Pennsylvania's Airports: A Comprehensive Guide To Air Travel

what airports are there in pa

Pennsylvania has 15 airports with scheduled airline service, although most of these are smaller, regional airports that connect to larger airports. The state is served by 139 airports that the public can use. The two busiest airports in Pennsylvania are Philadelphia International Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport, which together handle more than 40 million passengers.

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Pennsylvania's busiest airports

Pennsylvania has 15 airports with scheduled airline services, though most of these are smaller airports that connect to larger airports in the region. The state's three largest airports are Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), and Harrisburg International Airport (MDT).

Philadelphia International Airport is the state's largest domestic and international airport and a major hub for US Airways. In 2016, it had more than 75,000 passengers. Pittsburgh International Airport is the second-largest airport in Pennsylvania. The third-largest airport is Harrisburg International Airport, though it has significantly fewer flights than Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Lancaster Airport (LNS) has become the third busiest airport in Pennsylvania, with more than 97,000 planes departing and arriving in 2022. The airport's director, Ed Foster, attributes this to the cancellations and delays at major airports, which have driven travellers to seek flights from smaller airports. Lancaster Airport caters to many chartered and private planes and student pilots. To accommodate the increased demand, the airport is planning to build more corporate hangars and expand its capacity for private planes.

Other busy airports in Pennsylvania include:

  • Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) in Allentown, with service to thirteen destinations, including Atlanta, Charlotte, and Chicago
  • Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVB), with service to nine destinations, including Atlanta, Charlotte, and Chicago
  • University Park Airport in State College (SCE), with service to Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington-Dulles
  • Erie International Airport (ERI), with service to Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia

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International airports

Pennsylvania has 139 airports that are open to the public, 15 of which offer regularly scheduled airline services. The two busiest airports in the state are Philadelphia Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport, which together handle over 40 million passengers. Philadelphia Airport is ranked as the 20th busiest airport in the US and offers more than 500 daily flights to 25 airlines.

Pennsylvania's largest airport is Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). It is a major hub for US Airways and offers flights to international destinations including London and Toronto. Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is the second-largest airport in the state. The third-largest airport is Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), although it has significantly fewer flights than Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) in Allentown offers flights to 13 destinations, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, and Detroit. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) serves nine destinations, including Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington, D.C. Erie International Airport (ERI) has flights to three destinations: Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia.

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Regional airports

Pennsylvania has 15 airports with regularly scheduled airline service, though most are smaller, regional airports that connect to larger airports. The state has 139 airports that are open to the public.

The two busiest airports in Pennsylvania are Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). Combined, they handle more than 40 million passengers. Philadelphia Airport is the main airport in Pennsylvania and is ranked 20th among the busiest US airports. It handles more than 500 daily flights by 25 airlines. The airport is about 10 km from downtown Philadelphia, and the surrounding cities of Wilmington and Newark are also easily accessible. The top domestic destinations are Orlando and Atlanta, and the top international destinations are London and Toronto.

The third-largest airport in Pennsylvania is Harrisburg International Airport (MDT). However, it has significantly fewer flights than Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Other regional airports in Pennsylvania include:

  • Altoona-Blair County Airport (AOO): Serves Altoona, with flights to Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and State College.
  • Bradford Regional Airport (BFD): Offers daily flights to Pittsburgh.
  • DuBois Regional Airport (DUJ): Serves several smaller towns, with flights to Altoona, Baltimore, Bradford, DuBois, Franklin, Hagerstown, Morgantown, and Wilkes-Barre Scranton.
  • Erie International Airport (ERI): Connects to Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia.
  • Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP): Serves nine destinations, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, and Orlando.
  • University Park Airport (SCE): A small airport located in State College, with flights to Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Washington-Dulles.
  • Latrobe – Arnold Palmer Regional Airport (LBE): Serves Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Ft. Myers, and Tampa.

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Military airports

Pennsylvania has a total of 121 public-use airports, 229 private-use airports, and 278 private-use heliports. The state is also home to 15 major US military installations, including:

The U.S. Army War College

The U.S. Army War College is the second-oldest active military base in the country and is still a fundamental part of the training structure of the U.S. Army and its Commanders.

Letterkenny U.S. Army Depot

Letterkenny is considered one of Pennsylvania's smallest military bases. The facility has over 300 civilian employees but only one Army member in command. Its main purpose is to repair missile systems for the Department of Defense.

The Willops Military Installation

The Willops Military Installation was originally constructed as a place to test experimental aircraft. The Department of Defense bought the property and turned it into an Anti-Submarine training facility. The base was closed in 2011.

Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA)

SARAA is the governing authority of four airports in south-central Pennsylvania.

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Public-use airports

Pennsylvania has 139 airports that are open to the public, including a mix of large international airports and small regional ones. The two busiest airports in the state are in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, which together handle over 40 million passengers.

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

Philadelphia International Airport is the largest airport in Pennsylvania for domestic and international flights. It is a major hub for US Airways and is ranked as the 20th busiest airport in the US. The airport handles more than 500 daily flights from 25 airlines. The top domestic destinations are Orlando and Atlanta, and the top international destinations are London and Toronto.

Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)

The second-largest airport in Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh International Airport, is a significant hub for air travel in the state.

Harrisburg International Airport (MDT)

The third-largest airport in Pennsylvania, Harrisburg International Airport, offers significantly fewer flights than Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP)

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport serves nine destinations: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Orlando, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, DC.

Other Public-Use Airports

In addition to the major airports mentioned, Pennsylvania has several other public-use airports, including:

  • Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) in Allentown
  • University Park Airport in State College (SCE)
  • Erie International Airport (ERI)
  • Altoona-Blair County Airport (AOO)
  • Bradford Regional Airport (BFD)
  • DuBois Regional Airport (DUJ)

Frequently asked questions

There are 139 airports in Pennsylvania that the public can use.

The two busiest airports in Pennsylvania are Philadelphia International Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport.

Some of the other airports in Pennsylvania are:

- Harrisburg International Airport

- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport

- Arnold Palmer Regional Airport

- Lehigh Valley International Airport

- Erie International Airport

- Altoona-Blair County Airport

The Philadelphia and Pittsburgh airports combined handle more than 40 million passengers.

The Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) governs four airports in south-central Pennsylvania.

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