Philadelphia International Airport recently unveiled a new exhibit marking the 75th anniversary of the beginning of commercial air service.
Designed with a nostalgic theme, the exhibit chronicles PHL’s evolution from a modest municipal field into a major hub and one of the region’s largest economic engines. Positioned along the Terminal C–D connector, the display is open to ticketed passengers and will remain on view through December 2015.
“75 Years of Commercial Air Service” presents a photographic timeline that highlights the airport’s dramatic growth. In 1940 the facility handled roughly 40,000 passengers a year and was served by just four carriers; today PHL accommodates more than 30 million passengers annually and is served by 29 carriers. The exhibit also includes historical context that reaches back to eras before organized commercial service began in 1940.
“Some local travelers will remember the early days and will appreciate how much has been accomplished,” said Leah Douglas, chief curator at Philadelphia International Airport.
In the early 1940s, four airlines—American, Eastern, TWA and United—operated at what was then Philadelphia Municipal Airport, primarily flying 21-passenger, twin‑engine Douglas DC-3 aircraft. Wartime security measures required the airport to close during World War II. Commercial service resumed in 1945, and with the start of transatlantic flights by American Overseas Airlines the field was renamed Philadelphia International Airport.
Since 2000, the airport has invested approximately $2 billion in capital improvements. Those projects include construction of two new terminals, new terminal connectors, a renovated and expanded terminal hub, and enhancements to terminal facilities to support increased passenger traffic and airline operations.