State and Chamber Funding Targets Nonstop Flights at Lehigh Valley International Airport
Lehigh Valley International Airport could soon restore international passenger routes following a combined $300,000 infusion from the state and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, mcall.com reported. The state is contributing $250,000 alongside $50,000 from the chamber to help the facility compete for nonstop service to Canada, Puerto Rico, and Caribbean destinations.
International flights vanished from the Hanover Township airfield in August 2012 when Air Canada halted its daily Toronto run. Today, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines serve domestic destinations like Florida cities and major airline hubs in Atlanta, Chicago, and Charlotte.
Public-Private Partnership Drives Air Service Development
State Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh, helped secure the funding to capture regional momentum. “Lehigh Valley International Airport is experiencing tremendous growth, and now is the time to build on that momentum by competing for new nonstop routes,” Miller said in a statement released on Friday.
The money supports air service development by letting airport executives meet with carriers interested in establishing new routes based on passenger demand. Chamber President and CEO Tony Iannelli noted that the growing regional population, especially within the Hispanic community, makes the Caribbean and Puerto Rican routes vital for both local travelers and the regional economy.
Infrastructure Expansion Prepares Airport for Growth
The push for new routes coincides with several physical upgrades across the Lehigh Valley International Airport property. An expanded security checkpoint opened in 2023, and a 145-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel next to the terminal is scheduled to open in early 2027. Additionally, the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority Board of Governors approved a five-story parking garage connected to the Main Terminal, with a scheduled completion date in 2029.
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