Our world as we know it changed dramatically during the past several months. In mid-March, the Department of Homeland Security issued new guidelines to mitigate the spread of travel-related cases of coronavirus in the United States. A small number of American airports were designated as “funneling airports,” permitting the entry of people and products arriving from overseas. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) was not among them. The Philadelphia metropolitan statistical area is the eighth most populous region in the US; the second most populous region on the eastern seaboard; and the largest metropolitan area without approved air travel gateway status for transatlantic connectivity– a critical link to the US market. The international business community partnered on this event foro an up-to-date report on the situation, current data, and a forecast of the PHL’s status and re-designation as a funneling airport.

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Gregg Caren, President & CEO, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, Stephanie Wear, Director of Air Service Development & Cargo Services, Philadelphia International Airport, and Edgar Antístenes Vesga-Arias, Executive President and Chief Executive Officer, Philadelphia International Medicine were our featured panelists. 

 

Sylvie Gallier Howard, Acting Commerce Director, City of Philadelphia, moderated the discussion and led the speakers through Q&A at the end of the program.

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This timely virtual event is pertinent to all private and public entities operating across industry sectors involved in international travel, trade and commerce.

 

Registrants joined us to learn more about the PHL’s status as a funneling airport; how it has affected Philadelphia’s connectivity to the world; and how it may impact your future operations.