Host Airport: Philadelphia International Airport
Conference Chair Conference Planning Chair Philadelphia International Airport, ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Large Airports" by J.D. Power and Associates in its 2008 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, is one of the nation's busiest airports accommodating 499,000 aircraft operations and 32 million passengers every year. Twenty-nine airlines provide nearly 600 daily flights to 122 domestic and international cities, including 50 daily and seasonal nonstop flights to 36 international cities. US Airways, the dominant airline at PHL, has its international base in Philadelphia, which is one of the largest Caribbean gateways. Philadelphia International Airport consists of seven terminals spread over 2.5 million square feet offering 120 boarding gates. Since 2001, the Airport has opened two terminals - Terminal F and International Terminal A-West - and expanded another terminal (Terminal D) to add 55 boarding gates. A new D/E Connector, opened in December 2008, features an expanded 14-lane security checkpoint with state-of-the-art security screening technology and a dozen shops and places to eat. An runway extension, completed in 2009, is designed to reduce congestion on the Airport's 2 primary runways. Overall, more than $1 billion in capital improvements have been made to the Airport since 2000. Philadelphia International boasts an award-winning concessions program, anchored by the Philadelphia Marketplace at the Airport on the Terminal B/C Connector, featuring more than 100 national and local shops and eateries. The concessions program is industry-acclaimed and consistently receives awards, including "Best Concessions Program" for large airports in 2008. Philadelphia International is one a handful of airports in the world with a permanent Exhibitions Program and a year-round Performing Arts Program. The Airport is one of only a few airports in the country with a hotel attached to the terminal building (Airport Marriott) and a regional rail line connecting the Airport to downtown and regional/Amtrak train service (SEPTA R-1 line). Philadelphia International Airport is a major economic player, generating an estimated $14.2 billion in annual revenue for the region. More than 200 businesses tied to the Airport provide jobs for 42,000 workers. The Airport is totally self-supporting, using no local tax dollars for its operation or development. |
Conference Host