Philadelphia – Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has set an all-time high record for passenger volume, welcoming 33.02 million passengers in 2019 with a total traffic increase of 4.2%. PHL also increased its air cargo volume by 9.4%, making 2019 its second-highest cargo year ever.
“2019 has been a year of record-setting growth for Philadelphia’s travel and tourism sector,” said City of Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. “Not only are travelers streaming into our city and generating tax dollars and jobs, but they’re also looking outward to explore new horizons throughout the world.”
PHL saw growth in both its domestic and international passenger segments, increasing volume domestically in cities like Bentonville, Arkansas, Las Vegas, Key West and Myrtle Beach while adding new routes to Berlin, Edinburgh and Dubrovnik internationally.
“Philadelphia is competing in an increasingly global economy, which is why a highly connected airport is critical to our continued growth and economic development efforts,” said Philadelphia Commerce Director Harold Epps. “PHL’s connectivity enables us to maintain direct outreach to our international business partners in order to attract new investment and talent for our city.”
The City of Philadelphia’s Division of Aviation owns and operates both PHL and Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE), which also saw a year of growth with 75,856 plane movements, a 29% increase year over year. PNE is a general aviation airport, specializing in private transport and the recreational flying component of aviation, as well as the manufacturing or building process of those aircraft.
“It is an honor to lead the outstanding teams at PHL and PNE during this record-breaking year,” said Airport CEO Chellie Cameron. “I am grateful to our more than 21,000 employees, representing partners across airlines, concessions, government, tourism and business, for their dedication to providing the world-class experience and connectivity that our passengers deserve.”
“PHL is going through a tremendous evolution, with a focused vision on connecting Philadelphia to the world,” said PHL Airport Advisory Board Chair Hal Yoh. “Our inclusion of stakeholders throughout the greater Philadelphia region is a testament to our commitment to further success and growth.”
2019 PHL Highlights:
Passenger Volume
- Total Plane Movements: 390,321 (+2.8%)
- Domestic Passengers: 28,936,512 (+4.5%)
- International Passengers: 4,082,374 (+1.9%)
- Total Passengers: 33,018,886 (+4.2)
Cargo Volume
- Total Air Mail: 28,495 tons (+25.3%)
- Total Air Freight: 579,005 (+8.7%)
- Total Cargo: 607,500 (+9.4%)
Economic Impact
- $16.8 billion economic impact on the Greater Philadelphia region, generating 106,000 jobs with average earnings of more than $51,000
Operations
