SECTION: TRAVEL MODES
AVIATION ––
The Harrisburg area is served by several airports within the region and beyond. These airports provide both passenger and freight transport both in and out of the region.
Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) is located on the southern end of Dauphin County and is south-central Pennsylvania’s primary commercial service, passenger, and air freight facility. The Airport is not in constrained, or slot controlled, airspace. Airport Connector (PA 3032) is approximately two miles long and provides robust primary access to the passenger terminal area and all air cargo landside activity from PA Route 283. The Airport is two miles southeast of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (1-76) and Interstate 283 interchange.
Jet at Harrisburg International Airport (courtesy Michael Baker International)
HIA is home to more than 60 companies, employing approximately 1,700 full- and part-time employees, as well as the 193rd Special Operations Wing base of the PA Air National Guard .
In 2016, HIA adopted an updated master plan for the airport which provides a forecast of HIA’s expected operations up through 2033 using a base year of 2013.
The Capital City Airport (CXY) owned and operated by SARAA, is the HIA sister airport in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, offering general aviation services to the business communities of Dauphin, Cumberland and York counties. CXY provides daily services through its Fixed Base Operator (FBO), SkyPort Aviation, and air traffic control tower and averages more than 30,000 corporate, charter and private aircraft operations every year.
In terms of passenger travel, HIA continues to be the third-largest commercial airport in Pennsylvania with 746,369 enplanements in 2019, behind Philadelphia International and Pittsburgh International, according to the FAA. HIA anticipates a 1.4 percent annual growth in enplanements through 2033.
In regards to air cargo, HIA ranks fourth in the state and 63rd in the country in cargo weight landed, according to the FAA. It anticipates an exponential increase in air cargo tonnage from its current 58,000 tons to approximately 70,000 in 2033. In order to accommodate this demand, the HIA Master Plan recommends a two-phase improvement. Phase 1 includes the realignment of Olmsted Drive to reduce conflict between tugs, cargo trucks and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, expanding landside area, and constucting a new Third Street. Phase 2 includes expansion of its cargo apron and landside area, as well as construction of new cargo terminal buildings and expansion of existing cargo terminal buildings.
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS:
As part of its transportation planning efforts, HATS can continue to do the following in terms of aviation:
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Continue to support regional economic growth through SARAA’s efforts;
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Be proactive in planning for the anticipated increase in traffic with new developments in and around HIA;
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Educate nearby municipalities on transportation and land use controls to help monitor the anticipated increase in traffic with new developments in and around HIA.