Councilman seeks more international flights into Philadelphia
Philadelphia Councilman Jim Kenney wants Philadelphia International Airport to boost the number and scope of its international flights. The airport currently offers 60 non-stop daily and seasonal flights to more than 30 international destinations.
Philadelphia Councilman Jim Kenney wants Philadelphia International Airport to boost the number and scope of its international flights. WHYY’s Aaron Moselle has more. [audio:100302AMAIRPORT.mp3]
The Philadelphia International Airport currently offers 60 non-stop daily and seasonal flights to more than 30 international destinations.
But Councilman Kenney says those offerings don’t include enough direct flights to Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. He says that’s because domestic airlines control most of the gates at the airport.
Kenney says the situation makes it harder for the city to attract local and foreign travelers.
Kenney: Philadelphia, because of its history, because of its location on the East Coast between New York and Washington, should be more international flavor than it is. And part of the reason why it isn’t is because we don’t have a diversity of direct flights from around the world directly to Philadelphia.
Philadelphia airport CEO Mark Gale agrees and says he’d like to offer non-stop flights to places like Moscow, Bejing, Dubai, and Johannesburg.
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