Middletown, PA – April 25, 2025 – Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) is soaring to new heights in 2025. March was the busiest March in HIA’s history, and the entire first quarter of the year set a new record as well, with more travelers flying in and out of Central PA than ever before.

March and First Quarter Set New Records

HIA welcomed 134,555 passengers in March 2025—a 16.8% increase over March 2024 and 3.6% higher than the previous March record of 129,788 set in 1999.

The record momentum continued across the entire first quarter. Between January and March 2025, 347,813 passengers traveled through HIA, marking a 13.7% increase over the same period last year and surpassing the previous first quarter record of 336,436 set in 2005.

“There are a number of factors generating record travel from HIA,” said Timothy J. Edwards, Executive Director of the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA). “First, Central Pennsylvanians love the convenience of using HIA instead of driving hours to larger, more congested airports. Next, our airline partners offered 15% more seats this quarter compared to last year. And third, our region’s economy remains strong and the demand for air travel continues to grow.”

Summer Travel Looks Strong: Departing Seats Up 16%

The growth isn’t slowing down. HIA is gearing up for a strong second quarter, with airlines offering nearly 250,000 departing seats from April through June—a 16% increase compared to the same period last year.

Here’s a quick look at what’s contributing to the surge:

• Frontier Airlines has increased seats to Orlando by 132%.
• United Airlines expanded service to Chicago and Washington D.C. by a combined 29%.
• Allegiant added more flights primarily to Jacksonville, Punta Gorda/Ft. Myers, Sarasota, and Orlando Sanford—a 26% boost.
• Delta is increasing service to Atlanta and Detroit by 14%.
• American Airlines, the most popular airline in the region, will boost service by 3% with more flights to Dallas/Ft. Worth, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Boston.

New Dining Options Now Open at HIA

Travelers flying through HIA now have two new food and beverage options to enjoy:

• Crafted, Harrisburg – A full-service bar and restaurant offering cocktails, wine, local and national brews, and a variety of mixed drinks.
• The Great American Bagel – Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with fresh deli-style sandwiches and paninis on gourmet and specialty bagels.

Both are located across from Gate C1 and open daily.

Don’t Forget: REAL ID Enforcement Starts May 7

Starting May 7, 2025, all passengers 18 and older—including TSA PreCheck members—must present a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable form of ID (such as a passport) at TSA checkpoints nationwide. Without an approved form of ID, you will not be allowed to fly.

Need to get your Pennsylvania REAL ID? Visit pa.gov for details.

Central PA Air Show Tickets Going Fast

Tickets are selling quickly for the Central PA Air Show, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, scheduled for May 24–25, 2025.

Keep in mind:

• An admission ticket and parking pass are required to attend.
• There is no free admission, and airport parking will only be available for passengers flying on scheduled flights during the event.

Visit www.paairshow.com for tickets and show details.