Dear Friend,

Federal guidelines set forth in mid-March to mitigate the spread of travel-related coronavirus in the United States allow just 15 “funneling airports” to accept passenger air travel from Europe, China and Brazil. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is not among these designated airports, making it the only airport among the country’s top 10 for transatlantic travel that cannot serve European markets.

The Greater Philadelphia region is the second most populous on the U.S. eastern seaboard. Business, industry, education and tourism have thrived in large part due to the connectivity to Europe provided by PHL. Pre-COVID-19, the international travel that passed through the airport generated approximately $2 billion for the local economy and was responsible for about 11,000 jobs per year. Without a direct transatlantic link, businesses attempting to rebound from the devastating impacts of COVID-19 have little chance of competing against their counterparts in New York City and Washington, D.C., —two metropolitan areas in proximity with approved funneling airports.

PHL is ready to accept European flights now. The airport is one of only 20 with an onsite CDC passenger screening station. American Airlines has committed to making Philadelphia its transatlantic hub and legacy and foreign flag carriers want to come back to serve PHL’s passengers. However, airline decisions regarding the routes they serve are made several months in advance and, without restored funneling status for PHL, carriers will be forced to make very painful cuts to their Philadelphia plans and quite possibly making the region’s COVID-19 recovery even longer.

Supporting PHL’s efforts in restoring connectivity to Europe are the City of Philadelphia; U.S. Senators Robert Casey, Pat Toomey, Tom Carper and Chris Coons; U.S. Representatives Mary Gay Scanlon, Brian Fitzpatrick, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Madeleine Dean, Chrissy Houlahan, Donald Norcross, Andy Kim, Dwight Evans and Brendan Boyle; and many regional businesses and associations.  Join these elected officials and organizations in asking President Trump to designate PHL as a funneling airport by signing this petition.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue and continued support of PHL.

Sincerely,

Chellie Cameron,

CEO, PHL