5 Reasons Why You Should #FlyABE

August 26th, 2022

Is Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) your first choice when making flight arrangements for your vacation or business plans? It should be! Here are five reasons why you should #FlyABE.

1. Location, Location, Location

Lehigh Valley International (ABE) is not only centrally located in the Lehigh Valley, but it is also just over 1 hour from Philadelphia and less than 2 hours from New York City. But you don’t need to leave the area to find the best restaurants and eateries, first-class accommodations and shopping, and every kind of activity to keep the young and old entertained. Festivals, theme parks, museums, hiking and walking trails, theaters for cinema and plays, or just taking a step back into American history with a simple stroll down Main Street, you can’t go wrong when flying into ABE for a visit to the Lehigh Valley for business or pleasure.

2. A Short Drive to Direct Flights…or home!

Did you know ABE has 15 direct flights to your favorite vacation destinations and major airline hubs? Planning a trip to Walt Disney World or visiting Universal Studios in Florida? Excited about booking a tee time in Myrtle Beach? Maybe you’re just looking to visit family in Chicago? ABE is the easy and convenient choice for your air travel needs.
There is even bus service if you have a connecting flight in Newark on United, or Philadelphia on American. Just book your ticket out of ABE with the connection and take some of the stress out of your trip by relaxing on the bus rather than driving.
Arriving two hours early for a domestic flight is now the norm, so why add more time to your trip by flying out of an airport over an hour away when you can use ABE? And think about how you’ll feel after a long flight when you still have a long drive home ahead of you to get home. Your Neighborhood Airport provides a more relaxed and time-saving alternative to big city airports!

3. We like to run with the big dogs (or little dogs, we’re not picky)

C.O.P.E. (Canines Offering Passengers Encouragement) has been a favorite program at ABE since 2015. These certified therapy dogs can calm even the most anxious of passengers. “A father was carrying his son who was crying, and very upset,” said Evelyn Kondash, who has two Collies (Rustle and Margo) in the program. “I approached the father and asked if his son might like to pet Margo. Within seconds, the boy was smiling and laughing, and the father thanked me a hundred times. Margo stayed with the boy until he got in line to board.”
There are currently 16 active dogs of various sizes and breeds in the C.O.P.E. program. Look for their blue C.O.P.E. bandanas the next time you are flying out of ABE.
To help keep travelers safe, ABE is also served by K9 Officer Mikki, a Belgian Malinois from Holland. She has been a member of the ABE Police Department since 2017. Her main job is explosive detection, but her two-legged partner Officer Jake Scobel says, “she can work a crowded public relations event just as easily as she can be sent to apprehend a bad guy. She’s the brains of our partnership, I’m just lucky to be her partner.”

4. Exceptional Customer Service

There are many ways ABE staff deliver exceptional customer service on a daily basis to visitors and customers alike. When you call the main phone number, a real person answers. When wheelchair assistance is needed, Passenger Services is there to help. ABE volunteers can help direct you to your gate, baggage claim, or even offer restaurant suggestions for those unfamiliar with the Lehigh Valley.
ABE can boast of having five Certified Tourism Ambassadors (CTAs) on staff. Their combined knowledge of the area and customer service experience is a guiding force for the ever-growing list of amenities and programs at ABE.
From the C.O.P.E. program, Sensory Room, and Airport Book Exchange, to the new partnership with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, and the upcoming return of the Fear of Flying classes, ABE is committed to making your airport experience a positive one.

5. We’re all about Progress

ABE is always looking for ways to improve the customer experience. In June 2022, nearly 93,000 people used the Airport—making the construction of the new $29 million terminal connector and TSA security checkpoint project a very necessary and welcome upgrade. Anticipated to open during the first half of 2023, the new connector will have more TSA passenger screening lanes and be a simpler connection to your gate—this means less time spent standing in line, shorter walking distances, and only one escalator or elevator ride to get from check-in to boarding—something everyone will appreciate!