Philadelphia's Multiple Airport Options For Travelers

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the primary international airport serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located 7 miles (11 km) from the city's downtown area and has 22 airlines that offer nearly 500 daily departures to over 130 destinations worldwide. Philadelphia Airport consists of 7 terminals (A-East, A-West, B, C, D, E, F), serving both domestic and international flights. Aside from Philadelphia International Airport, there are also other airports in the region, including the Northeast Philadelphia Airport, Wilmington-Philadelphia Airport, and Chester County Airport in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

The airport has a range of transport options, including various bus routes operated by SEPTA, and student shuttle services provided by local colleges and universities during heavy travel periods. American Airlines also offers a "tarmac-to-tarmac" bus service between PHL and nearby airports to facilitate connections. In terms of driving, the airport has direct connections to Interstate 95 and the Colonial Pipeline fuel supply.

PHL has undergone several expansion and improvement projects over the years. In 2003, Terminal A-West opened, featuring a 1,500-space parking garage. In 2019, after a five-year project, Runway 27L was extended by 1,500 feet to accommodate large aircraft used for long-haul flights. It is now the longest civil runway in Pennsylvania. Other projects have included expanding runway capacity, improving connecting ramps and roads, and enhancing airport facilities and services.

Despite its economic significance, Philadelphia International Airport has received mixed reviews, scoring 3/10 on Skytrax reviews, with complaints focusing on customer service and long security queues. However, the airport is dedicated to serving the needs of its travellers and provides special assistance and services to ensure a positive travel experience.

Northeast Philadelphia Airport

Philadelphia has more than one airport. In addition to the Philadelphia International Airport, there is also the Northeast Philadelphia Airport.

The Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) is located just north of the intersection of Grant Avenue and Ashton Road in Northeast Philadelphia. It is part of the Philadelphia Airport System and serves as the general aviation reliever airport for Philadelphia International Airport. The airport covers 1,150 acres of land at an elevation of 120 feet above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: 6/24, which is 7,000 by 100 feet, and 15/33, which is 4,999 by 150 feet.

The history of the Northeast Philadelphia Airport dates back to the 1930s when it was known as the Northeast Airport. It started as a grass field without any paved runways and was one of three small airports in the area. The airport expanded in 1960 when Runway 6/24 was extended, and it was renamed the North Philadelphia Airport in 1948. In 1980, it was renamed again to its current name, Northeast Philadelphia Airport.

Today, the Northeast Philadelphia Airport is Pennsylvania's fourth busiest airport and the sixth busiest in the state overall. It handles a high volume of aircraft operations, with an average of 319 aircraft movements per day. The airport is home to various types of aircraft, including single-engine, multi-engine, jet, and helicopter planes.

The airport has undergone recent improvements, including electrical upgrades and the reconstruction of Taxiway L to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements. Additionally, the administration building located at 9800 Ashton Road is currently undergoing an ambitious renovation project.

Wilmington-Philadelphia Airport

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the 20th busiest airport in the US, serving more than 32 million passengers in 2019. It is a major hub for the country's seventh-largest metropolitan area and the primary hub in the Northeast for American Airlines. The airport consists of seven terminals (A-East, A-West, B, C, D, E, and F), serving both domestic and international flights.

While Philadelphia International Airport is the city's primary airport, there is also the Wilmington-Philadelphia Airport (ILG), located in Wilmington, Delaware, which provides easy connections to major cities like Philadelphia and Newark. This airport offers a smooth, simple, and friendly alternative to larger regional airports. With its proximity to multiple major highways, it is Delaware Valley's most convenient and travel-friendly airport.

Wilmington Airport provides convenient access to the tri-state area, making it an ideal gateway for travellers to Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. It offers efficient services and minimal congestion, ensuring a stress-free journey from check-in to boarding. The airport has three parking lots (A, B, and C) available for $9.50 per day, with no limit on the length of time parked.

Avelo Airlines operates from the main terminal at Wilmington Airport, offering seasonal routes and direct flights to desirable locations. These include San Juan, Puerto Rico, and various destinations in Florida, such as Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Lakeland. American Airlines also offers connections to the world directly from Delaware via a lux motorcoach to PHL.

In summary, while Philadelphia's primary airport is Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), there is also the smaller Wilmington-Philadelphia Airport (ILG) located in nearby Wilmington, Delaware, which offers a convenient and hassle-free travel experience with easy access to the tri-state area.

PHL Airport's poor reputation

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the 20th busiest airport in the US, serving more than 32 million passengers in 2019. It is a major hub for the country's seventh-largest metropolitan area and the primary hub in the Northeast for American Airlines, which operates about 61% of PHL's commercial flights.

However, PHL has a poor reputation, scoring just 3/10 on Skytrax airport reviews. Customer satisfaction surveys by J.D. Power have ranked PHL as the worst airport among similarly-sized airports for four years in a row. The main complaints centre on poor customer service and long security queues.

The airport's infrastructure has been cited as a key reason for its poor ranking. The terminals are old, with the newest being over 20 years old, and there is a lack of space to accommodate the number of passengers travelling through. PHL's CEO, Atif Saeed, acknowledged the airport's poor ranking, attributing it to the age of the infrastructure.

Efforts are being made to improve PHL's reputation. The airport is in the midst of a multi-phase restroom improvement project, which includes a $15 million multi-year renovation and expansion of its restroom facilities. Upgrades are also being made to the exterior parts of the airport, including new landscaping and wayfinding to the departure roadway. In addition, American Airlines is inaugurating two new lounges in 2025, and a Chase Sapphire lounge is expected to open in the first quarter of 2025.

PHL has also seen some positive developments. Standard & Poor's (S&P) assigned an "A+" rating with a stable outlook to the airport's general airport revenue bonds, an improvement from the "A-" rating it received in 2021. S&P recognised PHL's competitive position, strong origin and destination market, and its important role within the American Airlines system.

PHL Airport's busy status

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is a major hub for the country's seventh-largest metropolitan area and the 20th busiest US airport, serving more than 32 million passengers in 2019. It is the primary hub in the Northeast for American Airlines, which operates tarmac-to-tarmac bus services between PHL and other airports within close proximity. American Airlines accounts for 65% of PHL's flight operations, and the airport is also a focus city for Frontier Airlines.

PHL consists of seven terminals (A-East, A-West, B, C, D, E, and F), serving both domestic and international flights. The airport has a poor reputation, scoring just 3/10 on Skytrax reviews, with customer service and long security queues forming the basis of these complaints. Travellers are advised to arrive at the airport with plenty of time before their flight.

PHL is a significant economic contributor, supporting over 106,000 jobs and generating $16.8 billion in revenue, with no taxpayer funds contributing to this figure. The airport has also invested in infrastructure projects, including a $15 million multi-year project to renovate and expand restroom facilities, funded by a FAA Airport Terminal Program grant.

In 2003, Terminal A-West opened, with a 1,500-space parking garage, and in 2019, Runway 27L was extended by 1,500 feet to accommodate large aircraft used for long-haul flights. PHL is easily accessible by road, with several new bridges, retaining walls, and lane miles of new pavement constructed in recent years. SEPTA operates various bus routes to the airport, and local colleges and universities provide transportation shuttles for students during heavy travel periods.

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