(Middletown, PA – January 29, 2014)  The Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) reported today that 2013 passenger traffic at Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) increased 0.1 percent when compared to 2012.  During 2013, 1,310,929 total passengers used the airport representing an increase of 1,731 passengers over 2012.

“2013 was another good year for airline passenger traffic and airline revenue at HIA,” said SARAA chairman Fred Sembach.  “Allegiant, Frontier, American and Air Canada all posted traffic increases in 2013 when compared to 2012.  Departing flights were fuller than ever as a new annual load factor record of 81.3 percent was established.”

Sembach noted that Orlando, Chicago, Charlotte, Denver and Atlanta were the five most popular domestic destinations in 2013 while Toronto, Cancun, London, Montreal and Vancouver were the five most popular international destinations.  International travel bookings increased by 2.3 percent in 2013 and represented 6.5 percent of all tickets purchased.

As a result of a nearly 14 percent increase in December, HIA’s 2013 total cargo tonnage declined only one percent compared to 2012, he said.

SARAA approved more than $10 million in new 2013 contracts  

During 2013, the SARAA Board awarded $10,199,368 in service, maintenance and construction related projects.  Sembach explained that due to SARAA’s partnerships with the Federal Aviation Administration and the State of Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Aviation, the authority is able to continue to make important infrastructure improvements at all of its facilities, to the benefit of users of the airport and those that work and live in the surrounding region.

Today the SARAA board approved nearly $360,000 in new contracts for maintenance, consulting, insurance and engineering services.

SARAA welcomes two new board members

Today the SARAA board honored Mr. H. Glenn “Bub” Manning for his years of service to the SARAA board, including the last three years as its chairman.  Earlier this month the Dauphin County Commissioners appointed Mr. Dominic D. DiFrancesco II to a five year term on SARAA’s Board.  Mr. DiFrancesco is President/CEO at Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers, a member of the Lower Swatara Township Board of Commissioners and served as a Dauphin County Commissioner between 2004 and 2010.

The York County Commissioners appointed Mr. Keith Rodgers as a replacement for the recently retired David C. McIntosh.  Mr. Rodgers, an avid pilot with more than 1,200 hours of flight time, has over 35 years of experience as an electrical engineer, business owner and entrepreneur.

The next SARAA Board meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 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.