Lehigh Valley International Airport Breaks Passenger Record, Expands Service Offerings

(LEHIGH VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA) Lehigh Valley International Airport posted its strongest month on record this summer and is stacking up more capacity for both travelers and shippers, as new flights, policy changes, and construction shape the regional hub’s next phase. In July 2025, the airport handled 102,634 passengers, the highest monthly total in its history.

June reached 99,966 passengers—a 1.4% rise from June 2024—and January began the year with 74,038, up 8.8% from a year earlier. The airport topped 1 million passengers in 2024, a milestone not seen in more than two decades, and its air cargo segment is accelerating alongside that growth.

ABE’s cargo operators processed 23,172,476 pounds in June 2025, up 23.5% year over year, underscoring the airport’s role in Pennsylvania’s logistics network. For travelers, the surge mirrors a broader shift toward regional gateways that offer shorter lines and more nonstop options. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, ABE’s 2024 annual total above 1 million helped set the stage for this year’s momentum.

Record Traffic and Cargo Growth in 2025

Lehigh Valley International Airport is widening its reach with added service and scheduling tweaks that give local flyers more same-day choices. Key service changes include:

• United Airlines adding a third daily flight to Chicago O’Hare on August 19, 2025, deepening connections to a major domestic and international hub.
• Allegiant Air launching new nonstop service to Fort Myers, Florida, starting July 28, 2025, as part of a multi-city expansion.
• Seasonal nonstops to Denver and Nashville returning in May, reinforcing summer travel options.

Ground links are adjusting too:

• United’s partner Landline bus will end its nonstop service from ABE to Newark Liberty International Airport on September 1, 2025.
• Daily coach trips via Trans-Bridge Lines continue, providing a practical option for travelers connecting to long-haul flights at EWR without driving.

Facilities, construction, and amenities

A stream of projects aims to keep pace with rising demand:

• The airport received a $1.5 million state grant in June to help build a new parking structure that will support terminal-area development and jobs.
• Construction began on a 145-room Courtyard by Marriott on airport property in June; the hotel is expected to open in 2027, offering on-site lodging for early departures, late arrivals, airline crews, and visiting families.
• These moves build on a $35 million passenger terminal expansion completed in 2023 and a $40.8 million cargo expansion that broke ground in 2024.

Day-to-day amenities are improving as well:

• A 24/7 self-service market opened at Gate 7 in July.
• Zekraft – Curators of Taste began serving homemade food and drinks in January.

Security Rules, REAL ID Deadline, and Traveler Guidance

Security procedures at ABE reflect national policy updates and new technologies designed to speed screening and improve verification.

Important deadlines and rule changes

• The federal REAL ID requirement for domestic flights took effect May 7, 2025. Passengers must present a REAL ID-compliant license or another accepted document, such as a passport.
• Travelers can check details and accepted documents at the Department of Homeland Security’s official page: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id
• The Department of Homeland Security ended the long-standing “shoes-off” rule on July 8, 2025.

Screening and enrollment

• A TSA PreCheck enrollment event is slated for September 23–26, 2025 at the airport, offering faster screening for enrolled travelers.
• In April, the airport deployed new credential authentication technology with photo matching to confirm IDs and speed up checkpoints during peak periods.

These changes matter for families, students, and workers. PreCheck and improved ID verification can shorten checkpoint wait times, and passports remain valid boarding documents for those who haven’t yet secured a REAL ID.

Practical traveler guidance:

• Parents catching same-day connections (for example, to Chicago) may save time with PreCheck.
• New residents who still hold passports from other countries can use those passports for domestic boarding until they obtain a REAL ID.
• With Trans-Bridge bus service continuing to Newark, travelers can still access international itineraries when nonstop seats from ABE are full.

Economic Role and What Comes Next

The Lehigh Valley’s airport is not simply a travel option; it is a business engine with measurable statewide impact.

• ABE is the second-largest cargo operation in Pennsylvania.
• The airport is part of a network that supports more than 226,000 jobs statewide and contributes $34 billion each year to Pennsylvania’s economy.

That scale explains the focus on both passenger and cargo expansion. Local leaders emphasize twin goals: better service for residents and stronger freight capacity for companies shipping to national markets.

Leadership, support, and recognition

• Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority leadership, including Executive Director Thomas R. Stoudt, has emphasized the airport’s regional connector role.
• Rep. Jeanne McNeill announced funding for the parking structure, linking the grant to job growth and commercial activity near the terminal.
• Alex Michaels, head of Discover Lehigh Valley®, joined the hotel groundbreaking, signaling the hospitality community’s stake in on-airport lodging.

Recognition:

• Newsweek readers named the airport among the nation’s best small airports in both 2024 and 2025.

Passenger statistics recap

The numbers show steady momentum through 2025:

Local and business impacts

For households:
– More local nonstops mean fewer car trips to larger airports.
– Terminal expansion, new food options, and the coming hotel reduce friction for elderly relatives, families with young children, and travelers on tight schedules.

For employers:
– Increased air cargo throughput and more flexible flight schedules can cut delivery times and smooth supply chains for regional warehouses and manufacturers.

Outlook and expectations

Airport officials expect continued service growth as carriers test new frequencies and destinations. Key near-term developments include:

1. Completion of the parking project to relieve peak-day congestion.
2. Continued cargo build-out to keep freight moving through the region’s logistics network.
3. Opening of the Courtyard by Marriott in 2027, anchoring a more complete on-campus experience.

With added seats to Chicago, a new nonstop to Fort Myers, and rising cargo capacity, airlines are betting demand will remain strong. Expect steady gains through the remainder of 2025.