Valley International Airport

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Valley International Airport

IATA: HRL – ICAO: KHRL
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator City of Harlingen
Location Harlingen, Texas
Elevation AMSL 36 ft / 11 m
Coordinates 26°13′43″N 97°39′16″W / 26.22861, -97.65444
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
13/31 7,257 2,212 Asphalt
17L/35R 5,949 1,813 Asphalt
17R/35L 8,301 2,530 Asphalt

Valley International Airport (IATA: HRL, ICAO: KHRL) is an airport located in northeast Harlingen, Texas, United States. The airport has three runways and is also known as Rio Grande Valley International Airport.

The airport serves Harlingen and South Padre Island.[1]

Contents

[edit] Airlines and Destinations

[edit] Airport Design

  • The airport features 7 gates, though only 3 are operational year-round (2 by Southwest and 1 by Continental), an additional gate being operated seasonally by Sun Country Airlines.
  • The airport is divided into two halves after security, right and left. Continental and Southwest dominate the right half, leaving the left half nearly abandoned and empty of concessions, especially when Sun Country is not providing passenger service. Continental previously had gates on the left half, though after American's departure, Continental took over American's Gate 7.

[edit] History

The airport was opened in July 1943 as Harlingen Army Airfield and during World War II it was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a training base.

At the end of the war the airfield was used by the United States Air Force as Harlingen Air Force Base until being closed in 1962. It was turned over to the local government and the facilities were converted to civilian use as Valley International Airport.


[edit] Notes

  • Valley International Airport is the home of Cameron County's first Starbucks, located in the main terminal prior to the security check-point.
  • The airport's success over other local airports has been largely due to the popularity of Southwest Airlines, providing daily nonstop flights throughout Texas and other destinations.
  • The airport was among the first in the area to offer free Wi-Fi service.
  • Quizno's is located on the concourse.
  • A parking lot shuttle and a shuttle to South Padre Island are available.

[edit] Area Airports

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Southwest Airlines Cities," Southwest Airlines
  • Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Publisher: Pictorial Histories Pub, ISBN 1575100517

[edit] External links

Languages