HANOVER PA - Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) has seen its highest numbers of passengers and record-breaking air cargo activity since 2004.
From 2022 to 2023, passenger traffic has increased by two percent.
In just one year's difference, it has gone from 912,256 passengers to 930,946 passengers.
The amount of cargo processed increased by 15.8% from 2022 to 2023.
"The Airport Authority is working with Aviation Facilities Company (AFCO) to address an immediate need for additional air cargo capacity - which has seen approximately an 800% jump since 2014. With the Airport located within the Critical Urban Freight Corridor, we anticipate the numbers will continue to trend upward," Says Stoudt.
ABE went from processing 237,945,266 pounds of cargo in 2022, to processing 275,605,699 pounds of cargo in 2023.
Photo courtesy Lehigh Valley International Airport
The following factors contributed to this increase:
In 2023, ABE opened a new TSA Checkpoint and Terminal Connector.
They now have ongoing service to Denver, Colorado and Melbourne, and Florida.
ABE also started the operation of Tailwind concessions and expanded their outreach to the community rest of the community. One of their examples of community outreach includes packing over 1,800 meal boxes for Second Harvest Food Bank in Lehigh Valley.
"The Airport certainly packed a lot of noteworthy events and celebrations into twelve months. It's really a credit to the dedicated staff and stakeholders at ABE, plus the strong support of our loyal passengers and leaders from across the region," - Thomas R. Stoudt, the Executive Director of Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority (LNAA).
Photos courtesy of Lehigh Valley International Airport