Westchester County Airport
Encyclopedia
Westchester County Airport is a county-owned public-use airport
in Westchester County
, New York
, United States
. It is located three nautical mile
s (6 km
) northeast of the central business district
of White Plains
, in the towns of Harrison
, North Castle
and Rye Brook
.
It serves the areas of Westchester, a northern suburb of New York City
, as well as Fairfield County, Connecticut
, as the New York-Connecticut
state
border coincides with the airport's eastern limits. It also serves the New York metropolitan area
, as it is about 33 miles (53 km) north of Midtown Manhattan
. It is often used by those who wish to avoid the congestion of the other New York City-area airports.
The Westchester County Airport currently has seven commercial airlines flying to fifteen destinations around the United States, with an additional destination to the Caribbean beginning November 15, 2011.
This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
for 2011–2015, which categorized
it as a primary commercial service airport. As per Federal Aviation Administration
records, the airport had 904,482 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year
2008, 964,927 enplanements in 2009, and 999,831 in 2010.
in 1942 as a home to an Air National Guard
unit to protect New York City and Rye Lake, part of the city's water supply system. In May 1983, with the quick growth of the suburban area in Westchester, the Guard unit was moved to Stewart International Airport
further to the north near Newburgh
.
The first scheduled airline flights were American Airlines in late 1949; they had one weekday morning flight La Guardia to HPN to Syracuse and beyond, returning in the evening. Mohawk replaced American in 1955, it and successor Allegheny Airlines
serving HPN until 1979. (The first scheduled jet flight was a Mohawk BAC 1-11 in 1965.) Before the passing of the Airline Deregulation Act
the airport was served by several regional airlines, including Allegheny, Command Airways
and Empire Airlines
. Air Florida
arrived in 1980 and United Airlines in 1983-84. On January 5, 2006, the airport was the point of departure for the last flight of Independence Air
; a flight to Washington, D.C.
at 7:26 pm.
The airport is presently served by seven commercial airlines. Besides Independence Air
, Continental Airlines
used to serve the airport, with non-stop service to Cleveland on Continental Connection
.
This airport has become a focus for low-cost carriers AirTran
and JetBlue, for their Northeast to Southeast markets. They are looking to continue to add new service and add connections throughout their route networks.
, Orlando
and West Palm Beach. It later expanded with flights to Ft. Lauderdale
, Ft. Myers
and Tampa
. They later cut back the 3 expanded routes and went back to just Atlanta, Orlando and West Palm Beach. AirTran continues to operate these routes today.
JetBlue began service at the airport in 2007. Today, JetBlue is the airport's largest air carrier. It operates 12 daily round trips to five destinations: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando
, Tampa
, and West Palm Beach. Beginning November 15, 2011, JetBlue will fly nonstop between HPN and Nassau, Bahamas (NAS), using their Embraer 190 aircraft. Customers use this airport as an alternative to the busy John F. Kennedy
, LaGuardia
, and Newark Liberty airports.
In June 2009 Cape Air
became the most recent airline to serve Westchester County Airport, with service to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard
in Massachusetts
. Cape Air introduced service to Lebanon Municipal Airport in New Hampshire
during early 2010. All Cape Air flights depart and arrive from the Signature Flight Support facility located south of the Main Terminal due to a lack of ticket counter space in the main terminal building.
JetBlue
began a daily flight from HPN to Nassau, Bahamas
on November 15, 2011. The flight is operated on regional jet, Embraer 190 and is the only International flight from the airport.
, United Express
, and US Airways Express
asked for approval for new routes, and all were rejected.
Through Southwest Airlines
aqqusition of AirTran Airways
, Southwest will be entering the White Plains Airport once a single operating certificate is awarded. This will create competition with rival JetBlue
, who has been the primary carrier at HPN since late 2007. As Southwest
is looking to improve its presence in the New York market, they could use HPN as a secondary airport from the busier New York City airports.
announced that it would be dropping service at the airport. This ended all international service at the airport until November 2011 when JetBlue Airways
begins service to Nassau
, Bahamas.
On November 18, 2010, American Airlines
ended its service to Chicago-O'Hare
on American Eagle
. Instead, they began using AmericanConnection
, operated by Chautauqua Airlines
, using its ERJ-140 aircraft. Service to Chicago is the airport's fourth busiest route. United Airlines
operates the route as well, using both Embraer 170 and Canadair Regional Jets.
The Westchester County Airport is fully committed to achieving excellence in environmental protection by integrating environmental values into all airport activities. This is accomplished through the AEMS, an ISO 14001 certified Airport Environmental Management System through which the airport’s environmental performance is monitored; airport-wide environmental management practices are continually improved; and employees receive environmental training. The Westchester County Airport was, in 2004, the third airport in the U.S. to achieve this level of environmental performance.
Also, due to its location near a number of residential neighborhoods, Westchester County Airport instituted a Voluntary Restraint from Flying Program, sometimes referred to as a voluntary curfew, which has helped to ease some of the local concern of noise resulting from airport activity. In an effort to alleviate concerns over expansion and noise, planning studies are done on a regular basis.
In May 2011, NYSDOT released the "New York Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study," quantifying the level of economic activity that was attributable to the aviation sector for the year 2009 in the State of New York. The study noted that HPN was one of only three airports in the state that gained emplanements, performing better than the U.S. benchmark. The study also noted that the total economic impact of the airport was approximately $736 million.
, Purchase
, and North Castle
. The full ICAO code for Westchester County Airport is KHPN.
s (284 ha
) at an elevation
of 439 feet (134 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt
paved runway
s: 16/34 is 6,548 by 150 feet (1,996 x 46 m) and 11/29 is 4,451 by 150 feet (1,357 x 46 m). Runway 29's threshold is displaced 1,297 feet (395 m) due to trees obstructing the approach path. The trees (in Connecticut) are 37 ft (11 m) tall and 370 ft (113 m) from the end of the runway.
The runways can handle planes such as AirTran's
Boeing 717
and Boeing 737
and JetBlue's Airbus A320
aircraft, though the county no longer allows airlines to operate aircraft the size of JetBlue's Airbus A320 and larger.
Westchester County Airport has several fixed-base operators (FBOs), including Avitat, Signature Flight Support, Landmark, NetJets
, Panorama, and Million Air. Although varied in services offered, the FBOs at Westchester County Airport provide Jet A and 100LL fueling services, repairs and maintenance, aircraft tiedowns, de-icing, United States Customs, and other aircraft services. Some of the FBOs are particularly luxurious, providing limousine
transportation services and deluxe surroundings.
There are two nationally-recognized flight schools at the Westchester County Airport. Performance Flight operates out of the Million Air at Hangar M, while Panorama Flight School operates out of the Panorama Flight Services at Hangar T. Additionally, the Westchester Flying Club, a private organization of pilots, is based at the airport as well as the Westchester Aviation Association, a not-for-profit organization which promotes aviation education and understanding on the part of government authorities and the public.
Westchester County Airport is also the current home of the New York Wing of the United States Civil Air Patrol
, as well as the Southeastern Group of the New York Wing. Both are housed in the same building as the Airport Precinct
of the Westchester County Police. These facilities were partially remodeled to accommodate the recent arrival of the New York Wing.
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2010, the airport had 191,017 total aircraft operations, an average of 523 per day: 23% commercial aviation, 48% heavy general aviation, and 29% light general aviation. In 2010 there were 260 based- aircraft out of this airport.
, JetBlue and occasionally United Express
use these gates, because they use larger planes, such as the Boeing 717
, Embraer 190 and the Embraer 170. The other airlines' smaller regional jets and propeller planes can also reach the jetways but requires an additional small ramp assist. Depending on gate occupancy, ramp supervisors may call any aircraft (despite size) to a gate without a jetway. This sometimes requires passengers to deplane and board onto the tarmac via airstairs. The airlines have specific time slots regarding arrivals so the jetways are usually reserved for the larger jets (JetBlue, AirTran and Delta Connection). The terminal also has one luggage carousel, one baggage reclaim office and two Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) screening lanes. When not assigned to the jetbridge-equipped gates, JetBlue avoids delays by using their own stairs and ramps to board the aircraft from the front and back simultaneously. The stairs and ramps are property of JetBlue and are not used by any other airline.
On the second level of the terminal there is a coffee shop, a bar and a restaurant with taxiway and runway views. On the third floor there is an outside observation deck allowing passengers to view aircraft on the runways and taxiways. An ATM is located on the second floor of the terminal and there is a small convenience shop on the first floor. The coffee shop, bar and restaurant are all located outside of the TSA checkpoint. There is, however, a small snack stand located within the TSA secured departure lounge.
, the airport's newest airline, was located out of the main terminal due to lack of counter space in the main terminal building. The counter is currently dominated by JetBlue, taking up most of the space.
s offer scheduled passenger service at this airport:
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located three nautical mile
Nautical mile
The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
s (6 km
Kilometre
The kilometre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousand metres and is therefore exactly equal to the distance travelled by light in free space in of a second...
) northeast of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of White Plains
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
, in the towns of Harrison
Harrison, New York
Harrison is a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States, located approximately northeast of Manhattan. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census.-Establishment:...
, North Castle
North Castle, New York
North Castle is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 11,841 at the 2010 census. It has no villages.-Geography:...
and Rye Brook
Rye Brook, New York
Rye Brook is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States, within the town of Rye. Prior to the village's establishment on July 7, 1982, the area was an unincorporated section of the town of Rye...
.
It serves the areas of Westchester, a northern suburb of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, as well as Fairfield County, Connecticut
Fairfield County, Connecticut
Fairfield County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The county population is 916,829 according to the 2010 Census. There are currently 1,465 people per square mile in the county. It is the most populous county in the State of Connecticut and contains...
, as the New York-Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
border coincides with the airport's eastern limits. It also serves the New York metropolitan area
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
, as it is about 33 miles (53 km) north of Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
. It is often used by those who wish to avoid the congestion of the other New York City-area airports.
The Westchester County Airport currently has seven commercial airlines flying to fifteen destinations around the United States, with an additional destination to the Caribbean beginning November 15, 2011.
This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems is an inventory of U.S. aviation infrastructure assets. It is developed and maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration . Its purposes are:* to identify all the airports in the U.S...
for 2011–2015, which categorized
FAA airport categories
The United States Federal Aviation Administration has a system for categorizing public-use airports that is primarily based on the level of commercial passenger traffic through each facility. It is used to determine if an airport is eligible for funding through the federal government's Airport...
it as a primary commercial service airport. As per Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
records, the airport had 904,482 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year
Calendar year
Generally speaking, a calendar year begins on the New Year's Day of the given calendar system and ends on the day before the following New Year's Day. By convention, a calendar year consists of a natural number of days. To reconcile the calendar year with an astronomical cycle , certain years...
2008, 964,927 enplanements in 2009, and 999,831 in 2010.
History
Westchester County Airport was built during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1942 as a home to an Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
unit to protect New York City and Rye Lake, part of the city's water supply system. In May 1983, with the quick growth of the suburban area in Westchester, the Guard unit was moved to Stewart International Airport
Stewart International Airport
Stewart International Airport is located in the southern Hudson Valley, west of Newburgh, New York and over north of Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The airport is located in the Town of Newburgh and the Town of New Windsor."." U.S. Census Bureau...
further to the north near Newburgh
Newburgh (city), New York
Newburgh is a city located in Orange County, New York, United States, north of New York City, and south of Albany, on the Hudson River. Newburgh is a principal city of the Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown metropolitan area, which includes all of Dutchess and Orange counties. The Newburgh area was...
.
The first scheduled airline flights were American Airlines in late 1949; they had one weekday morning flight La Guardia to HPN to Syracuse and beyond, returning in the evening. Mohawk replaced American in 1955, it and successor Allegheny Airlines
Allegheny Airlines
Allegheny Airlines was an airline operating out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, from 1952 to 1979. It was a forerunner of today’s US Airways. Its headquarters were located on the grounds of Washington National Airport in Arlington County, Virginia....
serving HPN until 1979. (The first scheduled jet flight was a Mohawk BAC 1-11 in 1965.) Before the passing of the Airline Deregulation Act
Airline Deregulation Act
The Airline Deregulation Act is a United States federal law signed into law on October 24, 1978. The main purpose of the act was to remove government control over fares, routes and market entry from commercial aviation...
the airport was served by several regional airlines, including Allegheny, Command Airways
Command Airways
Command Airways was a regional airline based at the Dutchess County Airport in Wappinger, New York, just outside Poughkeepsie where it began operations in 1965 as Mid-Hudson Airlines....
and Empire Airlines
Empire Airlines
Empire Airlines is a charter and cargo airline based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA. It operates over 120 scheduled and charter cargo flights a day in 18 US states and Canada. Its main base is Coeur d'Alene Airport with a hub at Spokane International Airport....
. Air Florida
Air Florida
Air Florida was an American low-cost carrier that operated from 1971 to 1984. In 1975 it was headquartered in the Dadeland Towers in what is now the Kendall CDP in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
arrived in 1980 and United Airlines in 1983-84. On January 5, 2006, the airport was the point of departure for the last flight of Independence Air
Independence Air
Independence Air was a low-cost airline, owned by FLYi, Inc., headquartered in the Loudoun Gateway Corporate Center in Dulles, unincorporated Loudoun County, Virginia, United States that operated from 1989 until 2006. Its route network focused on the East Coast of the United States, but it also...
; a flight to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
at 7:26 pm.
The airport is presently served by seven commercial airlines. Besides Independence Air
Independence Air
Independence Air was a low-cost airline, owned by FLYi, Inc., headquartered in the Loudoun Gateway Corporate Center in Dulles, unincorporated Loudoun County, Virginia, United States that operated from 1989 until 2006. Its route network focused on the East Coast of the United States, but it also...
, Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
used to serve the airport, with non-stop service to Cleveland on Continental Connection
Continental Connection
Continental Connection is a brand name under which several commuter airline carriers and their holding companies operate services marketed exclusively by Continental Airlines...
.
This airport has become a focus for low-cost carriers AirTran
AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of the Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida. AirTran operates over 650 daily flights , primarily in the eastern and midwestern United States...
and JetBlue, for their Northeast to Southeast markets. They are looking to continue to add new service and add connections throughout their route networks.
Airline expansions
AirTran began service at the airport in 2006. The airline initially operated AtlantaHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport , known locally as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, and Hartsfield–Jackson, is located seven miles south of the central business district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
, Orlando
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
and West Palm Beach. It later expanded with flights to Ft. Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport is an international commercial airport located in unincorporated Broward County, Florida, three miles southwest of the central business district of Fort Lauderdale...
, Ft. Myers
Southwest Florida International Airport
-Statistics:-Accidents and incidents:* November 28, 2007 - A single-engine fixed wing aircraft crashed about 9:20 a.m. one mile west of Runway 6. The crash killed the pilot...
and Tampa
Tampa International Airport
Tampa International Airport is a major public airport located six nautical miles west of the central business district of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority...
. They later cut back the 3 expanded routes and went back to just Atlanta, Orlando and West Palm Beach. AirTran continues to operate these routes today.
JetBlue began service at the airport in 2007. Today, JetBlue is the airport's largest air carrier. It operates 12 daily round trips to five destinations: Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, and West Palm Beach. Beginning November 15, 2011, JetBlue will fly nonstop between HPN and Nassau, Bahamas (NAS), using their Embraer 190 aircraft. Customers use this airport as an alternative to the busy John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
, LaGuardia
LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally...
, and Newark Liberty airports.
In June 2009 Cape Air
Cape Air
Hyannis Air Service, Inc., operating as Cape Air, is an airline headquartered at Barnstable Municipal Airport in Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. It operates scheduled passenger services in the Northeast, Florida, the Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic States, Midwest, and Micronesia...
became the most recent airline to serve Westchester County Airport, with service to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. Cape Air introduced service to Lebanon Municipal Airport in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
during early 2010. All Cape Air flights depart and arrive from the Signature Flight Support facility located south of the Main Terminal due to a lack of ticket counter space in the main terminal building.
JetBlue
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens....
began a daily flight from HPN to Nassau, Bahamas
Lynden Pindling International Airport
- Trivia :During World War II,it was known as Windsor Field used by the Royal Air Force Transferring Fighter and Bomber aircraft such as the B-17, B-24, and the P-40 from New Providence to Italian, North African and European Theatres of War and as a station for Consolidated Liberator I and North...
on November 15, 2011. The flight is operated on regional jet, Embraer 190 and is the only International flight from the airport.
Possible airline expansions
Flights to/from White Plains are extremely limited, and many end up full. The airport limits the number of passengers who may pass through the main terminal building per half hour to 240. Also, only four gates may be used at one time because only four aircraft may be scheduled to use the Terminal Ramp at any time. In 2010, AirTran AirwaysAirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of the Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida. AirTran operates over 650 daily flights , primarily in the eastern and midwestern United States...
, United Express
United Express
United Express is a brand name under which eight regional airlines operate feeder flights for United Airlines. They primarily connect smaller cities with United's domestic hub airports and “focus cities,” although they offer some point-to-point service such as Sacramento to Eureka.As of Sept...
, and US Airways Express
US Airways Express
US Airways Express is an airline brand name, rather than a fully certified airline, and as such, the US Airways Express name is used by several individually owned airlines or airline holding companies which provide regional airline and commuter service for US Airways.Operations are conducted from...
asked for approval for new routes, and all were rejected.
Through Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
aqqusition of AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of the Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida. AirTran operates over 650 daily flights , primarily in the eastern and midwestern United States...
, Southwest will be entering the White Plains Airport once a single operating certificate is awarded. This will create competition with rival JetBlue
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens....
, who has been the primary carrier at HPN since late 2007. As Southwest
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
is looking to improve its presence in the New York market, they could use HPN as a secondary airport from the busier New York City airports.
Loss of service
In June 2010, Air CanadaAir Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
announced that it would be dropping service at the airport. This ended all international service at the airport until November 2011 when JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens....
begins service to Nassau
Nassau
- Placenames :Germany*Nassau, Germany, a town in Rhineland-Palatinate founded in AD 915, after which all the following are named, directly or indirectly*Nassau Castle, ancestral seat of the House of Nassau...
, Bahamas.
On November 18, 2010, American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
ended its service to Chicago-O'Hare
O'Hare International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
on American Eagle
American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
. Instead, they began using AmericanConnection
AmericanConnection
AmericanConnection is a brand name used by Chautauqua Airlines in the operation of passenger air service as a regional affiliate of American Airlines at its Chicago hub...
, operated by Chautauqua Airlines
Chautauqua Airlines
Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. is a regional airline and a subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Based on 2009 published flight schedules, it operates scheduled passenger services on more than 700 flights daily to 98 airports in 31 states, Washington, D.C...
, using its ERJ-140 aircraft. Service to Chicago is the airport's fourth busiest route. United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
operates the route as well, using both Embraer 170 and Canadair Regional Jets.
Local context
After several renovations, as well as discussions about the airport's viability, the airport is presently served by seven airlines to a range of fifteen destinations in the United States. Although there has always been some controversy about the airport and proposed expansions, more concerns have occurred recently as a result of passengers seeking relief from the long delays at the other New York airports. The most recent concerns have to do with flight paths and traffic congestion; the latter has been addressed by the County of Westchester with Bee-Line bus service to the airport and the encouragement of travelers to get rides to the airport.The Westchester County Airport is fully committed to achieving excellence in environmental protection by integrating environmental values into all airport activities. This is accomplished through the AEMS, an ISO 14001 certified Airport Environmental Management System through which the airport’s environmental performance is monitored; airport-wide environmental management practices are continually improved; and employees receive environmental training. The Westchester County Airport was, in 2004, the third airport in the U.S. to achieve this level of environmental performance.
Also, due to its location near a number of residential neighborhoods, Westchester County Airport instituted a Voluntary Restraint from Flying Program, sometimes referred to as a voluntary curfew, which has helped to ease some of the local concern of noise resulting from airport activity. In an effort to alleviate concerns over expansion and noise, planning studies are done on a regular basis.
In May 2011, NYSDOT released the "New York Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study," quantifying the level of economic activity that was attributable to the aviation sector for the year 2009 in the State of New York. The study noted that HPN was one of only three airports in the state that gained emplanements, performing better than the U.S. benchmark. The study also noted that the total economic impact of the airport was approximately $736 million.
IATA code
The IATA code for Westchester County Airport is HPN. There is a small debate in the origins of this code. Many believe that it is derived from the name of the city, White Plains (IATA codes normally do not begin with W because those are reserved for radio signals). Others, however, believe that the IATA code represents the first letter of the three neighboring communities, HarrisonHarrison, New York
Harrison is a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States, located approximately northeast of Manhattan. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census.-Establishment:...
, Purchase
Purchase, New York
Purchase, New York is a hamlet of the town of Harrison, in Westchester County. Its ZIP code is 10577. Its name is derived from Harrison's purchase, for Harrison could have as much land as he could ride in one day...
, and North Castle
North Castle, New York
North Castle is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 11,841 at the 2010 census. It has no villages.-Geography:...
. The full ICAO code for Westchester County Airport is KHPN.
Facilities and aircraft
Westchester County Airport covers an area of 702 acreAcre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s (284 ha
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
) at an elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 439 feet (134 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
paved runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s: 16/34 is 6,548 by 150 feet (1,996 x 46 m) and 11/29 is 4,451 by 150 feet (1,357 x 46 m). Runway 29's threshold is displaced 1,297 feet (395 m) due to trees obstructing the approach path. The trees (in Connecticut) are 37 ft (11 m) tall and 370 ft (113 m) from the end of the runway.
The runways can handle planes such as AirTran's
AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of the Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida. AirTran operates over 650 daily flights , primarily in the eastern and midwestern United States...
Boeing 717
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of...
and Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
and JetBlue's Airbus A320
Airbus A320
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
aircraft, though the county no longer allows airlines to operate aircraft the size of JetBlue's Airbus A320 and larger.
Westchester County Airport has several fixed-base operators (FBOs), including Avitat, Signature Flight Support, Landmark, NetJets
NetJets
NetJets, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, offers fractional ownership and rental of private business jets.-History:NetJets Inc., formerly Executive Jet Aviation, was founded in 1964 as one of the first private business jet charter and aircraft management companies...
, Panorama, and Million Air. Although varied in services offered, the FBOs at Westchester County Airport provide Jet A and 100LL fueling services, repairs and maintenance, aircraft tiedowns, de-icing, United States Customs, and other aircraft services. Some of the FBOs are particularly luxurious, providing limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
transportation services and deluxe surroundings.
There are two nationally-recognized flight schools at the Westchester County Airport. Performance Flight operates out of the Million Air at Hangar M, while Panorama Flight School operates out of the Panorama Flight Services at Hangar T. Additionally, the Westchester Flying Club, a private organization of pilots, is based at the airport as well as the Westchester Aviation Association, a not-for-profit organization which promotes aviation education and understanding on the part of government authorities and the public.
Westchester County Airport is also the current home of the New York Wing of the United States Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
, as well as the Southeastern Group of the New York Wing. Both are housed in the same building as the Airport Precinct
Precinct
A precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building, or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it. The term has several different uses...
of the Westchester County Police. These facilities were partially remodeled to accommodate the recent arrival of the New York Wing.
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2010, the airport had 191,017 total aircraft operations, an average of 523 per day: 23% commercial aviation, 48% heavy general aviation, and 29% light general aviation. In 2010 there were 260 based- aircraft out of this airport.
Terminal
Westchester County Airport has one relatively small three-level terminal with six gate spaces (A,B,C,F,G,H), of which only four may be used because only four aircraft may be scheduled to use the Terminal Ramp at any time. Gates C and F are the only gates that have jetways. Generally AirTran AirwaysAirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of the Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida. AirTran operates over 650 daily flights , primarily in the eastern and midwestern United States...
, JetBlue and occasionally United Express
United Express
United Express is a brand name under which eight regional airlines operate feeder flights for United Airlines. They primarily connect smaller cities with United's domestic hub airports and “focus cities,” although they offer some point-to-point service such as Sacramento to Eureka.As of Sept...
use these gates, because they use larger planes, such as the Boeing 717
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of...
, Embraer 190 and the Embraer 170. The other airlines' smaller regional jets and propeller planes can also reach the jetways but requires an additional small ramp assist. Depending on gate occupancy, ramp supervisors may call any aircraft (despite size) to a gate without a jetway. This sometimes requires passengers to deplane and board onto the tarmac via airstairs. The airlines have specific time slots regarding arrivals so the jetways are usually reserved for the larger jets (JetBlue, AirTran and Delta Connection). The terminal also has one luggage carousel, one baggage reclaim office and two Transportation Security Administration
Transportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States....
(TSA) screening lanes. When not assigned to the jetbridge-equipped gates, JetBlue avoids delays by using their own stairs and ramps to board the aircraft from the front and back simultaneously. The stairs and ramps are property of JetBlue and are not used by any other airline.
On the second level of the terminal there is a coffee shop, a bar and a restaurant with taxiway and runway views. On the third floor there is an outside observation deck allowing passengers to view aircraft on the runways and taxiways. An ATM is located on the second floor of the terminal and there is a small convenience shop on the first floor. The coffee shop, bar and restaurant are all located outside of the TSA checkpoint. There is, however, a small snack stand located within the TSA secured departure lounge.
Possible terminal modifications
Over the years the Westchester County Airport has had an increase in passenger enplanements per year. However, there is presently a constraint on the number of incoming and outgoing commercial passengers out of the main terminal building at the airport to 240 passengers per half hour. Due to the county's limits, airlines would have to make arrangements to ensure compliance with this passenger cap. There are no plans to expand the terminal at this time. Cape AirCape Air
Hyannis Air Service, Inc., operating as Cape Air, is an airline headquartered at Barnstable Municipal Airport in Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. It operates scheduled passenger services in the Northeast, Florida, the Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic States, Midwest, and Micronesia...
, the airport's newest airline, was located out of the main terminal due to lack of counter space in the main terminal building. The counter is currently dominated by JetBlue, taking up most of the space.
Airlines and scheduled non-stop destinations
The following airlineAirline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
s offer scheduled passenger service at this airport:
Statistics
| Rank | City | Airport | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in... |
ATL | 197,000 |
| 2 | Orlando, Florida Orlando, Florida Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States... |
MCO Orlando International Airport Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport... |
167,000 |
| 3 | West Palm Beach, Florida West Palm Beach, Florida West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida... |
PBI Palm Beach International Airport Palm Beach International Airport is a public airport located 3 nautical miles west of Palm Beach, Florida, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and serves Palm Beach County. The airport is operated and maintained by Palm Beach County Department of Airports. Road access to the airport is available... |
143,000 |
| 4 | Chicago, Illinois | ORD O'Hare International Airport Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop... |
109,000 |
| 5 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010... |
FLL | 90,000 |
| 6 | Detroit, Michigan Detroit, Michigan Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River... |
DTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport.... |
58,000 |
| 7 | Fort Myers, Florida Fort Myers, Florida Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure.... |
RSW Southwest Florida International Airport -Statistics:-Accidents and incidents:* November 28, 2007 - A single-engine fixed wing aircraft crashed about 9:20 a.m. one mile west of Runway 6. The crash killed the pilot... |
54,000 |
| 8 | Arlington, Virginia / Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... |
DCA | 39,000 |
| 9 | Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009... |
CLT | 37,000 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,... |
PHL Philadelphia International Airport Philadelphia International Airport is a major airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley region and in Pennsylvania... |
31,000 |
Popular culture
- Westchester County Airport was used in the film Meet the ParentsMeet the ParentsMeet the Parents is a 2000 American comedy film written by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg and directed by Jay Roach. Starring Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller, the film chronicles a series of unfortunate events that befall a good-hearted but hapless male nurse while visiting his girlfriend's parents...
to represent Chicago's O'Hare International AirportO'Hare International AirportChicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
and New York's LaGuardia AirportLaGuardia AirportLaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally...
. - The airport was a filming location for The Best ManThe Best Man (1999 film)The Best Man is a 1999 romantic comedy-drama film, written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. It was produced by Spike Lee's production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks. The film stars Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut and Sanaa Lathan, and is considered to be a male-centered answer to...
and Random HeartsRandom HeartsRandom Hearts is a 1984 novel by American author Warren Adler. In 1999, the novel was made into a motion picture directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott Thomas.-Plot summary :...
. - The 1986 film SpaceCampSpaceCampSpaceCamp is a 1986 American film based on a book by Patrick Bailey and Larry B. Williams and inspired by the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Directed by Harry Winer from a screenplay by Clifford Green and Casey T. Mitchell, the film stars Kate Capshaw, Kelly Preston, Larry B...
mentions White Plains as a possible landing site for the space shuttle; the characters soon realize that the landing site they're thinking of is the White Sands Missile RangeWhite Sands Missile RangeWhite Sands Missile Range is a rocket range of almost in parts of five counties in southern New Mexico. The largest military installation in the United States, WSMR includes the and the WSMR Otera Mesa bombing range...
in New Mexico, and not the airport (which is far too small to handle a shuttle landing). - Westchester County Airport was used in a Law & OrderLaw & OrderLaw & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
episode called "All In The Family". - In The West Wing episode "Celestial Navigation" Leo tells Toby and Sam to "Fly to Westchester County Airport and rent a car" in order to get their United States Supreme Court nominee, Roberto Mendoza, out of jail in Connecticut.
- The airport was featured in the remake of the Thomas Crowne AffairThe Thomas Crown Affair (1999 film)The Thomas Crown Affair is a 1999 American heist film directed by John McTiernan. The film, starring Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo and Denis Leary, is a remake of the 1968 film of the same name....
as a double for JFK airport. A character is told to "go up the escalator and make a left" to reach the International gates. Doing so would actually put her in the parking garage.
External links
- Westchester County Airport, official site from New York State DOT
- Aerial image as of 12 April 1991 from USGS The National Map