State College Regional Airport
{{Use American English|date= December 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = December 2024}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = State College Regional Airport
| image = State-college-regional-airport-1024x768.jpg
| image-width =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| image2 = UNV Driveby.jpg
| image2-width =
| image2_alt =
| caption2 =
| IATA = SCE
| ICAO = KUNV
| FAA = UNV
| TC =
| LID =
| GPS =
| WMO =
| type = Public
| owner-oper =
| operator = Pennsylvania State University
Centre County Airport Authority
| city-served = Central Pennsylvania
| location = Benner Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| opened =
| closed =
| passenger_services_ceased =
| hub =
| focus_city =
| built =
| used =
| timezone =
| utc = UTC -4 EDT/EST
| summer =
| utcs =
| elevation-f = 1,239
| coordinates = {{coord|40|50|57|N|77|50|55|W|type:airport_region:US}}
| website = [https://www.flysce.com/ flysce.com]
| image_map = University_Park_Airport_Diagram.pdf
| image_mapsize =
| image_map_alt =
| image_map_caption = FAA airport diagram
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 9
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
| r1-number = 6/24
| r1-length-f = 6,701
| r1-surface = Asphalt
| stat1-header = Aircraft Movements
| stat1-data = 41,759
| stat2-header = Based Aircraft
| stat2-data = 53
| stat-year = 2022
| footnotes = Source: FAA{{FAA-airport|ID=UNV|use=PU|own=PU|site=27013.1*A}}, effective July 13, 2023.https://www.airportiq5010.com/5010web/dashboard/basedaircraft {{dead link|date=November 2021}}
}}
State College Regional Airport, {{airport codes|SCE|KUNV|UNV}} – formerly University Park Airport – is a public airport in Benner Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, serving State College and Bellefonte. The airport covers 1,105 acres (447 ha) and has one active runway.
The airport is owned by The Pennsylvania State University, but the terminal building and parking areas are owned and operated by the Centre County Airport Authority.[http://county.centreconnect.org/planning/compplan/nittanyvalley/nittanyvalley_nomaps.pdf Comprehensive Plan of the Nittany Valley Region] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308052450/http://county.centreconnect.org/planning/compplan/nittanyvalley/nittanyvalley_nomaps.pdf|date=2005-03-08}} Center County September 16, 2004, retrieved April 6, 2006 It is currently served by United Express and American Eagle, connecting to hubs in the Northeast and Midwest.
==History==
In the 1950s a small airport was built on land leased from Penn State, just north of State College. The Centre County Airport Authority was created to manage the development of the airport. The October 1959 chartshows 2350-foot runway 6; the August 1965 chart shows 3000 feet; the November 1967 chart adds 2350-foot runway 16. (The intersection of those two 50-foot runways is still visible at {{coord|40.8492|-77.85315|display=inline}}). The present runway was built parallel to the old runway 6 about 1975–76; it was then 5000 feet long.
In 1965 Harrisburg Commuter began flights from State College to Harrisburg, two flights each weekday; the 1965 Official Airlines Guide does not state which airport they served, but starting in 1978 Allegheny Commuter flights were at University Park. Penn State assumed the lease and assets of the airport in 1972.[http://www.libraries.psu.edu/speccolls/psua/psgeneralhistory/bezillapshistory/083sv176..htm An Illustrated History of Penn State] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305223804/http://www.libraries.psu.edu/speccolls/psua/psgeneralhistory/bezillapshistory/083sv176..htm|date=2008-03-05}} Michael Bezilla 1985, retrieved April 6, 2006 A permanent passenger terminal was built in 1985.{{ref}} A new passenger terminal was completed in 1993, and cargo operations moved to the old terminal. In 1997 the runway was lengthened to 6,701 ft (2,042 m).[http://www.empyraweb.com/bjpreview/archives/20040830UParkAirport$.asp University Park Airport Receives $3.8 Million Federal Grant]{{Dead link|date=July 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} The Business Journal August 30, 2004, retrieved April 6, 2006 A new general aviation hangar was built in 2001.[http://www.pooleanderson.com/psuUnvParkAirport.html Poole Anderson Construction – PSU] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518233639/http://www.pooleanderson.com/psuUnvParkAirport.html|date=2007-05-18}} 2002, retrieved April 6, 2006
Construction on the control tower began on January 8, 2010[http://www.wjactv.com/news/22247812/detail.html Construction Begins On University Park Airport Control Tower] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119042912/http://www.wjactv.com/news/22247812/detail.html|date=2010-01-19}} WTAJ TV January 2010, retrieved February 20, 2010 and was completed in early August 2011. The Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) went operational on September 1, 2011, and is operated by Midwest Air Traffic Control under the Federal Contract Tower Program.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, There were 130,000 enplanements in 2024, making State College Regional Airport the 6th busiest airport in Pennsylvania, after Wilkes Barre/Scranton (AVP), Allentown/Lehigh Valley (ABE), Harrisburg (MDT), Pittsburgh (PIT), and Philadelphia (PHL).{{cite web |title=State College, PA: University Park (SCE) |url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=SCE&Airport_Name=State%20College,%20PA:%20University%20Park&carrier=FACTS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023204334/http://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=SCE&Airport_Name=State%2520College,%2520PA:%2520University%2520Park&carrier=FACTS |archive-date=23 October 2016 |access-date=27 January 2021 |website=Bureau of Transportation Statistics}}
On November 3, 2023, the Centre County Airport Authority announced that University Park Airport had been renamed State College Regional Airport.{{Cite web |last=Rushton |first=Geoff |date=2023-11-01 |title=University Park Airport Renamed State College Regional Airport |url=https://www.statecollege.com/articles/business/university-park-airport-renamed-state-college-regional-airport/ |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=StateCollege.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Here's why University Park Airport has just been renamed State College Regional Airport |url=https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/community/article281287993.html |website=Centre Daily Times |language=English |last=Pallotto|first=Bret |publication-date=November 1, 2023 }}
Services
The Centre County Airport Authority owns and operates the commercial airline terminal. The terminal consists of a snack bar, free Wi-Fi, charging stations for mobile devices, and a conference room. Taxi, limousine services, and car rentals are available. The airport does not have jet bridges, and all aircraft board from ground-level hardstands. However, there are plans to add two boarding bridges in the future.{{Cite web |title= Major Changes Coming to State College Regional Airport|url=https://www.commmedia.psu.edu/search/tag/centre+county+report/}} The airport will be submitting an application for a grant from the FAA in Summer 2025 for the boarding bridge project. If approved, they hope to begin construction in Spring 2026.{{cite web | url=https://www.flysce.com/news/state-college-regional-airport-and-centre-county-airport-authority-announce-plans-for-passenger-boarding-bridges | title=State College Regional Airport and Centre County Airport Authority Announce Plans for Passenger Boarding Bridges }}
Penn State University fixed-base operator (FBO) offers fuel, flight planning services, aircraft repair, and hangar rental.
Airlines that operate to each destination are listed below:
- Piedmont Airlines operates American Eagle service to Philadelphia.
- CommuteAir and Republic Airways operate United Express service to Washington, DC.
- GoJet Airlines, Republic Airways, and SkyWest Airlines operate United Express service to Chicago.
As of July 2025, there are 2-3 daily flights to Washington-Dulles, 3-4 daily flights to Philadelphia, and 3-4 daily flights to Chicago.
United currently flies from State College to Chicago O'Hare and Washington Dulles with daily service aboard Bombardier CRJ-200's and CRJ-550's and Embraer 145 and 175 regional aircraft.
United Airlines will offer nonstop service between State College and Columbus for the Penn State at Ohio State football game on November 1, 2025. The one time offering will depart State College on October 31 and will return on November 2. GoJet Airlines will service this route as United Express utilizing a CRJ-550 aircraft. {{Cite web |title=State College airport to add nonstop flight to Columbus for Ohio State game|website=Yahoo Sports|date=11 July 2025|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/article/state-college-airport-adding-nonstop-220142230.html}}
United Airlines offered service between Dallas Fort Worth and State College on December 20, 2024 and December 22, 2024 for the SMU at Penn State college football playoff game at Beaver Stadium. Republic Airways serviced this route under the United Express brand deploying an Embraer 175 aircraft.{{Cite web |title=United Airlines adds flights to State College ahead of playoff games|website=Onward State|last=Gill|first=CJ|date=11 December 2024|url=https://onwardstate.com/2024/12/11/united-airlines-adds-flights-to-from-state-college-for-college-football-playoff/}}
United Airlines cut Washington Dulles service and added service to Newark in March 2022{{Cite web |title=United suspending service to D.C., but is adding another service|website=StateCollege.com|last=Rushton|first=Geoff|date=30 December 2021|url=https://www.statecollege.com/articles/business/united-suspending-service-between-washington-d-c-and-university-park-airport-adding-newark-flights/}} to "closely match supply with demand" amid labor and aircraft shortages. This was a temporary shift, and in June 2024,{{Cite web |title=Flights to Washington D.C. resume at State College Regional Airport|website=StateCollege.com|last=Rushton|first=Geoff|date=16 February 2024|url=https://www.statecollege.com/articles/business/washington-d-c-flights-to-resume-at-state-college-regional-airport/#:~:text=United%20suspended%20flights%20between%20Dulles,Newark%2C%20United's%20primary%20transatlantic%20hub.}} Washington Dulles service was reinstated and Newark service was discontinued.
Delta Air Lines operated between State College and Detroit until January 8, 2023 when the service was replaced{{Cite web |title=Delta is adding flights from State College to New York, but is ending one service|date=21 December 2024 |website=Centre Daily Times|last=Hymowitz|first=Matt|url=https://www.centredaily.com/news/business/article268130497.html}} with service to New York LaGuardia. Delta later suspended service from State College to New York LaGuardia on June 5, 2023, citing personnel shortages.{{Cite web |title=Delta to Suspend Service at University Park Airport |date=3 April 2023|website=StateCollege.com|last=Rushton|first=Geoff |url=https://www.statecollege.com/articles/business/delta-to-suspend-service-at-university-park-airport-citing-pilot-and-crew-shortages/}}
American currently flies from State College to Philadelphia with daily service aboard Embraer 145 aircraft.
American Eagle operated twice daily service to Chicago from April 2019 to November 2023.{{Cite web |title=University Park Airport Adds More Flights to Accommodate Growing Demand|date=19 December 2018 |website=WJAC|last=Wainwright|first=Alexis|url=https://wjactv.com/news/local/university-park-airport-adds-more-flights-to-accommodate-growing-demand}}
Allegiant Air operated 2-4 flights per week to Orlando-Sanford and St. Petersburg/Clearwater from October 2019 to May 2022 using Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. Allegiant suspended all service at State College due to "labor and demand constraints affecting the entire airline industry" in May 2022.Weaver, Jared https://www.wtaj.com/news/local-news/allegiant-to-suspend-service-at-university-park-airport/
Other Offerings
Flixbus has a stop at State College Regional Airport with service from New York City to Chicago.{{cite web | url=https://www.flysce.com/news/flixbus-expands-routes-with-new-nyc-to-chicago-line-with-stop-at-state-college-regional-airport | title=FlixBus Expands Routes with New NYC to Chicago Line with Stop at State College Regional Airport }}
Private aircraft are serviced by fixed-base operator Penn State Aviation Center.{{Cite web |title=PSU Aviation Center|website = Penn State |url=https://aviationcenter.psu.edu}}
Tech Aviation Flight School is located at the T-Hangars.
Facilities
= Runways =
File:UNV Rw 24 Cropped.jpgState College Regional Airport features one active runway. The end closest to Rock Road is Runway 24, bearing a magnetic heading of 243 degrees. Runway 24 is equipped with an instrument landing system (ILS) and is used as the primary landing and departing runway. Runway 6 is used as a visual runway; however, infrastructure has been considered to improve satellite-based approaches.{{cite web |title=Facility Requirements |url=https://www.universityparkairport.com/assets/About-page-master-plan/FINAL-Chapter-4-Facility-Requirements.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114090123/https://www.universityparkairport.com/assets/About-page-master-plan/FINAL-Chapter-4-Facility-Requirements.pdf |archive-date=14 January 2021 |access-date=6 February 2021 |website=University Park Airport}} Runway 16 and 34 was formerly used for general aviation but was closed.
= Aircraft =
File:N911PS.1.jpg parked at the airport]]
State College Regional Airport regularly operates the Bombardier CRJ family, Embraer ERJ145s, and Embraer E175s. American Eagle operates the Embraer 145 to Philadelphia. United Express operates the Embraer 145 and the Embraer 175 to Washington Dulles. United Express operates Chicago service on the CRJ-200, the CRJ-550, and the Embraer 175. De Havilland Canada Dash 8s were common until their replacement by the regional jets. Cessna 208 Caravans are operated by Mountain Air Cargo contracted under FedEx Express cargo flights. Wiggins services Pittsburgh International Airport. Geisinger operates an Airbus H145 helicopter as a LifeFlight service. The airport sees numerous general aviation aircraft; Piper PA-28 Cherokees and business jets are common, while larger aircraft up to Boeing 757s can be seen as charter jets along with members of the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families.{{Cite web |last=Riddle|first=Holly|website=StateCollege.com|title=University Park Airport is seeing a record number of travelers – and with some big plans and bigger ideas, more growth is in the air - |url=http://www.statecollege.com/news/town-and-gown/university-park-airport-is-seeing-a-record-number-of-travelers-and-with-some-big-plans-and-bigger-ideas-more-growth-is-in-the-air,1480239/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128085631/http://www.statecollege.com/news/town-and-gown/university-park-airport-is-seeing-a-record-number-of-travelers-and-with-some-big-plans-and-bigger-ideas-more-growth-is-in-the-air,1480239/ |archive-date=2020-11-28|url-status=dead |date=31 May 2019|access-date=2021-01-11}}
Airlines and destinations
=Passenger=
{{Airport destination list
| American Eagle | Philadelphia{{cite web |title=State College Regional Airport announces more flights to Philadelphia, Chicago, and Washington-Dulles|date=August 20, 2024 |url=https://radio.wpsu.org/2024-08-20/state-college-regional-airport-announces-more-flights-to-philadelphia-chicago-and-washington-dulles}}
| United Express | Chicago–O'Hare,{{cite web |title=State College Regional Airport announces more flights to Philadelphia, Chicago, and Washington-Dulles|date=August 20, 2024 |url=https://radio.wpsu.org/2024-08-20/state-college-regional-airport-announces-more-flights-to-philadelphia-chicago-and-washington-dulles}} Washington–Dulles{{cite web |title=United Moves 4 Newark Domestic Routes to Washington From late-June 2024 |last=Liu|first=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240219-uajun24ewriad |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=19 February 2024}}
}}
=Cargo=
{{Airport destination list|
FedEx Feeder|Pittsburgh{{Cite web| title=FedEx|url=https://local.fedex.com/en-us/pa/state-college/scea}}}}
Statistics
=Top destinations=
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Busiest routes from SCE (May 2024 - April 2025) !Rank !City !Passengers !Carrier |
| 1
|{{flagicon|Illinois}} Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois |49,900 |United |
| 2
|{{flagicon|Pennsylvania}} Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |49,570 |American |
| 3
|{{flagicon|Virginia}} Washington–Dulles, Virginia |31,100 |United |
| 4
|{{flagicon|New Jersey}} Newark, New Jersey |4,230 |United |
| 5
|{{flagicon|Texas}} Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas |80 |United |
{{Pie chart|thumb=|caption=Top Destinations {{nowrap|(May 2024 - April 2025)}}{{Cite web|title=Bureau of Transportation Statistics|url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=fPR&Nv42146_anzr=f6n6r%20P1yyrtr,%20cN:%20h0v8r45v6B%20cn4x&pn44vr4=SNPgf}}|other=|label1=Chicago |value1=37|color1=blue|
label2=Philadelphia |value2=36.75|color2=red|
label3=Washington, D.C.|value3=23.06|color3=green|label4=Newark|value4=3.14|color4=orange|label5=Dallas/Fort Worth|value5=0.06|color5=Purple}}
=Annual traffic=
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Passengers !Year !Passengers !Year !Passengers |
| 2008
|201,898 |2014 |270,891 |2020 |143,000 |
| 2009
|209,777 |2015 |277,128 |2021 |240,000 |
| 2010
|211,154 |2016 |262,260 |2022 |215,000 |
| 2011
|213,929 |2017 |267,530 |2023 |267,000 |
| 2012
|230,121 |2018 |298,800 |2024 |257,000 |
| 2013
|229,923 |2019 |379,100 |2025 | |
=Annual Available Seat Miles (ASMs)=
| class="wikitable"
!Year !ASMs |
| 2019
|82,780 |
| 2020
|60,219 |
| 2021
|57,687 |
| 2022
|45,311 |
| 2023
|58,960 |
| 2024
|44,983 |
Military
File:B25_Crop.jpg "Yankee Warrior"]]
State College Regional Airport is home to Civil Air Patrol Nittany Composite Squadron PA-338.{{cite web |title=Nittany Composite Squadron 338 |url=http://338.gp5.pawg.cap.gov/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721033732/http://338.gp5.pawg.cap.gov/ |archive-date=21 July 2011 |access-date=6 February 2021 |website=Civil Air Patrol}} The squadron operates a Cessna 182 Skylane registered as N848CP.
The United States Army and Air National Guard occasionally fly Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft into UNV for training missions. Aircraft such as the F/A-18 Hornet and A-10 Thunderbolt II have staged at the airport to participate in flyovers of Beaver Stadium.{{cite web |title=Homecoming game and military flyover thrill alumni, fans |url=https://news.psu.edu/story/182624/2008/10/20/homecoming-game-and-military-flyover-thrill-alumni-fans |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113113922/https://news.psu.edu/story/182624/2008/10/20/homecoming-game-and-military-flyover-thrill-alumni-fans |archive-date=13 January 2021 |access-date=6 February 2021 |website=Penn State News}}
U.S. Presidents have flown into UNV aboard Boeing C-32s operating as Air Force One.{{cite web |last1=Choquette |first1=Stefan |date=4 February 2011 |title=University Park Airport Ideal Destination for Slimmer Air Force One |url=https://onwardstate.com/2011/02/04/up-airport-ideal-destination-for-slimmer-air-force-one/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119094046/https://onwardstate.com/2011/02/04/up-airport-ideal-destination-for-slimmer-air-force-one/ |archive-date=19 January 2021 |access-date=28 January 2021 |website=Onward State}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|https://www.flysce.com/}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080220141407/http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/Bureaus/pdBOA.nsf/infoUnivPark Pennsylvania Bureau of Aviation: University Park Airport]
- [https://aviationcenter.psu.edu/ Penn State University Aviation Center] (Airport FBO and General Aviation Terminal)
{{US-airport-ga|UNV}}
{{State College, Pennsylvania}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Airports in Pennsylvania
Category:Pennsylvania State University
Category:State College, Pennsylvania
Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Centre County, Pennsylvania