State College Regional Airport Seeking Federal Funding to Add Jetways

State College Regional Airport officials are pursuing federal funding to begin adding jetways at the commercial airline terminal as early as next year.

Staff from the Centre County Airport Authority, operates the commercial terminal and parking at the Penn State-owned airport, recently met with U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Howard Township, to brief him on the project and discuss federal funding for the $11 million project, according to the authority.

With the design phase for installing jetways, or passenger boarding bridges, and related modifications to the terminal nearly complete, the authority plans to seek transportation grant funding established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which included about $15 billion for airport-related infrastructure projects over five years beginning in 2022.

Jetways allow for passengers to board and disembark aircraft without going outside, and the authority said in a news release the addition would “enhance passenger convenience, safety and improve operational efficiency.”

Plans currently envision the installation of two jetways in 2026 and two more in future years.

Airport officials have eyed the addition of jetways for years as multiple projects have improved the capacity for larger aircraft and enhanced passenger experience, including a major taxiway rehabilitation project and the construction of more parking and a longer access road over the past half decade.

When the airport’s name was changed from University Park to State College Regional in 2023, officials said that planning was in the works for the jetways.