First Quarter 2011 Traffic up 8.8% at Harrisburg International Airport

(Middletown, PA – April 27, 2011)  The Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) reported today that 297,537 total passengers—an increase of 8.8 percent when compared to the first quarter of 2010—arrived or departed Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) during the first quarter of 2011. It was the busiest first quarter since 2008 and the second busiest since 2005. 

“Overall we had a good first quarter.  US Airways continues to recapture lost market share as their increased service to Charlotte and Philadelphia, combined with their resumption of service to New York-LaGuardia, has allowed them to become the fastest growing airline at the airport,” said Glenn Manning, SARAA Chairman of the Board. “We continue to work with our airline partners to monitor airfares and future levels of service.  Once again, the rapidly increasing cost of fuel is having an extremely negative impact on the entire industry.” 

SARAA CONTINUES TO WORK ON REGIONAL FLOODING ISSUE  

A March 2007 Jednota Flood Study demonstrated that current drainage pathways to remove water from the Jednota Flats residential development area—which is located within the 100-year flood plain—are not large enough to remove water as fast as it flows into the area.  The HRG report recommended three possible alternatives to improve the flooding situation with a total estimated cost of at least $12.4 million. 

Since HIA is located between the Jednota Flats development and the Susquehanna River, much of the region’s storm water flows over, through and/or under portions of airport property.  Timothy Edwards, HIA Executive Director, explained that in 2005, and in 2010, SARAA maintenance staff removed debris, silt and obstructions throughout the drainage system and from a retention pond located along Route 230.  In addition, in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, SARAA has awarded contracts totaling nearly $400,000 to: 

• Obtain a permit to once again remove silt in the Route 230 retention pond.  Estimated Cost:  $30,000.
• Prepare plans and specs to repair or replace a 96-inch brick arch culvert beneath Airport Drive.  Cost:  $112,633
• Rehabilitate two storm water electrical pumps located at the end of the drainage system near the Susquehanna River.  Cost:  $170,910
• Provide engineering services for a preliminary engineering investigation to develop upstream controls to mitigate the impact of storm water runoff on the airport’s drainage system.  Cost:  $88,300

“Because most of the drainage system’s constraints take place before reaching airport property, all of our ongoing actions will not have a measurable impact on relieving flooding in the Jednota area.  However, the projects undertaken by the airport will help water to flow to the river as efficiently as possible and may assist mitigating upstream storm water impacts,” said Edwards. 

SARAA RECIEVES CLEAN AUDIT

Today, KPMG, LLP of Harrisburg issued a clean “unqualified” audit report regarding SARAA’s financial activities as of and for the years ending December 31, 2010 and 2009.  The audit states that SARAA’s financial statements were presented fairly and in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  In addition, KPMG, LLP also released a single audit report that did not identify any deficiencies in internal control over compliance and the use of Passenger Facility Charges and funding received from the federal Airport Improvement Program. 

The next SARAA Board meeting will take place at 8:00 am on Wednesday, May 25^th, 2011 at the Manchester Township Municipal Office, 3200 Farmtrail Road, York, PA.