FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Scott Miller
(717) 948-3900 ext. 4620

HIA Ready for Busiest Thanksgiving Ever

30,000 passengers expected at the airport during Thanksgiving Travel week

(Middletown, PA – November 22, 2019) – More people than ever will have the opportunity to fly to and from Harrisburg International Airport during the Thanksgiving holiday travel week between Monday, November 25^th and Sunday, December 2^nd, 2019.

“Thanks to more flights to more places, the airlines serving Harrisburg International Airport could serve more than 30,000 passengers over Thanksgiving—a new holiday travel record,” said Timothy J. Edwards, Susquehanna Area Regional Airports Authority executive director.  “With five new nonstop destinations—Sarasota, Nashville, Denver, Orlando International and Dallas/Ft. Worth—and increased flights to Orlando-Sanford, Charlotte, Chicago, and Detroit, more people now choose the convenience of HIA vs driving hours each way to fly.”

Edwards stated Saturday, November 30^th will be the busiest day (5,400 passengers) followed by Wednesday, November 27^th (5,300 passengers) and Sunday, December 1^st (5,200 passengers).  Thanksgiving Day (2,200 passengers) will be the slowest day followed by Black Friday.

Travelers must plan before leaving home.  Departing passengers need to be in the HIA terminal building 90-minutes before their scheduled departure and should follow these holiday travel tips:

1. Download your airline app as it is the best way to keep up to date on flights
2. Know your airline’s carry-on and checked baggage rules and regulations
3. Know what to pack and where.  Visit http://www.tsa.gov before coming to the airport
4. Have all travel documents organized and ready the night before departure
5. Dress in comfortable clothing and wear sensible shoes
6. Arrive at the airport early—all checked bags must be turned in to the airline at least 45 minutes before departure.
7. Explain to younger children what to expect at the airport, at the security checkpoint and when boarding an airplane

2019 expected to set a new passenger traffic record

Through October 31^st, 2019, HIA passenger traffic is up 16.1 percent vs 2018.  Airport officials expect 2019 will be the busiest year ever serving nearly 1.5 million total passengers.  HIA’s passenger traffic record is 1,478,184 passengers served in 1997.

About Harrisburg International Airport:

Five airlines serve Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) offering nearly 70 flights daily to 14 year-round and two seasonal non-stop destinations.  The Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) owns HIA, Capital City Airport in New Cumberland and both Franklin County and Gettysburg Regional Airports.  Incorporated in 1997, SARAA is a multi-municipal authority whose mission is to serve the region by providing high quality, efficient airports and promoting regional economic development.  Combined these four facilities handle about 90,000 aircraft operations and generate a total economic output of more than $990 million annually.

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