As an airport, we’re constantly challenging our team to provide a better, more hospitable traveling experience for every guest arriving or departing through PHL. To do that, we must understand our passengers’ expectations and decide as an airport-wide team the best way to meet and exceed those expectations. The PHL Passenger Assistance team has long played an important role in these efforts, especially for our arriving international travelers. Established in 1992, the program will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year.

The federal government has announced Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding awards for fiscal year 2022.  The City of Philadelphia Division of Aviation is slated to receive $30,721,947 for Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and $763,000 for Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) from this new law.  

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is one of a few airports in America that continues to utilize its Passenger Transfer Vehicles (PTVs). The vehicles, also known as “Plane Mates” or “mobile lounges,” were designed by Eero Saarinen in the 1960s.

On December 7, the City of Philadelphia’s Division of Aviation held its annual employee recognition event, honoring Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) staff that celebrated 15, 25 and 35 years of service with the city or retired from the Division of Aviation during 2021. This year marked the second time PHL and PNE event virtually.

Spirit Airlines is launching seven new nonstop routes from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) between February and May 2022. By the Memorial Day holiday, Spirit will offer PHL passengers with nonstop service to 20 domestic and international destinations, with a total of approximately 23 daily departures. The new routes, which were announced on December 7, are:  

Philadelphia International Airport is proud to participate in the FDR Park Plan, a public space transformation program located 3.5 miles west of PHL. The airport will support the creation of a 30-35-acre complex of tidal wetlands at FDR Park, increasing climate resilience for the park, the airport and the region at large.

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) recently completed pavement repairs at the Terminal D/E apron, replacing the most frequently used sections of concrete pavement within the terminal's alleyway. Much of the existing apron and taxilane pavement was over 60 years old and exhibiting signs of structural and environmental distress.

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has launched the first phase of its Queue Management System (QMS) to provide passengers with real-time updates at security checkpoints via in-terminal digital signage and on phl.org. PHL’s Terminal D/E security checkpoint is the airport’s first to monitor and display passengers wait times in real time.

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) received a $1 million Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Multimodal Transportation Fund grant for phase two of the airport’s Baggage Tug Tunnel project.

Although winter does not officially begin until December 21, Philadelphia International Airport’s (PHL) Pavement and Grounds (P&G) team begins preparing for the season’s arrival in August.