(Middletown, PA – March 23, 2011)  The Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) reported today that 92,398 passengers—an increase of 16.1 percent when compared to February 2010—arrived or departed Harrisburg International Airport (HIA) during February 2011. February was the twelfth consecutive month of passenger traffic growth at the airport.  Year-to-date traffic is up 10.6 percent.

“While comparisons to February 2010 are skewed due to the two blizzards last year, February 2011 was another good month for many of the airlines at HIA,” said Fred Sembach, SARAA board member.    “US Airways, Air Canada, AirTran and American Eagle all posted strong increases in year-over-year traffic.  As I mentioned last month, rising fuel costs and increasing airfare could have an impact on future levels of travel at HIA and at airports all over the country.”  

SARAA AWARDS CONTRACT  

The SARAA Board today awarded a not-to-exceed contract of $88,300 to Urban Engineers Inc., of Philadelphia to provide phase two engineering services for an Airport Drainage Improvement project.  The project will conduct a preliminary engineering investigation to develop upstream controls to mitigate the impact of storm water runoff upon the airport’s drainage system. 

SARAA DOES NOT WANT TO BECOME A FBO

The SARAA Board affirmed its position that the operation of a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at Capital City Airport (CXY) should be conducted by one or more private entities and not the Airport Authority.  In 2009, UFS Aero defaulted on it leases at CXY which were assumed by Integrity Bank.  Since then the bank has operated the FBO and has expressed an interested to sell the operation to SARAA.  “We believe that it is in the best interest of all CXY users and our tenants that FBO services continue to be provided by a private entity,” said Tim Edwards, SARAA Executive Director.  “We will continue to work with the bank so that an operating structure can be created to have them or someone else offer FBO services at the airport.” 

SANDRA LOY BELL APPOINTED TO SARAA BOARD

On March 17th, the Cumberland County Commissioners appointed Ms. Sandra Loy Bell to the SARAA Board of Directors as a representative of Cumberland County.  Ms. Bell will fill the unexpired term of Mr. Kirk Wilson, who resigned from the Board on January 12th.  Her appointment will expire on January 5th, 2013.  Ms. Bell is the Chief Executive Officer of Skelly and Loy, Inc. an engineering-environmental consulting firm headquartered in Harrisburg.

The next SARAA Board meeting will take place at 8:00 am on Wednesday, April 27^th, 2011 in the David C. McIntosh Board Room, located on the third floor of the new terminal building, One Terminal Drive, Middletown, PA.   

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.