(Middletown, PA – May 28, 2014)  The Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) reported that April 2014 passenger traffic at Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) increased one percent compared to April 2013 as 107,524 passengers used the facility.  April was the second consecutive month of passenger traffic growth following winter weather related declines in January and February.  2014 year-to-date passengers totaled 397,037 which is a decline of less than one percent compared to the first four months of 2013.

“American, US Airways, Delta, Allegiant and Air Canada all posted traffic gains last month,” said SARAA Board chair Fred Sembach.  “This summer, we expect Frontier’s traffic to grow as Denver service has returned and new four times a week nonstop service to Chicago-Midway begins on June 13^th.”

Dunkin Donuts and a Subway CAFÉ coming to HIA

The SARAA Board today approved two 10-year lease agreements for new concessions at Harrisburg International Airport.  The first lease is with KP Venture’s LLC which plans to convert the existing McDonald’s into a Dunkin Donuts, providing food and beverage items to passengers on the secured (post-security) side of the terminal building.  The second lease is with Subway Real Estate Corp.  Subway will convert the existing McCafe space into a new SUBWAY CAFÉ, providing food and beverage items to those located pre-security.

“The Subway operation on the secured side of the terminal has performed well since it opened a few years ago,” said Sembach.  “However, being located only post-security, many employees and all visitors to the airport did not have access to the restaurant.  Now everyone will have access to Subway products while at HIA.”

Sembach explained that over the past decade McDonald’s has developed a new business model for airports in the U.S. and notified SARAA earlier this year that they would not extend their initial lease once it ends on August 28^th, 2104.  “The decision by McDonald’s provided an opportunity to bring another well-known global brand to the airport in Dunkin Donuts.  We look forward to having both new locations open during the 4^th quarter of 2014.”

2014 Air Race Classic arrives at CXY in June

The 38^th Air Race Classic will begin in Concord, CA on June 16^th and ends at Capital City Airport in New Cumberland three days later, with 2,300+ nautical miles flown in between.

The Air Race Classic, Inc. (ARC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating current and future women pilots while increasing public awareness of general aviation.

The annual ARC attracts competitors of all ages from around the world. In 2013, pilots from Kosovo, Japan and Italy joined other US pilots in the ultimate four-day air race challenge.

“We look forward to welcoming more than 100 participants to our region in a few weeks, many who will be here for the first time,” said terminus chair Carolyn Van NewKirk.  “On behalf of the Air Race Classic committee, I’d like to thank Volo Aviation, HARSCO, the Best Western Hotel Harrisburg/Hershey, the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau, D.R. Cox and Company Inc. and Eagles Mere Aviation Museum for all of their help with this exciting event.”

The next SARAA Board meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 25^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 100 flights daily to 15 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 2012, combined these four facilities handled approximately 10,000 aircraft operations generated a total economic output of more than $991 million.