Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy a few travel tips on us!

1) Know the security rules before you pack. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a 3-1-1 campaign to educate travelers on the carry-on baggage restrictions. For specific details, visit www.tsa.gov before you pack your bags.

2) Call your airline’s toll-free flight tracking phone number for an update on your flight before coming to the airport. Flight status information is also available on each airline’s website.

3) Arrive at an HIA parking lot about 90-minutes before your schedule departure.

4) Follow the signs and park in the Long Term/Economy lot ($5 per day, plus tax). Shuttle uses run every 8-10 minutes from the numbered shelters in the lot and bring you directly to the terminal building.

5) When picking up or dropping off a passenger, park on the second or third floor of the garage. The garage rate is just $1, plus tax for the first hour (additional rate information available here). Federal security mandates prohibit parking along the terminal curbside. Only the active loading and unloading of a vehicle is permitted in front of the terminal building.

More info online at HIA travel tips or HIA FAQ!

Holiday travelers should experience few delays...read more.

We wish you & yours a lovely holiday! Should you have any tips you wish to share for the benefit of others, feel free to comment!

Snow Descends at HIA

The first snow of the season has arrived! The airlines are busy de-icing and the snow crews are keeping the airfield clear.

First snow of the season at HIA

US Airways in the snow

Northwest de-icing a departure

United completing the de-icing of an outbound flight

Do you mind flying in the snow? What have your experiences been when flying during inclement weather? HIA wants to know your travel story!

Tackling High Fares at HIA!

A new era of convenient and affordable air travel began today as AirTran Airways flight 1002 pushed back from gate B2 just after noon with more than 100 passengers bound for Orlando, Florida.

AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), launched service today at Harrisburg International Airport in Harrisburg, Pa., with former Penn State and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jack Ham and Eric Madden, deputy secretary of transportation for Pennsylvania, in attendance to welcome AirTran Airways to the airport.

The airline offers daily nonstop roundtrip flights between Harrisburg International Airport and Orlando International Airport. The flights will be operated with the airline’s quiet and fuel-efficient Boeing 717 aircraft.

As part of the service launch, AirTran Airways hosted a celebratory event at the airport, featuring Ham running through a ceremonial barrier to symbolize the end to high fares in the Harrisburg area. AirTran Airways also incorporated the Make-A-Wish Foundation into the festivities by donating flights to the organization, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions, and presenting Make-A-Wish officials with an oversized boarding pass to demonstrate its commitment to the foundation.

“AirTran Airways will help bring fares down in Harrisburg and give vacationers a direct route to Orlando, one of the most popular leisure destinations in the country,” said Matthew Klein, director of pricing and distribution planning for AirTran Airways and a native of Lancaster.

“We are thrilled that AirTran Airways now provides convenient, high-quality and affordable daily nonstop service between Harrisburg International Airport and Orlando,” said Tim Edwards, executive director for Harrisburg International Airport. “Orlando is central Pennsylvania’s top destination for fun and excitement and is very popular for business travelers as well. Thanks to AirTran, driving hours out of your way for daily nonstop service to Orlando has become a thing of the past. With the region’s strong support, we look forward to earning more AirTran service in the future.”

The following nonstop service between Harrisburg International Airport and Orlando International Airport will begin November 20, unless otherwise indicated:

From	To	Flight	Departs	Arrives	Frequency
Harrisburg	Orlando	1002	12:22 p.m.	2:55 p.m.	Daily
Orlando	Harrisburg	1001	9:20 a.m.	11:46 a.m.	Daily

AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), a Fortune 1000 company, is ranked number one in the 2008 Airline Quality Rating study. The airline offers coast-to-coast flights, North America’s newest all-Boeing fleet, friendly service and Business Class and complimentary XM Satellite Radio on every flight. To book a flight, visit www.airtran.com.

Read more about this story online at www.flyhia.com/airtran!

Have you booked a flight? Are you traveling for a visit with family? Vacation? Business? HIA wants to know your travel story!

Meeting with Delta

On October 28 & 29, the air route development team at HIA met with air route planners at Delta (in Atlanta) to discuss the future of Delta at HIA post Delta/Northwest merger. The Delta planners were pleased that their service is performing well at HIA and indicated that they have no immediate plans to change the service levels offered at HIA post merger. Nonstop service currently offered by Delta from HIA is Atlanta and Cincinnati. Northwest offers nonstop service to Detroit and Minneapolis from HIA.

The HIA air route development team spent part of their meeting with Delta educating Delta on what our region has to offer to them. What are your thoughts on what Delta can offer to this region? What key destinations would you like to see Delta add to their nonstop offerings at HIA?