FAA Warns Of 3.5 Hour Flight Delays This Summer

Seal of the United States Federal Aviation Administration. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Flight delays of up to 3-1/2 hours are expected to occur at some U.S. airports this summer because of furloughs of air-traffic controllers, the top U.S. aviation regulator said on Thursday.

The estimate from the Federal Aviation Administration puts in sharper focus the potential impact of the agency’s decision to furlough 10 percent of its staff starting Sunday as it struggles to meet budget cuts required under so-called sequestration.

The average delay would be much shorter than the 3-1/2 hours, FAA administrator Michael Huerta said in a briefing to reporters, without specifying a figure.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/sns-rt-us-faa-flightdelaysbre93h167-20130418,0,6239558.story

Shale Boom Helps Restore Service From Wilkes-Barre/Scranton To Pittsburgh

Locator map of the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Metropolitan Statistical Area in the northeastern part of the of . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The natural-gas drilling boom in the Marcellus Shale could be the key to ending a 6-year hiatus in air service between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and the second-largest city in Pennsylvania.

A study examining the feasibility of providing commercial air service between Pittsburgh International Airport and 13 intrastate regional airports is halfway complete, said Jeffrey Hartz, a senior consultant at Mead & Hunt, the group hired to complete the report.

Funded in part by the Allegheny County Airport Authority, the study is designed to develop business plans – including possible costs and flight schedules – and market analyses for airport boards to present to interested airlines.

The study will assess the demand for adding connecting flights on a market-by-market basis and provide information, including how full an aircraft must be on a daily basis in order for an airline to profit.

Read more:  http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/shale-boom-helps-restore-service-from-avp-to-pittsburgh-1.1463055

New Restaurants Coming To Lehigh Valley International Airport

Aerial photo of Lehigh Valley International Airport (IATA: ABE, ICAO: KABE) in Hanover Township, 2005 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cash-poor and in need of some good news, Lehigh Valley International Airport operators are turning to a new strategy to appeal to passengers: their stomachs.

OK, a really good hoagie or a perfectly mixed latte isn’t going to make anyone buy a plane ticket, but airport officials are hoping to attract at least some people who aren’t scheduled for a flight.

LVIA has hired a San Diego company to take over three restaurants and a newsstand in hopes of upgrading the offerings and increasing the airport’s take.  First Class Concessions has a deal to renovate and run the airport’s retail space for the next decade.

“This will enhance the concessions and we think that will drive up usage,” said airport Executive Director Charles Everett Jr.  ”We believe the quality will be such that it will attract people who are not using the airport for travel that day.”

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-allentown-abe-airport-food-20130127,0,1920188.story

Lehigh Valley’s Airport Cuts Workers, Services

Aerial photo of Lehigh Valley International Airport (IATA: ABE, ICAO: KABE) in Hanover Township, 2005 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bowing under the weight of massive debt and dwindling passengers, Lehigh Valley International Airport officials acted Tuesday to eliminate a dozen jobs and cut services such as valet parking and the airport parking shuttle.

The $19.6 million 2013 budget will mean minor inconveniences for passengers who will soon have to park their own cars, book their own flights and walk from even the most distant parking areas, but the heaviest burdens are being shouldered by airport workers losing their jobs.

Among the 12 jobs being cut Jan. 1 are seven grounds crew and ticket-counter workers, a construction manager and the airport’s only travel agent.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-allentown-abe-airport-budget-20121127,0,4515215.story

Passenger Traffic Plummets At Lehigh Valley International Airport

Aerial photo of Lehigh Valley International Airport (IATA: ABE, ICAO: KABE) in Hanover Township, 2005 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Anyone walking into Lehigh Valley International Airport will notice the shiny new terrazzo floor, the modern glass architecture and the new LV Cafe — the result of a $14 million makeover that took three years.

But what is also noticeable is that lately there are relatively few passengers to enjoy the new amenities.

Passenger traffic has plummeted at LVIA after three airlines left in the past year, and airport administrators will soon announce “austerity” measures that could include job cuts, fee increases and business contract reviews.

Analysts say it’s part of a national trend in which skyrocketing fuel costs have prompted air carriers like American to pull their planes from smaller regional airports. And with no relief in sight for jet fuel prices that are up 443 percent over a decade ago, it’s a situation that’s likely to get worse before it gets better.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-allentown-abe-airport-traffic-20121013,0,1104899.story

Allegiant Air Wants To Run Lancaster-To-Orlando Flights

English: This is a photo of an Allegiant MD-83 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A discount airline wants to provide nonstop jet service between Lancaster and Orlando — if the local airport authority pays its expenses here.

Allegiant Air has contacted the Lancaster Airport Authority to express interest in flying the route twice a week.

“It’s not as glamorous as it might appear,” David Eberly, airport director, said.

“They’re in a lot of smaller communities like Lancaster, and they don’t want to pay the community anything.”

In a separate development, the authority has asked the federal government to subsidize daily service to a new city on a new carrier.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/655489_Airline-wants-to-run-Lancaster-to-Orlando-flights.html#ixzz1wBAcSWfK

Reading Air Charter Offers Flights For Business Or Pleasure

Reading Airport, Pennsylvania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Contrary to public perception, the Reading Regional Airport is not closed to air traffic.

It’s true that the airport lost its scheduled commuter service in 2004, but a local charter service is attempting to re-establish flights at the airport.

On Saturday, Reading Air Charter unveiled its new central office at the Reading Regional Airport terminal.

Its operations were previously on the North Ramp, next to the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, where it continues to have a maintenance facility and school of flight.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=387462

Lehigh Valley International Airport Looks To Offset Loss Of AirTran

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Now that Lehigh Valley International Airport‘s flirtation with Southwest Airlines has ended, airport officials are turning to plan B.

That will include trying get existing airlines to add new routes and getting new airlines like Frontier and Spirit to move into LVIA, Airport General Manager Charles Everett said.

And they’ll be looking to do it fast, because not only is Southwest not coming, the airport’s largest discount flier, AirTran, will be departing Aug. 12.

“We’ll be reaching out to carriers we think would be a good fit here. Spirit and Frontier will be among them,” Everett said. “I expect to be able to backfill those lost seats before AirTran leaves.”

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-allentown-pa-airport-southwest-20120124,0,3540136.story

AirTran Discontinuing Service At Lehigh Valley International Airport

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AirTran Airways and Southwest Airlines confirmed plans to combine operations at 22 airports and will discontinue service at Lehigh Valley International Airport and five other operations, LVIA officials announced in a news release.

The service will be discontinued at LVIA effective Aug. 12, 2012. LVIA officials said all ticketed passengers, passengers holding reservations, or passengers wanting to make reservations for flights to or from LVIA have no need to alter their travel plans.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-lehigh-valley-air-tran-20120120,0,7458520.story

Airline Malfunction Causes Unscheduled Landing At Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport

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Delta Airlines Flight 4061 took off from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport at 5:48 p.m. this evening.  The 40 passenger regional jet was bound for Detroit. 

Shortly after takeoff the pilot realized the nose gear failed to retract so he was forced to return to Avoca and circle the airport until landing clearance was given.  The plane safely landed at 6:41 p.m. 

Airport officials took every precaution and deployed over two dozen emergency vehicles to the runway in case of any further malfunctions when the aircraft touched down.

Passenger reactions ranged from crying and praying to one individual sleeping through the entire ordeal.

The plane was towed to the terminal for inspection.  This was a connecting flight so many passengers were left scrambling to find other connections.

More Details On Benton, PA Plane Crash

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Here is some updated information on the plane crash story below.

The pilot of the crashed plane, James Caswell, 22 of Lake Ariel, PA, was airlifted to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown.  Mr. Caswell suffers from a broken leg and bruises.  There were no other passengers on board.

The rented plane took off from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Avoca and flew to Lancaster.  Caswell was returning to Avoca when the single-engine, fixed-wing Piper aircraft crashed near Benton, PA, Sunday evening around 9 p.m.  The plane was rented from FBO Air WB Leasing, Inc., located at Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport.

Fortunately, Caswell was able to reach help by using his cell phone after crashing.

Plane Crash Near Columbia/Sullivan County Border

A small plane crashed on top of a mountain in Jackson Township, Columbia County.  The crash occurred about 9 p.m. last night (Sunday).  Jackson Township is on the border of Columbia and Sullivan Counties.  The nearest town is Benton, PA.

The pilot was 22-year-old James Caswell of Lake Ariel, PA.  Fortunately, Caswell was rescued.  He maintained contact with rescue officials via his cell phone.  The area of the crash is very remote which was a challenge for rescuers.  The plane crashed on top of a mountain, which was described as “all boulders and laurel” by Benton Fire Chief, Ron Robbins.

Geisinger Medical Center‘s Life Flight helicopter found the crash site and was able to help rescue workers, coming a mile and a half up from the bottom of the mountain, find the plane.

Caswell sustained injuries.  The crash is under investigation.

Harrisburg International Airport Passenger Traffic Up Over 2009

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Air travel is improving!  Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) is projecting a 14% increase in passengers over last Christmas.  Last month traffic was up 12% over November 2009 and year-to-date the airport has seen 7.3% increase in passengers.

Full body scans and pat-downs had no impact on air travel over Thanksgiving.

Philadelphia International Airport Plans $5.3 Billion Dollar Expansion

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A plan to expand Philly International (PHL) is being met with mixed reactions from airlines and local residents.

Passenger traffic is expected to grown from 15 million passengers in 2009 to 27.8 million passengers by 2025.  To meet this demand, the airport is adding a 5th runway, expanding two current runways, adding a new commuter terminal and relocating the UPS facility to another part of the airport complex.  72 homes and 12 businesses will be demolished to relocate UPS.

18,800 employees work at the airport.  Another 1700 – 2000 Delaware County residents work for UPS.  The airport contributes $14 billion dollars to the regional economy and supports 141,000 jobs.

US Airways and Southwest Airlines had mixed reactions because of their increased costs.  Tinicum Township residents feel this expansion will further infringe on their community.

Click on the link below to read the entire article which includes a map showing the proposed changes to be made at the airport. 

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20101203_Airport_expansion_plan_stirs_concern_among_airlines__neighbors.html?viewAll=y