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Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is located in Southwest Philadelphia, just seven miles from downtown Philadelphia. The airport is easily accessible via taxi, train, limousine, shuttle services, and car. PHL is served by all major domestic carriers and is a major international hub for American Airlines. It covers 2,302 acres and has four runways, with nearly 19,000 parking spots available. The airport is an important economic hub for Philadelphia, the Delaware Valley metropolitan region, and Pennsylvania as a whole, contributing billions to the state's economy and supporting tens of thousands of jobs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Philadelphia International Airport |
| Acronym | PHL |
| Location | Southwest Philadelphia |
| Distance from downtown Philadelphia | 10 miles |
| No. of runways | 4 |
| Area | 2,302 acres (932 ha) |
| Terminals | A, B, C |
| Hotels | Philadelphia Airport Marriott |
| Amenities | Restaurant, Fitness Center, Meeting Space, Free Wifi, Convenience Store, Laundry, Room Service, Wake-up Calls, Daily Housekeeping, Turndown Service, Mobile Key, Digital Check-in |
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What You'll Learn
Philadelphia International Airport's history
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is an important hub for the region, offering flights to 140 destinations as of 2019. The airport covers 2,302 acres and has four runways.
The history of aviation in Philadelphia began in 1925 when the city provided 125 acres of land for training aviators of the Pennsylvania National Guard. The following year, an agreement was executed with Ludington Exhibition Company (the forerunner of Eastern Airlines) to operate the facility as the "Municipal Aviation Landing Field". In October 1927, Charles Lindbergh ceremoniously raised the American flag at the field during a visit following his historic solo flight from New York to Paris.
Philadelphia Municipal Airport was constructed between 1936 and 1940, opening on June 20, 1940. However, it had to discontinue commercial flights in 1943 due to military safety concerns during World War II. During the war, the airport served as an Army Air Corps base, and it was returned to civil control in 1945.
The airport became international in 1945 when American Overseas Airlines began direct flights to Europe. A new terminal opened in December 1953, and the airport underwent multiple renovations and additions over the following decades.
In the 1980s and 1990s, US Airways became the dominant carrier at the airport, and it remains one of the largest hubs for American Airlines after their merger in 2015. The airport has continued to expand in recent years, with improvements to runways and terminal buildings to accommodate increasing passenger traffic.
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Airport location
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is located in Southwest Philadelphia, with another airport, Philadelphia's Executive Airport, in Northeast Philadelphia. The airport site has a long history, beginning life as a training airfield for the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1925. It was known as Hog Island then. Two years later, in 1927, it was dedicated as the "Philadelphia Municipal Airport" by Charles Lindbergh. However, it didn't have a terminal building until 1940, with airlines using Camden Central Airport in nearby New Jersey until that point.
During World War II, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a First Air Force training airfield. The Rising Sun School of Aeronautics of Coatesville performed primary flight training at the airport under contract to the Air Corps. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the I Fighter Command Philadelphia Fighter Wing provided air defence of the Delaware Valley area from the airport.
Philadelphia Municipal became Philadelphia International Airport in 1945, when American Overseas Airlines began direct flights to Europe. The airport covers 2,302 acres and has four runways. It is an important economic hub for the city, the Delaware Valley metropolitan region, and Pennsylvania more broadly.
The airport is located 10 miles from downtown Philadelphia and is easily accessible via the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76 East) to US Rt. 1 North.
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Terminals and runways
Philadelphia International Airport (IATA: PHL) is located in Southwest Philadelphia, approximately seven miles (11 km) from the city's downtown area. The airport covers 2,302 acres (932 ha) and has four runways.
The airport consists of seven terminals (A-East, A-West, B, C, D, E, and F), serving both domestic and international flights. Terminal A is the international terminal, with A-West serving as the main international arrivals hub for airlines such as British Airways, Qatar Airways, and Lufthansa. Terminals B and C are connected by a shopping mall and primarily serve American Airlines, while Terminal F is noted for its accessibility and compact design, mainly serving regional flights. The terminals are conveniently laid out, with all of them accessible from the road for curbside pick-up/drop-off and ground transportation options, including SEPTA buses, trains, rental cars, and ride-shares.
The history of the airport's runways dates back to the 1940s and 1950s, with runways 4, 9, 12, and 17 all being 5,400 feet (1,600 m) or less in length during that period. Over time, there have been changes to the runways, with runway 9 being extended to 7,284 feet (2,220 m) in 1956 and further extended to 9,499 feet (2,895 m) in 1959, while runway 12 was closed. In the early 1970s, runway 4 was closed, and runway 9R opened with a length of 10,500 feet (3,200 m). More recently, in 2019, Runway 27L was extended by 1,500 feet to a total length of 12,000 feet, making it the longest civil runway in Pennsylvania.
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Economic impact
Philadelphia International Airport (IATA: PHL, ICAO: KPHL, FAA LID: PHL) is located in Southwest Philadelphia, with another executive airport in Northeast Philadelphia. The airport covers 2,302 acres and has four runways, with one runway being the longest in Pennsylvania at 12,000 feet.
The airport is an important component of the economies of Philadelphia, the Delaware Valley metropolitan region, and Pennsylvania. In 2017, an economic impact report found that the airport generated $15.4 billion in economic activity, $5.4 billion in total earnings, and supported over 96,000 direct and indirect jobs. The report also showed that the airport supported 54,000 direct jobs on or near the airport. This is a significant increase from the $22 billion total economic impact of all of Pennsylvania's airports in 2004.
The airport has a large impact on the local construction industry, with American Airlines investing over $100 million in capital investments to its PHL facilities in three years. The airport also has a significant impact on the region's tax revenues, benefiting all four Pennsylvania suburban counties and several counties in New Jersey and Maryland. Two-thirds of the airport is in Tinicum Township, Delaware County, and the majority of employees who work in the terminals and airfield live in Philadelphia or Delaware County.
Philadelphia International Airport is a major hub for American Airlines, serving as its primary hub in the Northeastern United States and its primary European and transatlantic gateway. The airport has seen an increase in passengers, freight, and flights from low-cost airlines, with 500 daily flights and 25 airlines serving the airport. The airport served 30.8 million passengers annually in 2024, making it the busiest airport in Pennsylvania and the 21st busiest in the United States.
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Hotels near the airport
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is located in Southwest Philadelphia, 6.6 to 7.2 miles from downtown Philadelphia. The airport is surrounded by many hotels that are a short drive or taxi/shuttle ride away.
One hotel near the Philadelphia airport is the Embassy Suites by Hilton. This hotel is advertised as being "VERY close to the Philadelphia airport" and having comfortable beds. Another hotel option is the Sheraton Suites Philadelphia Airport, which has friendly staff and clean rooms. The Red Roof PLUS+ Philadelphia Airport is also a good option for those wishing to stay close to the airport before or after a flight.
If you're looking for a hotel with free parking, the Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package includes free parking at your hotel and other valuable perks.
Other hotels near the Philadelphia International Airport include the Doubletree By Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Airport, Aloft Philadelphia Airport, Four Points by Sheraton Philadelphia Airport, Residence Inn Philadelphia Airport, Fairfield Inn Philadelphia Airport, and many more.
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Frequently asked questions
The Philadelphia International Airport is located in Southwest Philadelphia, seven miles from Center City Philadelphia.
There are plenty of attractions near the Philadelphia International Airport, including the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, Bartram's Garden, the oldest botanical garden in North America, and Fort Mifflin, a significant Revolutionary War site.
The Philadelphia International Airport covers 2,302 acres and offers flights to 140 destinations, 102 of which are domestic and 38 international. The airport is also home to a nearly 85,000-square-foot mural, featuring images of Philadelphians dancing, and has the longest civil runway in Pennsylvania, Runway 9R/27L.
