Philadelphia Airport Information
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Operating since 1940, Philadelphia International Airport services 30 airlines that provide 700 daily departures to more than 120 domestic and international destinations. Spanning more than 2,000 acres, the airport is made up of seven terminal buildings (A-West, A-East and Terminals B through F) with 120 boarding gates. Ranked as the 9th busiest airport in the world, it serves more than 30 million passengers each year. Philadelphia International Airport serves as the international hub for US Airways, providing non-stop flights to Canada, Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean. Air Canada, Air France, British Airways and Lufthansa also offer non-stop flights.
Located just eight miles from Philadelphia’s Center City, Philadelphia International continues to grow with each passing year. Since 2001, it has added two new terminals, 55 new boarding gates and 5,100 parking spaces, nearly doubling in size from 1.4 million to 2.4 million square feet. The $550 million, state-of-the-art International Terminal A-West, which opened in May 2003, features 13 gates to accommodate wide body aircraft. But the airport’s expansion doesn’t stop there. In March 2006, it started a $250 million renovation and expansion project for Terminals D and E. The project, with a projected 2009 completion, will result in three new gates, a three-level terminal connector facility, 43,000 square feet of airline club space and expanded security systems, among other features.
Philadelphia International Airport offers extensive amenities and luxuries, including wireless Internet access from more than 40 access points in the secure areas of every terminal, more than 100 semi-private workstations and an extensive network of shopping and dining in the Philadelphia Marketplace. The marketplace features more than 150 luxury shopping venues, specialty kiosks, restaurants, pubs and newsstands. The airport’s concessions program was named the best of its kind in North America in both 2002 and 2003. Located in Terminal D, the airport’s Please Touch Aviation Station is geared for children ages 1 to 7. The station features interactive flight-themed displays and activities, including a climb-inside airplane with hand controls and a spinning propeller.
In addition to several permanent art installations and works, the airport is also one of few in the world to feature a rotating Exhibitions and Arts Program. Established in 1998, the Exhibitions Program not only brings beautiful art to the airport, but also shows off Philadelphia’s unique cultural atmosphere through ever-changing displays of fine art, crafts, design and photography by both Philadelphian and global artists. It also houses several permanent art installations and works.
Philadelphia International Airport offers direct access to the 419-room Philadelphia Airport Marriott. Short-term and long-term parking is available adjacent to airport terminals and free shuttles are available for those who use economy parking lots. The SEPTA R1 high speed rail line stops at Terminals A-East, B, C, D and E and takes passengers directly to Center City Philadelphia.
Airline carriers serving Philadelphia International Airport
- Air Canada
- Air France
- Air Jamaica
- AirTran Airways
- America West
- American Airlines
- American Eagle
- British Airways
- Charter
- Continental Airlines
- Continental Express
- Delta Air Lines
- Delta Connection
- Frontier Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Midwest Airlines
- Northwest Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
- US Airways
- US Airways Express
- USA 3000
Philadelphia Train Information
30th Street Station
A total of nine Amtrak routes, including Acela Express, Cardinal/Hoosier State, Carolinian/Piedmont, Crescent, Keystone, Pennsylvanian, Regional, Silver Service/Palmetto and Vermonter, service Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station, the 2nd busiest train station in the northeastern United States and host to over 25,000 commuters daily. The Acela Express route runs throughout the Northeast with stops in Washington, DC
Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York City
New York City and Boston
Boston. Amtrak’s nine routes that stop in Pennsylvania span the entire Northeast and run as far west as Chicago
Chicago and New Orleans
New Orleans Skyline.
Philadelphia Public Transportation
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
Philadelphia is home to the superior transit system known as SEPTA, or Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. As the nation’s 5th largest public transportation system, SEPTA offers bus, subway and trolley services that navigate Center City Philadelphia and the surrounding region, including New Jersey and Delaware. The SEPTA service area spans 2,200 square miles with an annual ridership of more than 300 million passengers.
Regional rail SEPTA fares vary by zone and time, but each bus and rail trip is $2 per passenger. Passengers can purchase SEPTA’s One Day Convenience Pass, valid for eight rides on any bus, trolley or subway route in one day. However, the convenience pass is not valid for travel on SEPTA’s regional rail. SEPTA’s nearly 3,000 vehicles operate among 36 bus stations, 53 light rail stations, 52 subway-elevated stations, 22 high speed rail stations and 153 regional rail stations.
SEPTA Regional Rail
SEPTA offers a total of nine light rail routes, two subway-elevated routes and 13 regional routes. SEPTA’s R-1 regional rail line connects Philadelphia International Airport, Amtrak’s 30th Street Station and the Pennsylvania Convention Center, as well as various Center City Philadelphia destinations. Pennsylvania Convention Center
Pennsylvania Convention Center guests should use the Market East subway station.
SEPTA Buses
SEPTA offers 76 city bus routes and 42 suburban bus routes. Pennsylvania Convention Center guests should use SEPTA bus numbers 12, 17, 33 or 44 at 11th and Market Streets or 13th and Market Streets. SEPTA’s Phlash is a seasonal bus route, operating May to October, that shuttles riders between major Center City attractions and most downtown hotels from Penn's Landing to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art. Phlash also provides direct service to all SEPTA lines. Riders can hop-on and hop-off the purple Phlash trolleys for just $2 per ride; children under 6 ride free. Passengers can also opt for a $4 unlimited daily individual pass or $10 unlimited daily family pass. Passes can be purchased when boarding the trolley.
Rental Cars
Many major rental care companies service Philadelphia. Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National rental car companies are represented at Philadelphia International Airport. Information phones are available at all airport baggage claim areas for each of the on-site rental car companies.
Taxis
Philadelphia features more than 1,600 licensed cabs that can be easily flagged down or called via hotel or convention center concierge service. All taxi fares are based per trip. Guests should expect an $11 minimum fare from Philadelphia International Airport to any destination or a $28.50 flat rate (regardless of the number of passengers) from the airport to the Center City area. Center City encompasses Fairmount Avenue, South Street, the Delaware River and University City. The airport is located only eight miles from Center City, approximately a 15-minute taxi ride. Average metered fare is $2.30 plus $2.10 per mile or portion thereof.
Distance to...
- Wilmington, DE
- Trenton, NJ
- Reading, PA
- Lancaster, PA
- Newark, NJ
- Allenton, PA
- New York, NY
- Harrisburg, PA
- Scranton, PA
- Baltimore, MD
- Washington, D.C.
- Boston, MA
- 21 miles
- 33 miles
- 47 miles
- 58 miles
- 77 miles
- 78 miles
- 86 miles
- 90 miles
- 105 miles
- 105 miles
- 141 miles
- 309 miles
