Erie International Airport

Erie International Airport
Tom Ridge Field

IATA: ERI – ICAO: KERI – FAA LID: ERI

ERI
Location of airport in Pennsylvania

Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Erie Municipal Airport Authority
Location Millcreek Township, Erie County, near Erie, Pennsylvania
Opened 1952
Elevation AMSL 733 ft / 223.4 m
Coordinates 42°04′55″N 80°10′34″W / 42.08194°N 80.17611°W
Website www.erieairport.org
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
6/24 8,420 1,981 Asphalt/Concrete
2/20 3,507 1,069 Asphalt
Statistics
Passengers (2009) 121,164 Decrease 2.8%[1]

Erie International Airport (Tom Ridge Field) (IATA: ERI, ICAO: KERI, FAA LID: ERI) is a public airport five miles (8 km) southwest of Erie, in Erie County. Airline service at Erie faces stiff competition from the Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo airports, all within two hours of Erie by car. In 2004 Erie was the third fastest growing airport in the United States, and the fastest growing airport in Pennsylvania.[2]

History

Prior to September 11, 2001 the airport was at its height with US Airways mainline jets to Pittsburgh and international service to Toronto.[3][4] After 9/11 US Airways replaced 737s and DC-9s with regional jets.[5] As air service rebounded in the mid-2000s, US Airways Express flew to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Charlotte; Northwest Airlink to Detroit; Continental Connection to Cleveland; and Delta Connection to Cincinnati and Atlanta.

The airport is reportedly looking to expand service to New York and other cities.[6] US Airways discontinued Charlotte flights in 2006. Delta Air Lines discontinued Atlanta flights on September 6, 2007. In early 2008 US Airways discontinued Pittsburgh flights. As of January 2010 US Airways Express service is three flights daily to Philadelphia; Delta Connection has five flights daily to Detroit; and United Express has two flights daily to Chicago-O'Hare.[7] Across the country the cost of fuel is causing airlines to cut routes to smaller airports like Erie. Winter flights to Erie often are diverted to Cleveland or Buffalo due to weather.

Erie International is in an expansion program: expanding runway 6/24, establishing a relationship with an airport in Germany to create a cargo bridge, and attracting new airlines to more destinations. About 200,000 people used the airport in 2006, down 14% due to airlines cutting back on seats. The number of passengers did increase by 16.1% in 2010 from 2009.[8]

Shops and restaurants

The airport has the ERI Cafe, a small gift shop, and several vending machines.

Facilities

Erie International/Tom Ridge Field covers 450 acres (182 ha) and has two runways:

Airlines and destinations

The last DC-9 to fly for US Air arriving at Erie International Airport.
Airlines Destinations
Delta Connection Detroit
Seasonal: Atlanta[9]
United Express Chicago-O'Hare
US Airways Express Philadelphia

Cargo airlines

Airlines Destinations
FedEx Feeder operated by Mountain Air Cargo Cleveland, Indianapolis

Ground transportation

Taxis can reach the airport. Two Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority bus routes stop at the airport. Avis Rent a Car System, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, The Hertz Corporation, and National Car Rental have car rental counters.

Accidents/incidents

References

  1. ↑ "Commercial Service Airports (Primary and Nonprimary), CY09 Passenger Boardings" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. November 23, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  2. ↑ Erie Times Article, Fastest Growing
  3. ↑ Canadian 737 Parked at Terminal.
  4. ↑ NTSB Accident Report involving a scheduled USAir flight from Toronto.
  5. ↑ US Airways 737 at terminal.
  6. ↑ Photos showing airlines at airport
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ , Erie Airport Press Release.
  9. ↑ http://airlineroute.net/2014/06/09/dl-atl-dec14/
  10. ↑ NTSB Accident Report
  11. ↑ NTSB Accident Report

External links

Coordinates: 42°05′06″N 80°10′51″W / 42.08497°N 80.18079°W