Middletown, PA – (February 26, 2014)  On Monday, Frontier Airlines announced new nonstop service between Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) and Chicago’s Midway International Airport (MDW) beginning June 13, 2014.  Frontier’s flights are available every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday until mid-October.  SARAA Board member Timothy Tate said “Ultimately regional support for these flights will determine if the service continues beyond October 2014.”

Frontier currently flies three times a week nonstop to Orlando year-round and will resume seasonal nonstop Denver service on April 30^th, 2014.  For the lowest fares and the best travel value for Frontier flights, visit www.flyfrontier.com.

Winter weather negatively impacts January passenger traffic at HIA

The Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) reported today that a total of 90,962 passengers used HIA during January 2014—a decline of 3.8 percent when compared to January 2013.

“During January 2014 there were about 150 flights cancelled at HIA due to the impact of winter weather and at hub airports up and down the East Coast,” said Tate.  “As a result, these cancellations played a significant role in the 3.8 percent decline in passenger traffic when compared to January 2013.  In spite of the weather challenges, US Airways, Air Canada and Allegiant were still able to post gains in traffic.  HIA’s total departing load factor (percentage of seats sold) of 83.5 percent was a record high for the month of January.”

New Energy Efficient Lighting to save SARAA $151,000

Today the SARAA board approved a $92,000 zero percent interest loan from the Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF) of Allentown for the installation of 110 new energy-efficient LED light fixtures throughout the airport’s long-term parking lot.  The installation will take place during the summer of 2014.  When compared to the metal halide lights now in use, each new LED light fixture will use 75 percent less energy allowing the authority to save $151,250 over the expected 13-year life cycle of the LED lights.  The loan will be repaid over a 60-month period.

Future CNG Facility at HIA?

The SARAA Board also approved the signing of a Letter of Interest with Trillium CNG for a 90 day term of due diligence to decide if HA is a suitable location to build a public Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refueling station.  Trillium will evaluate locations on HIA property to support a CNG facility and will conduct a targeted regional outreach effort to identify perspective end-users of a CNG refueling station.

The next SARAA Board meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 26^th, 2014 at 8:00 am, in the David C. McIntosh Boardroom located on the third floor of the HIA terminal building.

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Harrisburg International Airport is served by seven major airlines with approximately 90 flights daily to and from 13 non-stop destinations.  HIA is owned by SARAA, a multi-municipal authority whose mission is to serve the region by providing high quality, efficient airports and promoting regional economic development.  SARAA was incorporated in 1997 to manage and oversee the economic development of Harrisburg International Airport and Capital City Airport.  SARAA board members are volunteer community leaders appointed by the elected officials from the counties of Cumberland, Dauphin and York, the cities of Harrisburg and York, and the townships of Fairview and Lower Swatara.  On July 29^th, 2004, SARAA acquired the Chambersburg Municipal Airport and renamed it the Franklin County Regional Airport and on August 25^th, 2006, SARAA acquired the Gettysburg Travel Center and renamed it the Gettysburg Regional Airport.  In 2010, these four facilities combined to handle approximately 125,000 aircraft operations annually and have a total economic output of more than $991 million.