The executive director of Philadelphia International Airport says she still can’t say that PHL has not been included in an airport list where foreign returnees can be evaluated.
The list includes 15 airports, but not Philadelphia, the largest transatlantic hub in the United States, the world’s largest airline and the ninth most active transatlantic airport in the United States. Exclusion means that foreign passengers disembark in Philadelphia.
“It’s a real conundrum for us, why we’re on the list,” Chellie Cameron, CEO of the airport, said in an interview. “We were baffled.
“We are a transatlantic gateway,” Cameron said. “It’s not that there’s the call for today, however, if we’re not on the list and the ban is lifted, I don’t need Philadelphia to be at a disadvantage compared to other airports.”
The airport has an annual economy that has a $2 billion effect on the three-state region, Cameron said. The airport’s employment is approximately 21,000 people, adding approximately 1,000 airport workers and another 20,000 workers through airlines and dealerships.
“In the last two or three weeks, we’ve stepped up our efforts to make sure everyone in Washington understands this is a big challenge for this region,” Cameron said. “We have sought the presence of elected officials (and) we are working with the wonderful Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the business community.”
On Friday, Senators Bob Casey (D.-Pa) and Tom Carper and Chris Coons, Delaware Democrats, signed a letter to Vice President Pence and 3 federal departments requesting that PHL be added to the list.
“PHL is now the largest metropolitan domain without an approved transatlantic bridge state,” the letter reads. “This puts the entire region at a competitive disadvantage compared to other metropolitan spaces along the Northeast Corridor.”
Cameron noted that Delaware senators supported the airport, the state is included in the airport service area.
On Tuesday, Senator Pat Toomey (Republican) wrote a letter to Vice President Mike Pence asking him to “help repair the connection of Philadelphia International Airport to Europe.”
“Airlines plan their service months in advance, and if PHL is not allowed to settle for a reduced European schedule, this extended service disruption can have long-term negative consequences for PHL and the region’s economy if airlines move their operations to PHL. competition along the East Coast, ” wrote Toomey.
When asked if partisan politics could play a role in preventing Philadelphia’s inclusion on the list, Cameron said, “I don’t know if it’s political or not. Several things are being evaluated: the first is resources (involving disease centers at airports). This can be a resource factor with CDC. »
The 15 airports in the “funnel airports” are Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (JFK), Newark, Seattle, San Francisco and Washington (Dulles)
A list of thirteen airports created in March: Fort Lauderdale and Houston were added in May.
The Trump administration “requires all Americans to retreat from affected spaces in Europe to be transported to thirteen airports for testing on their return to the United States,” the Department of Homeland Security said in March. CDC is evaluating.
With the exception of Miami International, the third largest ticket in the United States after JFK and LAX, all airports had routes to Asia, which in March already required inspection of returning passengers through the Centers for Disease Control.
U.S. spokesman Andrew Trull, the carrier, supported the airport’s efforts.
“There is a coordinated effort through airlines, the airport, our unions, industry teams and local/state officials to advocate for the incorporation of Philadelphia as a funnel airport for flights from the UK and Schengen countries,” Trull said. The Schengen domain contains 26 countries in continental Europe.
In addition to American, Philadelphia is served through British Airways, Lufthansa, Aer Lingus, Iceland Air and Qatar Airways. Most expressed interest in restoring service upon returning from the trip, Cameron said.
Currently, the United States from the Schengen countries is limited through a ban imposed by President Trump. The ban applies to non-Americans who have stayed in the countries discussed in the last 14 days. European Union governments are now on the verge of imposing a ban on U.S. citizens for at least two weeks.
Last week, Philadelphia International launched an incentive program intended to help it reclaim traffic lost to the coronavirus crisis. The airport said it would waive airport fees and provide outdoor advertising for both passenger and cargo airlines that add flights.
I’ve been covering airlines since 1989. I am a journalist for six newspapers: Miami Herald, Charlotte Observer, Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Toledo Blade and Aberdeen (Washington).
I’ve been covering airlines since 1989. I am a journalist from six newspapers: Miami Herald, Charlotte Observer, Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Toledo Blade and Aberdeen (Washington) Daily World, and for TheStreet. I also worked for US Airways before mergers as an editor.
My new book, Kenny Riley and Black Union Labor Power in Charleston Harbour, is now on sale. I signed up American Airlines, US Airways and created the world’s largest airline.
Email: [email protected]