Valley International Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Valley International Airport
nativename =
nativename-a =
nativename-r =

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image-width =
caption =
IATA = HRL
ICAO = KHRL
type = Public
owner =
operator = City of Harlingen
city-served =
location = Harlingen, Texas
elevation-f = 36
elevation-m = 11
coordinates = Coord|26|13|43|N|97|39|16|W|type:airport_region:US
website =
metric-elev =
metric-rwy =
r1-number = 13/31
r1-length-f = 7,257
r1-length-m = 2,212
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 17L/35R
r2-length-f = 5,949
r2-length-m = 1,813
r2-surface = Asphalt
r3-number = 17R/35L
r3-length-f = 8,301
r3-length-m = 2,530
r3-surface = Asphalt
stat-year =
stat1-header =
stat1-data =
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Valley International Airport airport codes|HRL|KHRL is an airport located in northeast Harlingen, Texas, United States. The airport has three runways and is also known as Rio Grande Valley International Airport.

The airport serves Harlingen and South Padre Island. [" [http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/routemap.html Southwest Airlines Cities] ," "Southwest Airlines"]

Airlines and Destinations

* Continental Airlines Gate 7
** Continental Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines (Houston-Intercontinental)
** Continental Express operated by Chautauqua Airlines (Houston-Intercontinental)
* Southwest Airlines Gates 5-6 (Austin, Dallas-Love Field, Houston-Hobby, San Antonio)
* Sun Country Airlines Gate 4 (Minneapolis/St. Paul) [seasonal]

Airport Design

* The airport features 7 gates, though only 3 are operational year-round (2 by Southwest and 1 by Continental), an additional gate being operated seasonally by Sun Country Airlines.
* The airport is divided into two halves after security, right and left. Continental and Southwest dominate the right half, leaving the left half nearly abandoned and empty of concessions, especially when Sun Country is not providing passenger service. Continental previously had gates on the left half, though after American's departure, Continental took over American's Gate 7.

History

The airport was opened in July 1943 as Harlingen Army Airfield and during World War II it was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a training base.

At the end of the war the airfield was used by the United States Air Force as Harlingen Air Force Base until being closed in 1962. It was turned over to the local government and the facilities were converted to civilian use as Valley International Airport after Hurricane Beulah significantly flooded the original Harlingen civilian airport in 1967.

Notes

* Valley International Airport is the home of Cameron County's first Starbucks, located in the main terminal prior to the security check-point.
* The airport's success has been largely due to the popularity of Southwest Airlines, providing daily nonstop flights throughout Texas and connections to other out of state destinations.
* The airport was among the first in the area to offer free Wi-Fi service.
* Quizno's is located on the concourse.
* A parking lot shuttle and a shuttle to South Padre Island are available.

Area Airports

* Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (BRO) - Brownsville, Texas (20 miles)
* McAllen-Miller International Airport (MFE) - McAllen, Texas (40 miles)

ee also

* Texas World War II Army Airfields

References

* Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Publisher: Pictorial Histories Pub, ISBN 1575100517

External links

* [http://www.iflyharlingen.com Valley International Airport Homepage]