(Middletown, PA – August 27, 2014)  The Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA), in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Aviation, approved and awarded three contracts totaling nearly $2.9 million to construct a snow equipment storage facility at Harrisburg International Airport.

“SARAA operates and maintains more than 30 pieces of snow removal equipment—valued at more than $5 million—that when not in use is kept at various locations around the airport,” said SARAA Board member Timothy Tate.  “Unfortunately, most of this equipment is stored outside which increases maintenance costs and reduces long-term reliability.  If everything goes as planned, our staff will move this equipment into the new facility in December of 2015.”

The 24,000 square foot facility will be built on the westernmost portion of the old terminal building site.  These awards are contingent on final FAA grant approvals.

Former Sunburst restaurant is removed

“It gives me great pleasure to announce that the project to remove all remnants of the former Sunburst restaurant is now complete,” said Fred Sembach, SARAA Chairman. “The contractor cleaned up, graded and seeded the site which is ready for future development as part of SARAA’s North 29 redevelopment initiative.”

Frontier and Allegiant set new monthly traffic records–again

For the second consecutive month, both Frontier (12,702) and Allegiant (8,514) set new monthly passenger traffic records at Harrisburg International Airport.  The combined 21,216 “low-fare” passengers served represent a nine percent increase over the previous high of 19,400 during June 2014.

Overall the airlines at HIA served a total of 118,404 passengers during July 2014—down 1.1 percent compared to July 2013.  While US Airways, American, Air Canada, Frontier and Allegiant all posted increased in traffic, Delta’s slight decline combined with United’s nearly 25 percent decline in passenger traffic outpaced growth.  United’s merger related discontinuation of flights to both Cleveland and Newark generated the loss of traffic.

HIA Open House attracts 5,600

“HIA’s second Airport Open House held on Saturday, August 23^rd was a huge success,” said Timothy Edwards, executive director.  “The rain stayed away and we welcomed 5,600 people to the event—up from nearly 2,500 people in 2013.  We look forward to reviewing the event in detail and to start making plans for future Airport Open House events.”

The next SARAA Board meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 24^th, 2014 at 8:00 am, in the David C. McIntosh Boardroom on the third floor of the HIA Terminal Building.

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Seven airlines serve Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) offering about 90 flights daily to 12 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.