in the world in terms of aircraft activity[1]. The airport is the primary international hub of US Airways and has service to destinations in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe.

Most of the airport property is located in Philadelphia proper. The international terminal and the western end of the airfield are located in Tinicum Township, Delaware County.

History

Airport as seen from Fort Mifflin

Starting in 1925, the Pennsylvania Air National Guard used the PHL site (historically known as Hog Island) as a training field for its pilots. The site was dedicated as the "Philadelphia Municipal Airport" by Charles Lindbergh in 1927. However, there was no proper terminal building until 1940, so airlines used an airfield in nearby Camden, New Jersey. Once the terminal was completed, four airlines (American, Eastern, TWA, and United) started flights to the airport. Philadelphia Municipal became Philadelphia International in 1945, when American Overseas Airlines began flights to Europe.

US Airways became the dominant carrier at PHL through the 1980s and 1990s and shifted the majority of its hub operations from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia in 2003. In 2004, Southwest Airlines announced it would begin flights from PHL, challenging US Airways in some of the major's important north-south and transcontinental markets.

Today, Philadelphia International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world and among the fastest growing in the United States. Its status as a US Airways hub and the growth of Southwest Airlines and other low-cost carriers has helped passenger traffic to reach record levels. In 2004, a total of 28,507,420 passengers flew through Philadelphia, up 15.5% over 2003.[1] In 2005, 31,502,855 passengers flew through PHL, marking a 10% increase since 2004. [2]

Such growth has not come without difficulties. There are questions as to how much more passenger growth can occur. PHL's present terminal and runway configuration are reaching full utilization, leading to congestion and flight delays. Additionally, the airport's parking facilities have been severely taxed. Complete exhaustion of all parking at the airport has become a regular occurrence.[3] However, airport officials have ambitious plans for terminal and runway expansion to resolve these issues.

PHL's fastest growing airline, Southwest, is currently working with the city and the airport to construct an expansion and improvement to its facilities. The new construction includes a joint ticket counter lobby for the D and E terminals, One large security check point for the two terminals, additional concessions, and an eventual hammerhead expansion to the E concourse. While construction on some of these projects has already begun, completion is slated for 2008-2009. More immediate growth plans for Southwest include an additional baggage service office in the D terminal, and in early 2008, taking over 5 gates used by Delta Air Lines in the E terminal, when Delta moves to A East.

Economic Impact

Philadelphia International Airport is important to Philadelphia, its metropolitan region and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth's Aviation Bureau reported in its Pennsylvania Air Service Monitor that the total economic impact made by the state's airports in 2004 was $22 billion. PHL alone accounted for $14 billion or 63% of total. The calculations include both direct spending and the multiplier effect of that spending throughout the state's economy.[4]

Runway Expansion

As of 2005, there are two studies which deal with expanding runway capacity at PHL airport. The first is the Runway 17-35 Extension Project EIS [5] which has completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement. The plan is to extend runway 17-35 to length of 6,500 feet, extending it at both ends and incorporating the proper runway safety areas. The second study, the PHL Capacity Enhancement Program [6] has a much larger scope and is considering more drastic ways to increase runway capacity at PHL.

Ground transportation

Aerial view of construction of runway 8/26

Taxis charge a flat rate of $26.25 from the airport to central Philadelphia.

The R1 Airport line provides service to and from stations at Terminals A, B, C, D, and E and provides passengers a fast and traffic-free connection between the airport, Center City Philadelphia, and other SEPTA trains, Amtrak trains, and NJ Transit trains at 30th Street Station. As of 2005, the fare is $5.50 one-way to Center City, and $7.00 for travel to other stations on the SEPTA Regional Rail network. SEPTA also operates bus service to and from the airport.

Rental cars are available through a number of companies, all of which must be reached by shuttle bus.

As a benefit to its students, The University of Pennsylvania and Villanova University have provided free transportation to the Airport by means of shuttles during such times as Spring Break and Thanksgiving.

Terminals, airlines and destinations

Philadelphia International Airport has seven terminal buildings, which are divided into seven lettered concourses. Terminals A East and A West, B, C, and D are all interconnected, and it is possible to travel through all of these without reentering security. Terminal E can be reached from Concourse D through a pre-security bridge; however, Terminal F, completed in 2003, is completely separate. There are, however, shuttle buses inside security between Terminal F and Terminal C using gate C16, an old US Express gate and between Terminal F and Terminal A, at gate A1. There is a large shopping/dining area between Concourses B and C.

The Philadelphia metropolitan area is the largest in the United States without nonstop flights to Asia.

It is expected in 2007 that there will be a relocation of airlines, with the upcoming renovation of Terminals D and E. Delta Air Lines is expected to move from Terminal E to Terminal A East, British Airways is expected to move to Terminal A West, Frontier Airlines is expected to move to either A East or Terminal D, and Air France is expected to now arrive and depart from Terminal A West.[7]

Concourse A West

International Arrivals (except from locations with Customs preclearance) are processed at the Terminal A West arrival building.

  • Air Jamaica (Montego Bay)
  • Air France (Paris-Charles de Gaulle)
  • Frontier Airlines (Denver)
  • Lufthansa (Frankfurt)
  • US Airways (Amsterdam, Aruba, Antigua, Athens [seasonal/begins May 25, 2007], Barbados, Barcelona [seasonal], Bermuda, Brussels [begins June 1, 2007], Cancún, Cozumel, Dublin [seasonal], Frankfurt, Freeport, Glasgow [seasonal], Grand Cayman, Lisbon [seasonal], London-Gatwick, Madrid, Manchester (UK), Milan-Malpensa, Montego Bay, Munich, Nassau, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Providenciales, Punta Cana, Rome-Fiumicino, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, San Jose (CR), San Juan, Santo Domingo, Shannon [seasonal], Stockholm-Arlanda [seasonal], Venice [seasonal], Zürich [begins June 8, 2007])

Concourse A East

Concourses B and C

  • US Airways (Albany, Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Boston, Buffalo, Burlington, Charlotte, Chicago-O'Hare, Columbus, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Eagle/Vail [seasonal], Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Greensboro, Hartford, Indianapolis, Jacksonville (FL), Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Manchester (NH), Miami, Montreal, New Orleans, Myrtle Beach [seasonal], Nashville, Norfolk, Orlando, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Rochester (NY), San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Syracuse, Tampa, Toronto-Pearson, Washington-Reagan, West Palm Beach)
    • US Airways operated by America West Airlines (Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Diego, San Francisco)
    • US Airways Express operated by Republic Airlines (Buffalo, Burlington, Chicago-O'Hare, Columbus, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Hartford/Springfield, Houston-Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Manchester (NH), Minneapolis/St. Paul, Myrtle Beach [seasonal], Nashville, New York-LaGuardia, Pittsburgh, Portland (ME), Providence, Raleigh/Durham, Washington-Reagan)

Concourse D

Concourse E

Terminal F (Concourses 1, 2, and 3)

  • US Airways
    • US Airways Express operated by Air Wisconsin (Albany, Akron, Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Bangor, Binghamton, Buffalo, Burlington, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Charleston (SC), Charleston (WV), Cleveland, Columbia, Columbus, Dayton, Detroit, Elmira/Corning, Erie, Greenville/Spartanburg, Greensboro, Hartford, Indianapolis, Ithaca, Jacksonville (NC), Kansas City, Long Island/Islip, Louisville, Manchester (NH), Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Montréal, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, New Bern, Newburgh, Newport News, New York-LaGuardia, Norfolk, Ottawa, Portland (ME), Providence, Raleigh/Durham, Rochester (NY), Richmond, Savannah [seasonal], State College, St. Louis, Syracuse, Toronto, Washington-Reagan, White Plains, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Wilmington)
    • US Airways Express operated by Chautauqua Airlines (Baltimore/Washington, Buffalo, Columbus, Greensboro, Greenville/Spartanburg, Louisville, New York-LaGuardia, Rochester (NY), Syracuse, Washington-Reagan)
    • US Airways Express operated by Piedmont Airlines (Albany, Allentown/Bethlehem, Baltimore/Washington, Binghamton, Burlington, Charlottesville, Elmira/Corning, Erie, Harrisburg, Ithaca, Long Island/Islip, Newburgh, Newport News, New Bern, New Haven, New York-LaGuardia, Roanoke, Salisbury, State College, Syracuse, White Plains, Williamsport, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton)
    • US Airways Express operated by PSA Airlines (Akron, Allentown/Bethlehem, Atlanta, Birmingham (AL), Columbia, Dayton, Fayetteville [weekends; seasonal], Indianapolis, Knoxville, Nashville, New York-LaGuardia)

SEPTA Regional Rail stations

  • Airport Terminal A East/West
  • Airport Terminal B
  • Airport Terminals C & D
  • Airport Terminals E & F

SEPTA's R1 Airport Line provides transportation on the SEPTA Regional Rail system to and from the airport via Center City Philadelphia and Glenside, PA. Many weekday trains and all weekend trains provide extended service to Warminster, PA along the R2 Warminster Line. A complete schedule of R1 service to and from the airport can be found on the R2 timetables. The stations are located next to the baggage claim at each terminal with escalator and elevator access from each terminal's skywalk.

Preceding station   SEPTA   Following station
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See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Airports Council International Final statistics for 2005 traffic movements

External links

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