last year. This is the first time since the pandemic that our anticipated seasonal travel numbers are on par with our recording-setting year of 2019. PNE also continues to experience growth, especially with flight school activity.  

More passengers mean more pressure on everyone and our facilities. All 16,800 badged employees have a role when it comes to providing an exceptional service. The Guest Experience Stakeholder Council brings together representatives from throughout the airport who work hand-in-hand with DOA employees — from the airlines and concessions to TSA and US Customs and Border Protection and more. I am proud to co-chair this group with Lakshman Amaranayaka, American Airlines’ Vice President of Philadelphia Hub Operations.  

On June 5, our Guest Experience Stakeholder Council will officially launch PHL WORKS, a new airport-wide customer service standards program.

WORKS stands for:  

• Welcoming: I create PHL-friendly experiences
• Ownership:   I am responsible for my actions and follow-through
• Respectful:  I put people first in everything I do
• Knowledgeable: I take pride in knowing my airport
• Seeks to Connect: I create meaningful relationships

This vision will be part of an airport-wide customer service training program, along with specific coaching that aligns with employees’ unique airport roles.

A program this important needs a grand kickoff celebration. And that is what we are going to do on June 5 with an employee Pep Rally and Parades through the terminals. Beginning at 10:30 AM, employees from our partner organizations across PHL will unite with DOA staff for parades through the terminals and other activities at the B/C stage area while learning more about PHL WORKS. I look forward to seeing you all there.  

As Mayor Parker said in her message announcing the return of staff to the office on July 15, “Employee presence at the workplace allows for more personal and productive interactions, facilitates more communication, and promotes stronger social connections. This foundation of collaboration, innovation and inclusion is essential as we work to ensure that the people of Philadelphia have a government that they can see, touch, and feel.” This sentiment also pertains to PHL WORKS. The more we collaborate, the more we communicate, the more we can ensure that every employee is committed to PHL WORKS.  

Thank you for what you do for our airports every day.  

-Atif 

HR Updates

Covid Reminder

COVID-19 exposures and confirmed positive cases must be reported immediately to [email protected] for contact tracing. Employees will be provided direction on leave usage and return to work on a case-by-case basis. The minimum quarantine/isolation for a confirmed positive case is five (5) days followed by five (5) days mandatory masking while working.

Airport Resource Group (ARG) and Airport Empowerment Group (AEG) Meetings

ARGs are designed to ultimately make the airport and the City of Philadelphia a more inclusive place to work. 

AEGs – If you are interested in participating or leading an AEG at PHL/PNE, email your idea(s) to [email protected]. There must be five people and a leader for implementation.

The YoPros had an eventful May. In addition to meeting with new Chief Strategy Officer Cassie Schmid, members also had their monthly lunch at IP2 and visited El Techo rooftop bar for an outing. A handful of YoPros also participated in the Ronald McDonald House Plane Pull and the Delaware River Waterfront Cleanup. If you have questions or would like to join YoPros, please reach out to Alec Gever or Donna Jackson Stephans.

GoldPros: The GoldPros is an AEG for women over 40 and allies. They meet every second Wednesday of the month from 10-11:30 AM. Keep an eye out for an email invite if you are interested in joining. 

Women of Color in Aviation and Allies: Although PHL proudly has significantly more than the industry average of Black and Brown women working in aviation, women of color still comprise less than 2% of people working in the field. Overall, women make up a mere 5.6% of people working in all disciplines of aviation. The mission of this ARG is to provide resources and support women of color who are in the industry and invest in ways to attract more women of color to aviation.     

New Hires

Welcome to our May new hires:

Briyonna Ghee - Worthington - Airport Communications Operator 1

Bryant Moon - Custodial Worker 1

Christian Foreman - Work Study Intern

Damon Robinson - Semiskilled Laborer

David Moyer - Painter 1

Doug Vandenburg - Work Study Intern

Dymire Bruce - Custodial Worker 1

Jillian Gomes - Custodial Worker 1

Kayla Birch / Executive Assistant 

Lauren Bradford - Airport Communications Operator 1

Nicolas Coppola - Work Study Intern

Rachel Williams - Work Study Intern

Rueben DeLeon - Airport Operations Officer

Sara Tercha - Work Study Intern

Semaj Powell - Custodial Worker 1

Sosena Wondmu - Work Study Intern

Taylor Hudak - Work Study Intern

Tyshanique McFarland - Airport Communications Operator 1

Victor Sloan - Work Study Intern

Viqtoria Bush - Airport Communications Operator 1

Wynn Smith - Custodial Worker 1
 

Promotions

Congratulations to all employees promoted in May

Carl Dauber - Painter 2

Jason Sankey - Airport Security Manager 

MD Mahamuduzzaman - Accountant

Thomas Earley - Painter 2

Information Security

From Phishing to Spear Phishing 

Spear phishing is an e-mail spoofing fraud attempt that targets a specific organization and/or individuals with personalized information that seeks unauthorized access to confidential data. Spear phishing attempts are not typically initiated by "random hackers" but are more likely to be conducted by perpetrators out for financial gain, trade secrets or military information.

As with the e-mail messages used in regular phishing expeditions, spear phishing messages appear to come from a trusted source. Phishing messages usually appear to come from a large and well-known company or Website with a broad membership base, such as eBay or PayPal or Facebook. In the case of spear phishing, however, the apparent source of the e-mail is likely to be an individual within the recipient's own company and generally someone in a position of authority. 

The success of spear phishing depends upon three things: the apparent source must appear to be a known and trusted individual; there is information within the message that supports its validity; and the request the individual makes seems to have a logical basis. If a single employee falls for the spear phisher's plot, the attacker can masquerade as that individual and use social engineering techniques to gain further access to sensitive data.

Be suspicious of unexpected requests for confidential information and do not divulgate personal data in response to e-mail messages or click on links in messages unless you are absolutely sure about the source. When in doubts, contact the source in order to confirm the validity of such requests.

Just like hackers are getting better, we need to get smarter.

Visit the DOA at the Tinicum Farmers Market

The DOA Community Relations team will have a table at the Tinicum Farmers Market on June 12, July 10 and August 7.  The Farmers Market is held every other Wednesday from June 12-September 18, from 4:30-7:30PM at Governor Printz Park, 101 Taylor Avenue, Essington, PA 19029. 

PHL Food and Shops

MarketPlace PHL Brings Back SummerFest! 

Join MarketPlace PHL for SummerFest June 21 at the B/C stage from 10AM-4PM  for Bubly Burst sampling, giveaways, photo opportunities, and more.

Pride Month Promotional Tables

For the month of June, Hudson News, Stellar Books, Stellar News, Heritage Books, Evolve, and Philadelphia Tribune will have Pride Month promotional tables highlighting LGBTQ authors. To find out more about some of the books that will be available visit https://flythru.phlfoodandshops.com/pride-month-2024

Meet the Security, Engineering and the Administrative Services Units

We’re sharing more unit presentations for teams that operate mostly behind the scenes but have an important role making sure our airports have safe, professional and modern environments. That’s important as we accommodate 28 million passengers who travel on more than 430 average daily departures at PHL and manage all of the flight schools, manufacturing and corporate jet activity at PNE.

Airport Security Unit

View the presentation

The Airport Security Unit is led by Jason Sankey, Airport Security Manager and is part of the Operations Group. It is responsible for making sure the Airports Security Program meets federal requirements established by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A major part of this is managing Access Control within PHL which starts with badging, fingerprinting and background checking for all employees who are granted access to the airport. The team also monitors CCTV closed circuit camera systems, inspects fence perimeters and collaborates closely with federal agencies, airline partners and others. Some of its recent highlights include collaborating to launch the Wingmate and the American Airlines Landline programs –which were firsts for airports around the country!

Engineering Unit

View the presentation

The Engineering Unit is led by Imad Haq, Engineering Manager, and is under the Capital Development Group. The unit has more than 70 team members who provide design and construction project management for airfields, terminals, mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems, and much more at PHL and PNE. The team will play a large role in making sure that our airports are ready for the influx of visitors coming in 2026.  Check out their presentation to see some of the exciting projects that are underway including runways, taxiways and construction of restrooms, passenger boarding bridges and many of the systems within the terminals.

Administrative Support Unit

View the presentation

The Administrative Support Unit (ASU) is managed by Alycia Speas and is part of the Chief Administrative Office. The ASU is responsible for office management within the Department of Aviation. The unit helps maintain a high-performing workplace for the Human Resources, Administrative and Executive offices. They provide reception, supervise conference rooms, distribute supplies and mail and coordinate office maintenance. The team chose an Oscar theme for their presentation which is appropriate for their stellar performance keeping our offices running smoothly.

Follow the Airport on Social Media

Want to learn more about news and events at PHL and PNE? Be sure to follow the airports on social media:

• X: @PHLAirport 
• Instagram: @phl_airport
• Facebook: @PhiladelphiaInternationalAirport
• LinkedIn: @phlairport
• YouTube: @PHL_airport

The Latest from PHL's Online Newsroom

At the Airport

AAPI MONTH AT PHL: Recognizing Michiko Thwe: 2023 ACDBE Academy Participant

May is Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) celebrates the diverse cultures and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the achievements and ongoing impact they have on our society.  

Capital Development

PHL Celebrates Opening of Pavement and Grounds Crew Facility

On Friday, May 17, the Department of Aviation officially opened the new Pavement and Grounds (P&G) Crew Facility on Island Avenue. Chief Operating Officer Keith Brune, Chief Development Officer Api Appulingam, Interim Vice President of Facilities Maintenance Milton Robinson, and P&G Superintendent Ryan Moten, cut the ribbon on the gleaming gray and blue facility. 

PHL Wins NEC-AAAE Airfield Project of the Year Award for Taxiway P Realignment

The Department of Aviation recently received the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (NEC-AAAE)’s “Airfield Project of the Year” award for the Taxiway P Realignment Project. The NEC-AAAE dedicates itself to supporting and developing leaders in the aviation industry and presents the Airfield Project of the Year award to projects completed within the last year that significantly improved airport operations and safety.

Airlines

American Airlines Offers New Winter Getaways from Philadelphia International Airport

American Airlines is adding new tropical destinations to its winter schedule from PHL, including new service to Bridgetown, Barbados (BGI) and Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR).

Frontier Airlines Launches Nonstop Service to Five New Destinations, Including Pittsburgh 

Ultra-low fare carrier Frontier Airlines launched its new twice-daily nonstop service between PHL and Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), in addition to nonstop service to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), Portland International Jetport in Maine (PWM), and McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee (TYS) on May 16.

American Airlines is Ready for Summer at Philadelphia International Airport

American Airlines is ready to care for our customers this summer at PHL. The airline expects to serve nearly 3.5 million customers from its Philadelphia hub on more than 33,000 flights between May 17 and Sept. 3 — with 23% more seats departing from PHL compared to last year.

American Airlines Launches Exciting New Service to Nice, France from Philadelphia

American Airlines continues to strengthen its transatlantic network from PHL with new, exciting service launching today to Nice, France (NCE). Operating on a Boeing 787, new daily service to NCE offers customers direct access to the beauty of the French Riviera and nearby Cannes just in time for a summer getaway.

In the Community

Team PHL Competes in 2024 RMHC Plane Pull

Team spirit and comradery filled the air on the morning of Saturday, May 4, as organizations from all over Southeastern Pennsylvania joined together to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region, an organization providing comfort, support, and resources to families of children battling serious illnesses.    

Sustainability

Department of Aviation Co-Ops Provide Vital Support to the Earth Month Waterfront Cleanup on the Delaware River

In celebration of Earth Month, the Sustainability Team organized a cleanup of the Delaware River waterfront took place on May 3, demonstrating the team's commitment to environmental stewardship. The cleanup site was the Philadelphia Fire Department's Engine 78 boat ramp, a designated center for rescue operations in the event of a water landing. The effort included 22 volunteers from various departments within the airport. 

PHL Celebrates Earth Day with Its Annual Earth Day Awards

The PHL community celebrated Earth Day on April 23 in the Terminal B/C event space. The festivities included art and educational activities and the recognition of PHL's high achievers in the field of sustainability with the annual Earth Day Awards. The recipients of the awards were Southwest Airlines and two members of the Department of Aviation team, Lee Sutanto, Airport Assistant Engineering Manager; and Cassandra Williams, Vice President of Finance and Accounting.

Northeast Philadelphia Airport

PNE Improvement Projects Update

The Department of Aviation is working on several critical projects at PNE that are finished or are expected to be finished this summer. These renovations are being completed by contractor James D. Morrissey. This streamlined approach to project management suggests efficiency in coordinating multiple initiatives and maximizing resources, demonstrating a commendable commitment to timely delivery and operational effectiveness.

People at PHL

PHL Impression Makers - American Airlines Customer Service Coordinator Atsu Toppar

American Airlines Customer Service Coordinator Atsu Toppar recently received the “Impression Makers” award from PHL Employee Recognition Program. This award recognizes employees who provide direct customer service to passengers. As a customer service coordinator, Toppar ensures guests are attended to in Terminal A-West. He mainly serves as an international departure coordinator (IDC) by collaborating with American maintenance and flight crews to ensure that deplaned aircraft are clean, fueled, and ready for the next destination. 

PHL Teamwork Makes the Dream Work- JetBlue Airways Airport Operations Crew Member Carlos Soto

JetBlue Airways Airport Operations crew member Carlos Soto recently received the “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work” award in PHL Employee Recognition Program. This distinction acknowledges employees who create a positive guest experience through service and delivery while collaborating with other organizations.

PHL Caring Support - Prospect Airport Services Passenger Service Assistant Chimeye Henry

Prospect Airport Services Passenger Service Assistant Chimeye Henry recently received the “Caring Support” award in PHL Employee Recognition Program. This award recognizes employees who provide exceptional care and services to seniors, families with young children, disabled passengers, and others with special needs.

AAPI Month at PHL – Department of Aviation Accountant Ekawati Phiong

The Department of Aviation acknowledges the AAPI employees in every airport sector that enhance the guest experience. Ekawati Phiong is an accountant within the finance department at PHL, where she has been handling and validating all revenue received by the Department of Aviation for almost two years.