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The beginning of the 21st
century has produced many significant developments in the history of
Philadelphia International Airport. Since 2001, the opening of two new
terminals has nearly doubled the size of the Airport terminal complex from 1.4
million square feet to 2.4 million square feet and expanded the number of
boarding gates by 118% from 55 to 120. Unprecedented demand for air travel,
spurred by low-fare competition, has steadily increased passenger traffic to a
record 31.5 million in calendar year 2005.
On June 17, 2001, the
Airport ushered in a new era of regional airline service with the opening of
Terminal F. The $97 million, 185,000 square-foot facility offers 38 gates for
regional and commuter jets and was designed to accommodate 6 million passengers
a year. A self-contained terminal with the ticketing lobby and baggage claim
located at the entrance, Terminal F is comprised of three concourses and
includes 10,000 square feet of concessions space. It is one of the first
facilities in the country to use special jet bridges, which allow passengers to
transition directly from terminal to commuter aircraft. With the completion of
Terminal F, passengers flying on regional aircraft now have a single terminal
building providing all the amenities of larger passenger terminals.
The Terminal F project was complemented by the construction of a new ramp
control tower and a parking garage offering 3,400 spaces.
In November
2001, PHL marked the opening of a $17 million, 11-story ramp control tower.
Situated between Terminals A-East and B, the tower encompasses more than 7,000
square feet of space and features positions for 21 airline ramp controllers,
office space and a center to manage airfield operations. Extending 207 feet
above the ground, the tower offers improved visual sightlines and
state-of-the-art technology to enhance the flow of aircraft movement.
In March 2002, PHL unveiled its state-of-the-art Deicing Facility. Located on
35 acres at the western border of the Airport adjacent to Cargo City, the $53
million facility is capable of simultaneously deicing three large jets and four
smaller aircraft. High-tech equipment enables the efficient treatment of
aircraft in winter conditions and provides for the environmentally safe
collection and disposal of deicing fluid runoff.
In May 2003, the $20
million expansion of Concourse D and the Terminal D baggage claim facilities
was completed. The Concourse phase of the project involved modification of the
existing concourse, the construction of new loading bridges and the relocation
of three existing gate positions, giving the Airport a net gain of four new
gates. The upper level of the newly constructed terminal features enhanced
lighting and roomy public space complete with a 650-seat gate area as well as
several concessions occupying 1,667 square feet. The lower level expansion of
the D Concourse resulted in additional office space.
The 11,000
square-foot expansion of the baggage claim building consisted of a new 70
foot-long baggage carousel, office space and additional public corridor space.
On May 2, 2003, PHL celebrated the opening of magnificent new
international terminal, A-West. The $543 million terminal is composed of
800,000 square feet spread over four levels. Combined with existing Terminal
A-East, the new International Terminal complex accommodates more than 4 million
international passengers annually.
Terminal A-West features 13
international boarding gates, 56 Bureau of Customs and Immigration inspection
positions, 8 high-speed baggage carousels, 60 ticket counter positions, and a
uniquely designed Arrivals Hall dominated by an atrium and dramatic art work
conveying Philadelphia’s identity as America’s Birthplace.
The Terminal A-West project was complemented by the construction of new
Airport entrance ramps from I-95 and 1,500 additional parking spaces.
On September 17, 2003, PHL dedicated its high-tech Aircraft Fire Fighting
Training Facility. The $10 million facility, located on the southern boundary
of the Airport, enables fire fighters to perform simulation training using the
latest technologies. It consists of a mock-up aircraft in the center of a burn
pit, which can simulate an aircraft either fully or partially engulfed in a jet
fuel fire; a Special Aircraft Fire Trainer; a sophisticated computer system;
and a two-story control and observation building.
In May 2004,
Southwest Airlines, the nation’s No. 1 low-cost carrier, and low-cost
carrier Frontier Airlines began service at PHL. To compete with the low-cost
airlines, US Airways, the largest airline in Philadelphia, reduced fares on
many routes. The proliferation of competitive airfares has resulted in record
numbers of travelers using PHL.
In calendar year 2005, PHL for the
first time broke into the top 10 busiest airports rankings when it became the
9th busiest airport in the world with more than 535,000 aircraft operations.
In March 2006, PHL commenced a $200 million project that will result
in the renovation and expansion of Terminals D and E. The project features the
construction of a three-level D-E Connector, a fan-shaped extension at the end
of Concourse E with three new aircraft gates, 14 additional security checkpoint
lanes, 23 additional ticket counter positions in two ticket lobbies, a 50,000
square foot baggage makeup area with 8 inline Explosive Detection System
machines, 43,000 square foot airline club space and additional office space,
more than 15,000 square feet of concession space, a 9,000 square foot D/E
baggage claim connector with two new carousels, and the installation of
permanent art work.
While Philadelphia Municipal Airport transported
more than 40,000 passengers in 1940, Philadelphia International Airport now
serves more than 31 million passengers annually.
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