Lancaster Airport (Pennsylvania)

For other airports with this name, see Lancaster Airport (disambiguation).

Lancaster Airport (IATA: LNS^[2], FAA LID: KLNS, TC LID: LNS) is a public use airport four nautical miles (5 mi, 7 km) north of the central business district of Lancaster, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is owned by the Lancaster Airport Authority.^[1] It is served by one commuter airline subsidized by the Essential Air Service program and one charter airline.

Lancaster Airport
Aerial view
IATA: LNS ICAO: KLNS FAA LID: LNS
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Lancaster Airport Authority
Serves	Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Elevation AMSL	403 ft / 123 m
Coordinates	40°07′20″N 076°17′40″W
Website	lancasterairport.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram as of January 2021
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 8/26 6,933 2,113 Asphalt 13/31 4,102 1,250 Asphalt
Statistics
Aircraft operations (2020) 73,087 Based aircraft (2022) 120
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2021–2025 categorized it as a general aviation airport based on enplanements in 2008 (less than 2,500 per year);^[3] however, it qualifies as a non-primary commercial service airport based on yearly enplanements in later years.

History

The Lancaster Airport was formed over 75 years ago as a private airport. In 1933 the Lancaster Joint Aviation Committee was formed and the decision was made to operate a municipal airport. Using war relief funds and knowing that the airport would benefit local unemployed constructors, the Lancaster Joint Aviation Committee moved forward on modernizing the airport. They purchased 180 acres of farmland in southern Lititz and constructed the airport.

In 1936 Lancaster became the second airport in Pennsylvania to two hard surface runways, and was certified for both night and daytime operations.

After World War II the airport was becoming obsolete, so using government funds the airport was expanded and modernized, with 22% of the funds needed for the update being raised by the community.

On June 18, 1949 the airport was dedicated after upgrades were completed.

Over the years the airport continued to improve; the terminal was renovated and expanded in the mid-1990s. Most recently, runway 8/26 was expanded in length, bringing it to 6,934 feet long and 150 feet wide.^[4]

Facilities and aircraft

Lancaster Airport covers an area of 850 acres (344 ha) at an elevation of 403 feet (123 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt paved runways: 8/26 is 6,933 by 150 feet (2,113 x 46 m) and 13/31 is 4,102 by 100 feet (1,250 x 30 m).^[1]

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2020, the airport had 73,087 aircraft operations, an average of 200 per day: 91% general aviation, 6% air taxi and 3% military. In April 2022, there were 120 aircraft based at this airport: 99 single-engine, 9 multi-engine, 6 jet, 5 helicopter and 1 glider.^[1]

In addition to hosting general aviation aircraft, Lancaster Airport is host to a variety of businesses: flight schools, planes for charter, aircraft rides, helicopter rides, hot air balloon rides, aircraft maintenance shops, a restaurant and a gift shop. It serves the pilots who call Lancaster their home airport and the community.

Looking down runway 31. The control tower and the VOR are on the right. The main hangars and terminal are at left. A single engine aircraft is on taxiway A (closest to the end of the runway).

Flight schools

• Aero-Tech Services, Inc.^[5]
• Henry Weber Aircraft Dist.
• Flyabella^[6]
• Lancaster Helicopters
• Adventure Flight Training^[7]

Charters

• Aero-Tech Services, Inc.^[8]
• Hi Tech Helicopters^[9]
• Henry Weber Aircraft Dist.
• Venture Jets, Inc.

Commercial Aviation

• Breeze Airways (twice-weekly flights to Orlando (MCO))

Essential Air Service

• Southern Airways Express (daily flights to Pittsburgh and Washington Dulles)

Aircraft maintenance

• Henry Weber Aircraft Dist.
• Lancaster Avionics, Inc.
• flyADVANCED
• Sensenich Propeller Service

Miscellaneous operations

• Fiorentino's Bar & Grill - restaurant with a runway and ramp view
• Rental cars - Avis, Budget, Enterprise and National

Airlines and destinations

The following airline offers scheduled passenger service:

Airlines	Destinations	Refs
Breeze Airways	Orlando[10]	[11]
Southern Airways Express	Pittsburgh, Washington–Dulles	[12]

Statistics

Top domestic destinations from LNS (December 2023 - November 2024)^[13]

Rank	City	Passengers	Carriers
1	Washington-Dulles, Virginia	3,010	Southern Airways Express
2	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	2,940	Southern Airways Express
3	Orlando, Florida	1,250	Breeze

Carrier Shares at LNS (December 2023 - November 2024)^[13]

Rank	Carrier	Passengers	Share
1	Southern Airways Express	11,970	83.14%
2	Breeze Airways	2,430	16.86%

See also

• List of airports in Pennsylvania