Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorLuzerne and Lackawanna Counties
ServesScranton-Wilkes-Barre-Wyoming Valley
LocationPittston Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Elevation AMSL962 ft (293 m)
Coordinates41°20′18″N 075°43′24″W / 41.33833°N 75.72333°W / 41.33833; -75.72333
Websitewww.FlyAVP.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram as of January 2021
FAA airport diagram as of January 2021
Interactive map of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
04/22 7,502 2,287 Asphalt
10/28 4,300 1,311 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
Aircraft operations71,585
Based aircraft42
Total Passengers693,157
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1][2]

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (IATA: AVP, ICAO: KAVP, FAA LID: AVP) is mostly in Pittston Township, Pennsylvania, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Scranton and 10 mi (16 km) from Wilkes-Barre. It spans the border between Luzerne County and Lackawanna County, and is owned and operated by the two counties. AVP is the fifth-largest airport in Pennsylvania by passenger count after Philadelphia (PHL), Pittsburgh (PIT), Harrisburg (MDT) and Lehigh Valley (ABE). AVP calls itself "your gateway to Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains".[3]

History

In the 1920s, cities in Northeast Pennsylvania recognized the need for an airport, and U.S. Representative Laurence Hawley Watres of Scranton, the chairman of the U.S. House subcommittee that oversaw the growing commercial aviation industry, began to advocate for the project.[4] Despite the depression and hard times affecting the coal mining industry, a windfall multimillion-dollar opportunity to build an airport was presented to Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties through their Public Works Administration. It became apparent that a modern airport would be needed for the economic survival of the region. The site in Avoca was first surveyed in 1939 by the County Commissioners boards of both counties.

In 1941, John B. McDade, father of U.S. Congressman Joseph M. McDade (whose name is on the current terminal building) and president of the Heidelberg Coal Co., donated 122 acres on which part of the airport now sits. Most of the land was previously owned by various coal companies.

Many U.S. airfields built during World War II were motivated as much by military defense as they were by civil aviation. The government funded construction of many airfields to develop a network that could be used by the military.

The proponents of a large bi-county airport continued their efforts in the early forties until late in 1944, when they succeeded in receiving a last-minute commitment from the Administrator of Civil Aeronautics of the United States Department of Commerce, with the approval of a Board composed of the Secretaries of Navy, War, and Commerce, designating the project as necessary for national defense.

In early 1945, the two counties entered into a legal agreement to co-sponsor and operate the airport. During the negotiations of on-site selection and the bi-county operation plan, it was agreed that Scranton, the larger city and alphabetical first and closest in mileage should have second billing in name, since Luzerne County had the largest population. Thus, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport was named.

Construction of the airport took place from 1945 to June 1, 1947, when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport was dedicated.

Colonial Airlines and American Airlines were the first airlines at AVP (this three-letter code derives from its location near Avoca, Pennsylvania). In April 1948 Transcontinental & Western Air (later TWA) arrived, and All American Airways (later Allegheny Airlines) in June 1949. Colonial flew Montreal/Syracuse- Philadelphia/Washington with stops; American flew to Chicago/Buffalo-New York; TWA flew Kansas City/Pittsburgh-Albany/Boston; and All American had general interstate service and later a looping network to Newark, Atlantic City, Washington, and around again through Pennsylvania. Each airline started with DC-3s. The April 1957 OAG shows 32 departures a day: 14 Allegheny, 12 Eastern, 4 TWA, and 2 American. The first jets were Eastern 727s, in the May 1969 OAG; in March 1969 the longest runway was the 5200-ft runway 4, which grew to 6450 feet by 1972.

The airport became "international" in 1975 when cargo flights to Canada began.

The airport has had many celebrity visitors. Air Force One has landed with Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden for fundraisers and campaign trips.[5][6] A charter plane carrying Hillary Clinton used the airport during her presidential campaign in 2008.[7] In August 2013, President Obama and 10 year Scranton-native Vice President Joe Biden visited the region for a campaign event.[8] President Donald Trump visited the airport on November 2, 2020, and held a campaign rally on the tarmac.[9]

In May 2006, the airport completed an 80 million dollar new terminal and garage. The terminal, designed by HNTB, has jetways, a larger waiting area, more gates and a shopping and dining area.[10]

A new control tower and TRACON facility opened on August 29, 2012, and was paid for with $13.3 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.[11] The old tower's view of the second runway had been blocked by the new terminal. All 25 controllers stayed to work in the new facility.[12]

On May 18, 2017, demolition began on the former airport terminal.[13]

The old terminal was demolished in early 2018. The site is now a parking lot for airport staff and passengers.[14]

Former carriers

Air Show

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport was the host of an air show between 1983 and 2000. The show was temporarily suspended due to construction of a new terminal; however, it was expected to return after construction was completed.[20] Later that year, reports said the planned renovations to the airport would leave no room for the air show. In early 2017, The Bi-County Airport Board unanimously approved hosting the Northeastern Pennsylvania Air Show at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport from August 12–13, 2017.[21] The show, returned after a 17-year absence in 2017 and featured several acts:

  • U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team
  • U.S. Air Force Heritage Flight Team
  • F-22 Raptor Demo team
  • U.S. Navy F/A-18 TacDemo Team

Subsequent air shows have not occurred.[22]

Facilities

AVP terminal

The airport covers 910 acres (368 ha) and has two asphalt runways:[1][23]

  • 4/22 is 7,502 × 150 ft (2,287 × 46 m)
  • 10/28 is 4,300 × 150 ft (1,311 × 46 m).[1]

General aviation uses the fixed-base operator (FBO) Aviation Technologies.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

The Bureau of U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a property located on airport grounds — on the FBO side of the airport, near the hangars. This U.S. Customs Service office serves as a facilities and crossings for Harrisburg's port of entry.

Customs Location at AVP

Customs

The airport has no scheduled international service, but it has a location to process international flights, on the lower level near Gates 1 & 2, where the airport can isolate international passengers from domestic. With advance notice, the airport can process scheduled international flights or flights that have diverted to AVP.[24]

Terminal

The airport has one passenger terminal with 8 gates. Gates 1 and 2 are on the main level; Gates 3 through 8 are on the upper level.

Gate assignments:

Gates 6 and 7 are used for charter flights and diversions. Gates 1 & 2 are on the lower level. Jets are sometimes parked here if all the other gates are being used or for diversions.

Airlines and destinations

A Continental Connection Dash 8 at the new terminal

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
American Airlines Seasonal: Charlotte[25]
American Eagle Charlotte,[25] Chicago–O'Hare[25]
Breeze Airways Fort Lauderdale,[26] Orlando,[27] Tampa[28]
Seasonal: Fort Myers,[29] Myrtle Beach[30]
United Express Chicago–O'Hare,[31] Washington–Dulles[32]

Secure Luxury Motorcoach Service

In August 2024, American Airlines began offering connecting luxury motorcoaches to/from Philadelphia International Airport from/to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.[33] The service is ticketed and operated as an airline flight but utilizes luxury motorcoaches, given Philadelphia's close proximity to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and available connections as a major hub for American Airlines. This airside-to-airside service, which is solely for screened passengers who booked a seat on the route, is operated by American's bus service partner, Landline, on American's behalf.

Airline shuttles
Bus transport OperatorsDestinationsNotesRefs
American Airlines (operated by Landline)PhiladelphiaPassengers check bags and clear security at AVP, and go directly to PHL via motorcoach[34]

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
FedEx Express Seasonal: Allentown

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from AVP
(April 2025 - March 2026) [35]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Charlotte, North Carolina 73,560 American
2 Chicago-O'Hare, Illinois 63,800 American, United
3 Washington-Dulles, Virginia 32,580 United
4 Orlando, Florida 24,310 Breeze
5 Tampa, Florida 11,280 Breeze
7 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 6,590 Breeze
8 Fort Myers, Florida 6,490 Breeze

Carrier Shares

Carrier shares (January - December 2025)
Based on enplaned passengers both departing and arriving.[36]
Carrier Passengers (arriving and departing)
Breeze
94,010(21.51%)
PSA
89,800(20.55%)
CommuteAir
65,040(14.88%)
GoJet
61,090(13.98%)
Envoy
57,640(13.19%)
Other
69,410(15.88%)

Other consists of carrier that serve AVP including American Airlines, Piedmont Airlines, and SkyWest Airlines.

Annual traffic

Traffic by calendar year[37]
Year Passengers Change Year Passengers Change
2001 375,508 — 2013433,137 Decrease 2.80%
2002 404,201 Increase 7.73% 2014427,920 Decrease 1.20%
2003 362,719 Decrease 10.26% 2015439,128 Increase 2.62%
2004 401,164 Increase 10.60% 2016462,999 Increase 5.44%
2005 439,189 Increase 9.48% 2017531,854 Increase 14.87%
2006422,608 Decrease 3.78% 2018527,928 Decrease 0.74%
2007438,895 Increase 3.85% 2019590,044 Increase 11.77%
2008443,804 Increase 1.12% 2020221,781 Decrease 62.41%
2009413,001 Decrease 6.94% 2021313,107 Increase 41.18%
2010433,972 Increase 5.08% 2022384,371 Increase 22.76%
2011464,560 Increase 7.05% 2023357,969 Decrease 6.87%
2012445,593 Decrease 4.08%

Ground transportation

Car

The airport has direct access to I-81 via Exit 178. The Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 476) can also be accessed from I-81 Southbound via Exit 175.

Bus

Public transit
Bus transport SystemRoute(s)Refs
LCTAOn Demand via LCTA Connects[38]

The Luzerne County Transportation Authority offers flexibility at your fingertips with their new Microtransit Service "LCTA CONNECTS".

Tarmac-to-tarmac shuttle
Bus transport OperatorDestinationNotesRefs
American Airlines (operated by Landline)PhiladelphiaPassengers check bags and clear security at AVP, and go directly to PHL via motorcoach[34]

In August 2024, American Airlines began offering connecting luxury motorcoaches to/from Philadelphia International Airport from/to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.[33] The service is ticketed and operated as an airline flight but utilizes luxury motorcoaches, given Philadelphia's close proximity to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and available connections as a major hub for American Airlines. This airside-to-airside service, which is solely for screened passengers who booked a seat on the route, is operated by American's bus service partner, Landline, on the airline's behalf.

Car Rentals, TNCs and Taxi Service

The following rental car companies provide their services at AVP: Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National. The rental car lot is across from the Terminal Building. With regards to Transportation Network Companies, or TNCs, Uber and Lyft have specific pick-up locations in front of the Terminal Building, on the arrivals side. Taxi service is provided by Burgit's City Taxi, Call-a-Car Taxi and McCarthy Flowered Cabs.

Accidents and incidents

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "FAA Airport Form 5010 for AVP" (PDF). FAA. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Statistics". transtats.bts.gov. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  3. ↑ "AVP - Wilkes Barre Scranton International Airport". AVP. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2006.
  4. ↑ "Col. L. H. Watres, 82, World War Hero, Dies". Scranton Tribune. Scranton, PA. February 7, 1964. pp. 3, 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "We've hailed the chief a few times". Archived from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  6. ↑ "President Biden arrives for event in Wilkes-Barre". wnep.com. August 30, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Pages from the Past » Road to the White House". Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  8. ↑ Wind, Kyle. "President and vice president both visiting Scranton creates extra security challenge".
  9. ↑ Trump to visit Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport Archived November 2, 2020, at the Wayback Machine pahomepage.com
  10. ↑ "HNTB – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport". Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Supplemental Success Stories" (PDF). casey.senate.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  12. ↑ Merger May Help Airport Boost Service Archived March 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine timesleader. com
  13. ↑ "Old Airport Terminal To Come Down". WNEP.com. May 18, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport to Add New Parking Lot". September 21, 2017. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  15. ↑ DuPuis, Roger (June 5, 2020). "Delta suspending service to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and 10 other airports due to COVID-19". Times Leader. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  16. ↑ Michael McNarney
  17. ↑ "Hooters Air Announces Cancellation of Service in Selected Cities." Hooters Air.
  18. ↑ "Allegiant Announces Nonstop, Low-Cost Flights Between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Orlando" (Press release). April 17, 2012. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Airport director: Allegiant exit offers new opportunities - Times Leader". timesleader.com. August 29, 2017. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Air show set for Aug. 12–13 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport - Times Leader". timesleader.com. March 23, 2017. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  21. ↑ Deabill, Eric (March 23, 2017). "Air show returning to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport". Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Air show grounded again this year, future of event uncertain". Yahoo Finance. April 3, 2023. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  23. ↑ "AVP airport data at skyvector.com". skyvector.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Harrisburg, Pennsylvania - 1109 - U.S. Customs and Border Protection". www.cbp.gov. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  25. 1 2 3 O'Boyle, Bill (November 1, 2021). "American Airlines non-stop service to Charlotte and Chicago begins at AVP". Times Leader. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Breeze adding eight cities from Fort Lauderdale, including Tallahassee, Jacksonville". February 24, 2026. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  27. ↑ https://flyavp.com/news/breeze-airways-announces-new-service-from-avp/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  28. ↑ "Direct flights to Tampa from Luzerne County announced". WNEP. June 25, 2024. Archived from the original on October 8, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Breeze Airways announces new service from AVP to Fort Myers, beginning in October". The Times Tribune. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Breeze Airways adding new routes from Myrtle Beach airport starting in June". wbtw. April 24, 2024. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  31. ↑ O'Boyle, Bill (September 5, 2025). "Airport announces additional flights offered by United Airlines, Breeze Airways". Times Leader. Archived from the original on October 30, 2025. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  32. ↑ Cherkauskas, Emily (February 23, 2024). "United Airlines switching service at AVP from Newark to Washington-Dulles". WOLF. Retrieved February 21, 2026.
  33. 1 2 "American Airlines expands 'Landline' Bus service connecting Wilmington Airport with PHL". Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport. May 14, 2024. Archived from the original on August 11, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  34. 1 2 "Trip connections with Landline".
  35. ↑ "OST_R - BTS - Transtats". www.transtats.bts.gov. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  36. ↑ "RITA - BTS - Transtats". Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Passengers All Carriers - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA: Wilkes Barre Scranton International". United States Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  38. ↑ "CONNECTS – LCTA". www.lctabus.com.
  39. ↑ Casey, Aloysius G.; Casey, Patrick A. (2007). Velocity : speed with direction : the professional career of Gen Jerome F. O'Malley. Maxwell Air Force Base, AL: Air University Press. pp. 247–253. ISBN 978-1585661695.
  40. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident North American CT-39A-1-NO Sabreliner 62-4496 Wilkes-Barre International Airport, PA (AVP)". aviation-safety.net. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  41. ↑ "CNN Transcript - WorldView: NTSB Begins Investigation Into Charter Plane Crash in Pennsylvania Which Killed All 19 Onboard - May 21, 2000". www.cnn.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  42. ↑ "Pilot identified in Avoca Airport plane crash". Fox56.com. August 20, 2021. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  43. ↑ Aaron Leedy (September 9, 2021). "NTSB releases preliminary report on fatal air show crash". local21news.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
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