Philadelphia International Airport

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Philadelphia, PA · PHL

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Recent News

Updated Mar 28, 2026
American Airlines adds Budapest and Prague nonstop routes for spring 2026

American Airlines strengthened its transatlantic gateway at PHL with new European destinations including nonstop service to Budapest and Prague launching in spring 2026. American becomes the only airline to offer nonstop service to Budapest from the U.S., with 20 daily flights to 19 transatlantic destinations in summer 2026.

Philadelphia International Airport
30.9 million passengers in 2024, international traffic up 7.5%

Philadelphia International Airport served 30.9 million passengers in 2024, nearly a 10% increase over 2023, with over 3.8 million international passengers. Despite a 2.5% decrease in 2025 overall traffic to 30.1 million, international traffic grew 7.5% and is expected to continue climbing in 2026 with new routes to Prague and Budapest.

Philadelphia International Airport
ICE agents deployed to PHL security checkpoints amid TSA staffing crisis

Armed ICE agents were deployed to security checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport on March 25, 2026, following President Trump's deployment to 14 airports nationwide amid TSA staffing shortages. District Attorney Larry Krasner appeared at the airport on March 24 warning ICE agents that they would be prosecuted if they commit crimes in Philadelphia's jurisdiction.

The Philadelphia Inquirer·Mar 26, 2026
$500M airport upgrades underway ahead of 2026 events

Philadelphia International Airport is implementing $500 million in capital improvements ahead of major 2026 events including the FIFA World Cup, America's 250th birthday, and MLB All-Star Game. Projects include new restrooms opening in May, modern exit lanes with glass corridors, terminal upgrades with new landscaping, paint, tiles and carpeting to accommodate expected visitor influx.

The Philadelphia Inquirer·Mar 11, 2026

Airport Profile

Governing EntityCity of Philadelphia, Division of Aviation
Entity TypeCity Department
Fiscal Year EndJune
Bond TypeGARB
Rate MethodologyHybrid Compensatory
AUA StatusActive
Agreement Period2023-01-01 – 2026-12-31
S&PA
Moody'sA2
FitchA

Key Financial Data (FY 2025)

CPE$16.33
Signatory Landing Fee$4.6000
Enplanements15,383,186
Total Operating Revenue$497.3M
Total Operating Expense$451.6M
Operating Income$45.7M
Total Debt$1.6B
Rate Covenant1.5x
Unrestricted Cash$52.2M
Landed Weight (1000 lbs)20,300,000

Enplaned Passengers (FAA CATS)

15.4M+4.6%
Route data →

Cost per Enplanement (CPE)

$16.33+8.6%

Revenue

$497.3M+12.5%

Expense

$451.6M+6.6%

Ratemaking Overview

Overall MethodologyHybrid Compensatory
Ratesetting TypeResidual

Settlement & True-Up

Not available

Extraordinary Coverage Protection (ECP)

ECP TypeNone

Not available

Landing Fee Methodology

MethodologyResidual

Not available

Terminal Rental Rate

Not available

Common Use & Gate Allocation

Additional Bonds Test

Additional Bonds may be issued to pay costs of Projects, reimburse prior payments, fund outstanding obligations, refund prior bonds, or finance other Airport System costs. Requirements include: (i) for either the immediately preceding Fiscal Year or any 12 consecutive months during the 18-month period preceding Consultant reports, the Airport System yielded pledged Amounts Available for Debt Service sufficient to satisfy the Rate Covenant; (ii) the Airport System will, in the Consultant's opinion, yield pledged Amounts Available for Debt Service for each of the five Fiscal Years (or three if Consultant unable to opine beyond three) following bond issuance, sufficient to comply with Rate Covenant; and (iii) statement that Airport System is in good operating condition or adequate steps being taken to return to good operating condition. For refunding bonds, no consultant report required if City certifies Debt Service Requirements on refunding bonds do not exceed Debt Service Requirements on refunded bonds in any year.

Rate Covenant

Covenant Ratio1.5x

The City covenants to impose, charge and recognize as revenues such rentals, charges and fees as shall, together with Aviation Operating Fund balance attributable to Amounts Available for Debt Service and all other Amounts Available for Debt Service, be equal to not less than the greater of: (a) sum of: (i) all Net Operating Expenses payable during Fiscal Year; (ii) 150% of Debt Service Requirements during Fiscal Year; (iii) amount required for Sinking Fund Reserve Account; and (iv) amount required for Renewal Fund; or (b) sum of: (i) all Operating Expenses payable during Fiscal Year, and (ii) all Debt Service Requirements, all General Obligation Bond debt service, all Subordinate Obligations debt service, loan repayments, Sinking Fund Reserve and Renewal Fund amounts, and Exchange Agreement amounts.

Flow of Funds

Project Revenues and other amounts deposited into Aviation Funds. Aviation Operating Fund applied in order: (a) Net Operating Expenses; (b) Sinking Fund for Debt Service Requirements; (c) Sinking Fund Reserve Account deficiencies; (d) Renewal Fund deficiencies and Exchange Agreement payments; (e) Qualified Swap termination payments; (f) Subordinate Obligation Fund; (g) General Obligation Bonds (none outstanding); (h) Interdepartment Charges; (i) NSS General Obligation Bonds (none outstanding). Remaining amounts may be used at City direction for Airport System purposes, including: (j) Bond Redemption and Improvement Account; (k) O&M Account; (l) Airline Revenue Allocation; (m) Discretionary Account.

1.Net Operating Expenses — Pay Net Operating Expenses in timely manner
2.Sinking Fund - Debt Service — Deposit amount necessary for timely payment of Debt Service Requirements
3.Sinking Fund Reserve Account — Deposit amount to eliminate deficiencies; if insufficient funds, prorate among accounts/subaccounts based on Sinking Fund Reserve Requirements
4.Renewal Fund — Deposit amount to eliminate deficiency and pay amounts due under Exchange Agreements
5.Qualified Swap Termination — Pay termination amounts to Qualified Swap Provider and JP Morgan Chase Bank for Interest Rate Swap Transaction effective June 15, 2005
6.Subordinate Obligation Fund — (i) principal/redemption price/interest on Subordinate Obligations; (ii) payments due under credit/liquidity/swap facilities; (iii) interest on bond anticipation notes; (iv) Sinking Fund Reserve subaccount for Subordinate Obligations
7.General Obligation Bonds — Pay principal/redemption price/interest on General Obligation Bonds (none currently outstanding)
8.Interdepartment Charges — Pay Interdepartment Charges
9.NSS General Obligation Bonds — Pay principal/redemption price/interest on non-self-sustaining General Obligation Bonds (none currently outstanding)
10.Discretionary (Airport System purposes) — After transfers (a)-(i), remaining amounts may be used at City written direction for Airport System purposes including: (j) Bond Redemption and Improvement Account; (k) O&M Account; (l) Airline Revenue Allocation (50% of prior FY net revenue from Outside Terminal Areas Cost Center reduced by up to $7M); (m) Discretionary Account

Source Documents

Financial Statements

fy2024-aviation-annual-disclosure-report.pdf

+1 more

Source: FAA CATS Form 5100-127, DOT T-100 Market Data, Airport Official Statements · Hub classification: FAA CY 2024 Enplanement Data · Prepared by DWU Consulting