November 14 , 2005
Pennsylvania Launches IFlyPA.com to Promote Flying out of Commonwealth Airports

Site Helps Travelers Shop with Intelligence when Booking Air Travel

Harrisburg, PA — Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced a consumer website to help air travelers compare in-state fares with out-of-state fares, along with other costs associated with traveling to an out-of-state airport.

The website offers air travel facts, cost comparison scenarios and direct links to Pennsylvania’s 15 scheduled-service airports.

IflyPA.com spread its wings at the new Harrisburg International Airport terminal with the help of representatives of Pennsylvania’s airports and other airline industry professionals, including a number of the 210,000 front-line employees directly affected by increases and decreases in air travel.

“This new website is a smart-shopper’s guide for air travelers,” said Governor Edward G. Rendell. “Many air travelers never consider additional cost factors like gas and parking when comparing fares at out-of-state airports. This site will give travelers the information they need to know for checking whether they are really getting a better deal outside the state—we think they will find our airports are competitive.”

Research indicates that many Pennsylvanians are actually paying more to fly out of out-of-state airports after calculating factors like mileage, gas, parking fees and other travel costs in addition to factors like convenience and travel time. Some travelers actually spend $100 or more in many cases.

“The average Pennsylvania airfare has dropped 26 percent since 2000, one of the largest airfare declines of any state,” said PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler, P.E., who launched the website. “For the first time since 1992, Pennsylvania is below the national airfare average. That’s great news for Pennsylvania air travelers, airlines, airports and the people employed in the air travel industry.”

Biehler added that i n terms of airfares alone, Pennsylvania residents are spending $270 million each year to fly from out-of-state airports.

IflyPA.com is supported by an aggressive statewide advertising and public relations campaign. For more information, visit IflyPA.com.

The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: www.governor.state.pa.us.