| Westchester County Airport | |
| Image2-Width: | 250 |
| Iata: | HPN |
| Icao: | KHPN |
| Faa: | HPN |
| Type: | Public-use |
| Owner: | County of Westchester |
| Operator: | AFCO AvPORTS |
| City-Served: | Hudson Valley, Western Connecticut, and New York metropolitan area |
| Hub: | Tradewind Aviation |
| Location: | North Castle, Harrison, and Rye Brook, New York, U.S. |
| Elevation-F: | 439 |
| Elevation-M: | 134 |
| Image Map Caption: | FAA airport diagram |
| Coordinates: | 41.0669°N -73.7075°W |
| Mapframe: | yes |
| Mapframe-Zoom: | 9 |
| Mapframe-Wikidata: | yes |
| R1-Number: | 11/29 |
| R1-Length-F: | 4,451 |
| R1-Length-M: | 1,357 |
| R1-Surface: | Asphalt |
| R2-Number: | 16/34 |
| R2-Length-F: | 6,549 |
| R2-Length-M: | 1,996 |
| R2-Surface: | Asphalt |
| Stat1-Header: | Aircraft operations (2023) |
| Stat1-Data: | 158,764 |
| Stat2-Header: | Fixed-wing based aircraft (2023) |
| Stat2-Data: | 260 |
| Stat3-Header: | Scheduled enplaned arrival/departure revenue passengers (2023) |
| Stat3-Data: | 2,231,608 |
| Footnotes: | Source: FAA[1] and official airport website[2] |
Westchester County Airport is a county-owned airport in Westchester County, New York, United States, three miles (6 km) northeast of downtown White Plains, with territory in the towns of North Castle and Harrison, New York, and the village of Rye Brook, New York. It is sometimes referred to as the White Plains Airport and is so identified by the Official Airline Guide (OAG).[3]
The airport primarily serves Westchester County, New York, and Fairfield County, Connecticut; the New York–Connecticut state border runs along its eastern perimeter. Located approximately 33 miles (53 km) north of Midtown Manhattan, it is also considered a satellite or reliever airport for the New York metropolitan area.
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized HPN as a primary commercial service airport.[4] Per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 872,023 passenger enplanements in calendar year 2019.[5]
Westchester County Airport was built during World War II in 1942 as a home to an Air National Guard unit to protect New York City and Rye Lake, part of the city's water supply system. In May 1983, with the growth of suburban Westchester, the Guard unit abandoned Westchester Air National Guard Base and moved to Stewart International Airport, in Orange County.
The first scheduled airline flights were by American Airlines in late 1949 with a weekday morning flight from New York LaGuardia Airport to HPN continuing to Syracuse Hancock International Airport and beyond and returning in the evening. Mohawk Airlines replaced American in 1955; Mohawk and successor Allegheny Airlines served HPN until 1979. The first scheduled jet flight was a Mohawk BAC One-Eleven in 1965. Before the federal Airline Deregulation Act in 1978, the airport was served in 1976 by Allegheny Airlines BAC One-Elevens and by several commuter air carriers including Air Speed, Command Airways and Commuter Airlines.[6] Air Florida arrived in 1980 and United Airlines during the mid-1980s. American Airlines also resumed mainline service. Regional carrier Independence Air ceased operations at HPN on January 5, 2006.[7]
Major airlines that previously served the airport include American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Republic Airlines (1979-1986), United Airlines and USAir (now part of American Airlines). New start up carriers Air Florida, AirTran Airways, Carnival Air Lines and Midway Airlines also served the airport. AirTran Airways began service at the airport in 2006 with flights to Atlanta, Orlando and West Palm Beach. These flights ended on August 11, 2012. Smaller regional and commuter air carriers that previously operated flights included Air North, Altair Airlines, Business Express Airlines, Boston-Maine Airways (operating as Pan Am Clipper Connection), Brockway Air, Command Airways, Commuter Airlines, Continental Express (now United Express), Empire Airlines, Independence Air, Island Air, Mall Airways and USAir Express.[3] [8] These airlines operated the following jets to the airport:[9]
In the summer of 1981 Air Florida's timetable listed international nonstop Boeing 737-200 service to Bermuda from the airport.[3]
In June 2005, a drunken teenager and two of his friends stole a Cessna 172 from nearby Danbury Municipal Airport around 1 a.m. and landed on a taxiway at Westchester County Airport around 4 a.m. The aircraft was low on fuel and allegedly flying erratically. HPN airport was closed at the time and no runway lights were illuminated. Police arrived on the scene and reported beer bottles falling out of the aircraft as they arrested the teens, all of whom were charged with various felonies relating to the unauthorized use of the aircraft, theft, and alcohol impairment.[10]
JetBlue began service at the airport in 2007 and is currently the airport's largest carrier by scheduled passengers.
In June 2009, Cape Air commenced service to Westchester with flights to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket in Massachusetts. They then introduced service to Lebanon (NH) in early 2010. In Summer 2022, they eliminated all flights out of White Plains except for subsidized essential air service routes from Lebanon.
In May 2011, the New York State Department of Transportation published the "New York Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study," highlighting the economic impacts of public-use airports in New York state for fiscal year 2009. The study noted that HPN was one of only three airports in the state that increased its enplanements, surpassing the U.S. benchmark. It also noted that the cumulative economic activity for the airport was approximately $736 million.[11]
On April 27, 2020, the airport was closed to general aviation traffic for one week and commercial airlines for about a month so Runway 16/34 could be repaved, a project originally scheduled to span four months with construction only occurring from midnight to 6 AM. This decision was made in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic-related air travel cuts, which drastically reduced commercial airline service to the airport. Some operators were forced to ferry their aircraft to nearby airports where they could continue flights. This was the first total shutdown of a U.S. commercial airport for reasons relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]
On April 20, 2022, Breeze Airways announced several new routes from the airport, including the airport's first-ever commercial transcontinental services – although all of the transcontinental routes were later cut.[13] [14]
Westchester County Airport covers 702 acres (284 ha) at an elevation of 439 feet (134 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt paved runways: 16/34 is 6,549 by 150 feet (1,996 x 46 m) and 11/29 is 4,451 by 150 feet (1,357 x 46 m).[15] Runway 29's threshold is displaced 1,297 feet (395 m) due to trees obstructing the approach path. The trees (in Connecticut) are 37 ft (11 m) tall and 370 ft (113 m) from the end of the runway.[16]
Westchester County Airport has several fixed-base operators (FBOs), including Signature Flight Support East and West, Atlantic Aviation East and West, NetJets, and Million Air. Although varied in services offered, the FBOs at Westchester County Airport provide Jet A and 100LL fueling services, repairs and maintenance, aircraft tie-downs, de-icing, United States Customs, and other aircraft services.
Westchester County Airport is also the home of the New York Wing Civil Air Patrol headquarters, the Lt. Anthony L. Willsea Cadet Squadron (NY-422).
Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) is provided by Airport Operations Crews. The airport owns three ARFF apparatuses (three Oshkosh Striker 1500s), two of which are in service full-time. The ARFF Crews only respond to aircraft emergencies. All structure-related fire and rescue calls are deferred to the local fire departments. The Purchase Fire Department, for example, handles all structure calls on the southern part of the airfield, the Armonk Fire Department handles calls on the northern part and the Rye Brook/Port Chester Fire Department handle all calls on the east end, including the main terminal. EMS calls are handled by Port Chester-Rye-Rye Brook EMS, Harrison EMS and Armonk Fire/EMS depending on location of call.
In 2010, the airport had 191,017 total aircraft operations, an average of 523 per day: 23% commercial aviation, 48% heavy general aviation, and 29% light general aviation. 316 aircraft, including helicopters, are based out of this airport.[17] An aircraft must have a maximum gross weight of 120,000 pounds or less, or permission from the manager, to land at the airport.[18]
Westchester County Airport has one small, three-level terminal with six gates, of which only four can be used simultaneously because only four aircraft can be scheduled to use the terminal's ramp at any given time. The $35 million terminal was built in 1995 and designed by Lothrop Associates.[19] Gates A, B, C, and F have jetways. The terminal also has a luggage carousel, a baggage claim office and two Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening lanes. Passenger amenities include a gift shop, departure lounge, and food concessions.[20]
In November 2015, the airport began a $30 million construction project to expand the terminal and ramp areas. The project will expand the terminal by 20% and include additional check-in, screening and passenger waiting areas. The expansion will also include the addition of four new jet bridges. A separate terminal with "lodge-like ambiance"[21] to serve passengers of private jets opened in 2019.[22]
In its effort to mitigate aircraft noise pollution in neighboring communities, HPN maintains six major noise abatement programs that are in effect daily.
One of them is its Voluntary Restraint from Flying Program (VRFF), sometimes referred to as a voluntary curfew, that helps assuage anti-airport complainants by requesting—not mandating—that operators refrain from flying into the airport between midnight and 6:30 AM.[23] Those that breach the VRFF are reminded of the initiative and notified of any noise complaints that may have resulted from their operations.
The airport's Airport Noise and Operations Monitoring System (ANOMS) collects noise data from remote noise-monitoring terminals, and both registered aircraft and community noise levels are published in the Airport Monitor. This system works in conjunction with the High Range Noise Event (HRNE) Program; ANOMS staff can identity any operator who causes a maximum noise level event of 90.0 decibels or higher at any of its remote noise monitor terminals and advise them in order to prevent future noise level transgressions. As of September 2020, there are no fines, penalties, or aircraft restrictions associated with this program.
Additionally, HPN prohibits intersection takeoffs from its runways and restricts maintenance run-ups & the use of reverse thrust. It also employs Advanced Authorization for operations.[24]
The airport's environmental management performance is monitored through its ISO 14001 certified Airport Environmental Management System[25] (AEMS). This enables operators to report the airport's impacts on surface water, groundwater, and noise. Airport-wide environmental management practices are also continually revised with this technology, and annual objectives and targets are determined to avoid or mitigate adverse environmental impacts. In addition, airport employees receive environmental training. In 2004, HPN was the third airport in the U.S. to achieve this level of environmental performance.[26]
Expansion of the airport has raised concerns over adverse environmental impacts by numerous community advocacy groups and area residents. The facility lies between the Blind Brook watershed and the Rye Lake watershed/Kensico Reservoir. The Citizens for a Responsible County Airport, which count the Sierra Club Lower Hudson and Federated Conservationists of Westchester as supporters, has raised safety concerns about the stormwater runoff directed towards Westchester and New York City's drinking water supply. They are especially alarmed about PFAS discovered in groundwater tests between the Airport and the Kensico watershed.[27]
In addition to the longtime controversy over the airport and its proposed expansions,[28] [29] concerns have also arisen regarding travelers seeking relief from long delays at the other New York metropolitan area airports, such as John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). More recently, these concerns pertain to flight paths and vehicular congestion.[30] The latter has been addressed by the County of Westchester with the introduction of Bee-Line Bus service from downtown White Plains, and the encouragement of carpooling.[31] [32]
The airport can be accessed from I-684's Exit 2 onto New York State Route 120, via County Route 135.[33] It can also be accessed by New York State Route 120A from the east, via Rye Lake Avenue.
| Bee-Line Bus | 12 | [34] |
| 2002 | 707,000 | 2008 | 1,779,000 | 2014 | 1,489,000 | 2020 | 464,000 |
| 2003 | 816,000 | 2009 | 1,906,000 | 2015 | 1,490,000 | 2021 | 1,066,000 |
| 2004 | 890,000 | 2010 | 1,993,000 | 2016 | 1,506,000 | 2022 | 1,781,000 |
| 2005 | 895,000 | 2011 | 1,923,000 | 2017 | 1,500,000 | 2023 | 2,249,000 |
| 2006 | 980,000 | 2012 | 1,735,000 | 2018 | 1,548,000 | ||
| 2007 | 1,615,000 | 2013 | 1,477,000 | 2019 | 1,723,000 | ||
| 1 | JetBlue | 1,203,000 | 53.54% | |
| 2 | PSA Airlines | 276,000 | 12.28% | |
| 3 | SkyWest | 231,000 | 10.29% | |
| 4 | Delta Air Lines | 197,000 | 8.78% | |
| 5 | Breeze Airways | 139,000 | 6.19% | |
| 6 | Other | 200,000 | 8.92% |
| Rank | City | Passengers | Carrier(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Palm Beach, Florida | 214,000 | Delta, JetBlue | |
| 2 | Orlando, Florida | 167,000 | Delta, JetBlue | |
| 3 | Atlanta, Georgia | 133,000 | Delta | |
| 4 | 116,000 | JetBlue | ||
| 5 | Charlotte, North Carolina | 76,000 | American | |
| 6 | Detroit, Michigan | 69,000 | Delta | |
| 7 | Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois | 65,000 | American, United | |
| 8 | Washington–National, D.C. | 62,000 | American | |
| 9 | Fort Myers, Florida | 50,000 | JetBlue | |
| 10 | Tampa, Florida | 48,000 | JetBlue |
The IATA code for Westchester County Airport is HPN. The origins of this code are in dispute. Some believe it is derived from the name of the city, White Plains (IATA codes normally do not begin with W because those are reserved for radio signals), while others maintain the IATA code represents the first letter of the airport's three neighboring communities, Harrison, Purchase, and North Castle.[45] The full ICAO code for Westchester County Airport is KHPN.
33.Teens in stolen plane ask for a break