SEPTA’s Airport Line was established on April 28, 1985—which makes Monday, April 28, 2025 its 40th birthday!
The Airport Line runs every 30 minutes from 5AM to midnight on weekdays and weekends and stops at all major Philadelphia International Airport terminals. The platforms are high level making these stops ADA accessible as well as easier to board and alight with luggage.
Philadelphia is fortunate to have a rail line that connects directly to PHL terminals. Only a handful of major airports in the United States offer this service to its customers.
The Airport Line is also important for bringing employees to work—from Division of Aviation employees that live all over the city to flight crews and concessions staff. Driving is not possible for many of these folks. Having reliable public transportation makes working at the airport a viable option.
Philadelphia International Airport is less than thirty minutes from Center City by train. And the Airport Line connects to every Regional Rail line, the L, the B, the T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and dozens of SEPTA bus routes.
SEPTA’s Airport Line is a key differentiator for Philadelphia—helping to attract major conferences, sporting events, and international gatherings to the City including Pope Francis’ historic visit in 2015 and the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
SEPTA’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal includes 45% in service cuts, fare increases, workforce reductions, and a 9PM curfew for all rail services. The impact of the proposed service cuts will be felt throughout the city and region as reliable options for everyday travel will be greatly diminished. The effects on businesses that rely on SEPTA—including Philadelphia International Airport and the region’s tourism industry—would be immediate and far reaching.
Late-night transit access is essential for airport operations that run 24/7—enabling seamless transportation of both travelers and goods. From airline staff to TSA agents, ground crew, and food service workers—reliable service helps maintain safety, service, and connectivity.
Nearly 18,000 total badged employees work within the airport across a variety of employers and functions including operations, security, concessions, and logistics.
An estimated 1 in 4 nighttime air transportation workers (26%) relies on public transit to get to or from work.
Operations of PHL and PNE together generate an annual $16.5 billion in economic impact for Pennsylvania’s southeastern counties.
PHL welcomed nearly 31 million passengers in 2024—a 10% increase over 2023—and handled more than 500,000 tons of freight and airmail.
If a permanent state transit funding plan is not reached weekday and weekend service will be reduced from 30 minutes to hourly on the Airport Line effective August 2025. And in January 2026 there will be no service on the Airport Line after 9PM.
Philadelphia will host a range of major cultural and sporting events in 2026—attracting hundreds of thousands of domestic and international visitors. More than $1.5 billion in additional economic activity is expected with reliable and accessible public transit playing a key role in moving people efficiently. Many events such as fireworks displays and sporting events will extend into the evening requiring late-night transit options to support safe and seamless travel.
Failing to provide a positive visitor experience in 2026 would represent a significant missed economic opportunity for the region and Commonwealth with long-term implications for repeat tourism and business attraction in future years.
Please ask Governor Shapiro and your Pennsylvania State Senator and Representative to support new funding for public transit.
We want to continue to celebrate the Airport Line for forty more years!