Passenger traffic at the airport has significantly grown since Spirit Airlines began serving the airport in 2011, jumping from roughly 10,000 passengers in 2010 to 310,000 passengers in 2019, a 3000% increase.[7] Spirit Airlines is the only commercial passenger carrier and currently flies two nonstop routes to one city in Florida and one city in South Carolina from the airport.
History
The airport was initially established as Longview Flying Field in 1924. It became J.D. Hill Airport in 1928, then Latrobe Airport in 1935.[8]
On April 12, 1939, it became the site of the world’s first official airmail "Air Pick Up", where a Stinson Reliant aircraft successfully collected a mail container suspended between two poles without landing.[9]
In 1978, the airport was renamed for the third time to Westmoreland County Airport after the county in which it resides. In 1999, to honor golf legend Arnold Palmer as part of his 70th birthday celebration, the airport took its current name. Palmer grew up within a mile of the runway where he was present for the 1939 airmail pickup as a child and where he subsequently learned to fly himself.[8]
In February 2011 Spirit Airlines launched seasonal service to Fort Lauderdale and Myrtle Beach; in January 2012 Spirit announced they would start service to Orlando on May 17. The airline currently serves the airport year-round. Spirit now serves two cities from Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, and increased passenger traffic from 6,978 in 2010 to 355,910 in 2015. Southern Airways Express has expressed interest in a Latrobe-to-Pittsburgh route but no start date has been announced.[12]
In January 2020, airport officials announced a $13 million project using federal grant money to widen the main runway to accommodate any size plane.[13]
On October 19, 2024, Donald Trump returned for a rally for the 2024 United States presidential election. The rally made national headlines because of Trump's obscene comments about Arnold Palmer's genitalia.[15]
Facilities
The airport covers 945 acres (382 ha) at an elevation of 1,199 feet (365 m). It has one active asphalt runway: 6/24 is 8,222 by 100 feet (2,506 x 30 m).[1] Runway 3/21 is closed indefinitely; it was 3,609 by 75 feet (1,100 x 23 m).[1] Runway 6/24 was formerly 5/23.[16]
In the year ending December 31, 2021 the airport had 38,822 aircraft operations, average 106 per day: 80% general aviation, 13% air taxi, 5% airline, and 2% military. At that time, 138 aircraft were based at the airport: 91 single-engine, 11 multi-engine, 31 jet, and 5 helicopter.[1]
The airport has a terminal building with one baggage claim. Long-term and overnight parking is free in lots B, C, D and E. Short-term parking is also available in lot A for a daily maximum of $10. Fixed-base operators (FBOs) on the field include L.J. Aviation and Vee Neal Aviation. Its control tower is administered by FAA but staffed through MidWest ATC.[17][18]
Future
Plans are underway to expand the airport's terminal building, which will double the size of the existing terminal to about 90,000 square feet. The proposed expansion would increase passenger space, offer more space for restaurants and services, and include a second security checkpoint. The expansion is estimated at $23 million.[citation needed]
