Wilkes Barre Scranton International Airport to offer airside to airside connectivity via motorcoach to Philadelphia International Airport

Local Press Release

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

AVOCA, Pa.-The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is partnering with Landline to transport by bus screened passengers, their carry-on items and their checked baggage from the secured area of Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport into the secured area of Philadelphia International Airport.

The program enables travelers from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) to be screened by TSA at the airport and then be transported by bus directly to a gate inside Philadelphia International Airport's (PHL) secure area to catch a flight to their destination without being rescreened at Philadelphia.

The program, which launches this week, allows American Airlines customers traveling on Landline-operated motorcoaches from AVP to fly out of PHL.

Beginning this week, customers can arrive at AVP, check-in with American Airlines, clear security at the airport like any other flight, and then board their coach on the secure side of the terminal. Customers will arrive at a terminal gate at Philadelphia International Airport and proceed straight to their connecting flight without having to go back through security screening.

"This program enables travelers to travel out of a large international airport conveniently by going through our security screening process from a smaller international airport," said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA's Federal Security Director for AVP. "We have put in numerous security requirements for the bus operators and all airline personnel to ensure robust security protocols are always followed.

This program has been operating successfully from Lehigh Valley International Airport since July 2023 and this is an expansion of that program. It is a secure and convenient method to clear security at a smaller local airport and be able to transfer to Philadelphia seamlessly."

Travelers arriving in PHL and are headed back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will continue to board their Landline coach airside and arrive directly at AVP. Checked baggage will be directly transferred between Landline's vehicles and American's network.