One thing everyone seems to know about Philadelphia is our passion for sports. In addition to our home teams, we are lucky to be a destination city for all types of sporting events big and small, from the NFL Draft to Little League games. One such event coming in April 2024 is drawing fans from around the world, as the smackdown comes to Philadelphia with Wrestlemania!    In this episode, Atif Saeed, CEO of the City of Philadelphia's Department of Aviation, talks with Larry Needle, Executive...

PNE may host one of the area's best kept secrets when it comes to innovation! For over 35 years, Leonardo, an Italian helicopter company, has called PNE its U.S. home base, where over 700 employees design, build, and service helicopters that will be used around the world. Leonardo also hosts an impressive flight school, teaching domestic and international military personnel how to fly. Leonardo is changing the aviation industry with their cutting-edge work.    In this episode, Atif Saeed, CEO...

PHL airport recently piloted and debuted a new program working with the TSA, American Airlines, and Landline Motor Coach, giving passengers from smaller hubs a smoother way to get to PHL to catch connecting flights. PHL is the only airport in the country to roll out this new program, continuing in the city's history of innovation.    In this episode, Atif Saeed, CEO of the City of Philadelphia's Department of Aviation, speaks with Gerardo Spero, Federal Security Director for the TSA, about...

PHL and PNE recently received good news with updated ratings from S&P, Fitch, and Moody's - the big three national credit rating agencies. The ratings tell a story of how the airport is operating well and is a good bet for potential investors! Listen here to learn why.  To learn more about the ratings, visit phl.org.

In this episode, Atif Saeed, CEO of the city of Philadelphia's Department of Aviation speaks with Denise Bailey, Deputy Director of Aviation, Business Diversity and Accessibility.   Here at PHL and PNE, we are committed to working with and supporting small diverse businesses. From parking, to food, to facilities, there are hundreds of businesses that not only keep our airport moving, but help create a better experience for our travelers. We are proud to have diverse businesses reflect the...

Air Service Development is imperative to retain our existing routes, increasing frequency of flights to certain destinations and to bring new routes to our airport.  In this episode, Edgar Vesga, Director of Air-Service Development at PHL joins Atif Saeed, CEO of the City of Philadelphia, Department of Aviation to discuss PHL’s air service program and some new exciting additions at PHL. To learn more about our Air Service Development program, please visit phl.org

Here at PHL and PNE, we believe in the importance of addressing sustainability and incorporating it into our daily practices at the airport. Joining Atif Said in this episode to highlight some of our amazing programs, efforts and implementation is PHL’s Sustainability Manager, Jessica Noon. To learn more about our Sustainability Program, please visit phl.org

Joining Atif Saeed in this episode is Howard Cooper, owner and founder of Tailwinds Flight School located at PNE. With more than 25 years of experience as an educator, Howard brings a passion for teaching to the aviation industry. For those of you who don’t know, Tailwinds is a small flight school with three airplanes, a state-of-the-art flight simulator, and a group of amazing flight instructors who love to teach people to fly located at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport. To learn more...

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Philadelphia International Airports Arts Program! Over its 25 years, the program has provided millions of visitors from around the world access to a wide variety of art forms by artists and arts institutions from the Greater Philadelphia area. In this episode, joining Atif Saeed, CEO of the city of Philadelphia’s Department of Aviation to help celebrate 25 years of the program, is the founder of the Arts Program at PHL and Director of Guest Experience -...

In this episode, Atif Saeed, CEO of the city of Philadelphia’s Department of Aviation speaks with Clarence LeJeune and Mel Hannah from Marketplace PHL. Marketplace PHL is a joint venture partnership between Marketplace development and LeJeune and Associates, which is a private partner with the City of Philadelphia and runs the award-winning PHL Food & Shops program within the Philadelphia International Airport. Marketplace PHL is responsible for the leasing, development, and management of...

In this episode of Taking Off with PHL, Keith Brune the Chief Operating Officer for the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Aviation speakes with the chief of PHL’s Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting (ARFF) Engine 78 unit - Chief Kamau Bright. The learn more anout Chief Bright and Philadelphia International Airport please visit phl.org 

Join Philadelphia’s Department of Aviation COO, Keith Brune welcome the City of Philadelphia's Department of Aviation’s new CEO Atif Saeed to PHL, to Philadelphia and to Taking Off to PHL! To learn more about Atif and everything PHL please visit PHL.org  

In the Division of Aviation, we use the acronym P.R.I.D.E. to describe our daily commitment to our customers and our co-workers, as well as our mission to connect Philadelphia to the world. The letters stand for: P-People First R-Respect I-Integrity D-Diversity E-Excellence This episode is part of our Exceptional Employees series recognizing those individuals nominated by their colleagues for exhibiting one or more of the Division of Aviation’s core values. In this episode, Chief...

In the Division of Aviation, we use the acronym P.R.I.D.E. to describe our daily commitment to our customers and our co-workers, as well as our mission to connect Philadelphia to the world. The letters stand for: P-People First R-Respect I-Integrity D-Diversity E-Excellence This episode is part of our Exceptional Employees series recognizing those individuals nominated by their colleagues for exhibiting one or more of the Division of Aviation’s core values. In this episode, Chief...

As we head into the busy holiday travel season, in addition to packing your bags be sure to pack your patience. Holiday travel in the airport this year will feel in many ways like pre-pandemic travel...busy and crowded.  Joining Keith in this episode for some travel tips on what you can expect during this holiday travel season is Kate Sullivan is the Deputy Director of Strategic Partnerships at PHL. To learn more about Philadelphia International Airport please visit phl.org

The City of Philadelphia – Division of Aviation, which operates the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and the Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE), is currently a division of the City’s Department of Commerce. In May 2022, the Philadelphia City Council approved a ballot measure that would create a standalone Department of Aviation. Joining Keith in this episode is PHL’s Director of Government Affairs, Shane Doud. Hear about the positive impact this change would have for passengers,...

Philadelphia is one of the country’s most LGBTQAI-friendly cities and was the first ever U.S. destination to produce a national TV commercial for the LGBTQAI traveler. Here at PHL, we strongly believe in and practice PRIDE 365 through our year-round support for and celebration of the LGBTQAI. Joining us for this episode is legendary LGBTQAI Rights Activist and Founder of the Philadelphia Gay News, Mark Segal. Mark has been a member of the PHL Airport Advisory Board since its inception in...

Join Keith Brune, interim CEO of the City of Philadelphia, Division of Aviation for a “behind the scenes” look at the 2022 PHL 5K on the Runway that will take place on September 10, 2022. This is the 5th year that Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) will host the event, which allows participants to experience running on an actual runway used by commercial aircraft while supporting local charities. Joining Keith in this episode is Keesha Lane, PHL & PNE’s Assistant Director of...

In Chellie’s final episode with the podcast, she passes the hosting mic to Keith Brune, Interim CEO of the City of Philadelphia Division of Aviation. After four years as host of Taking Off, Chellie Cameron is taking on a new challenge as president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. In this episode, Chellie and Keith take a look down memory lane, reminisce about the evolution of Taking Off, and discuss what’s to come. To learn more Philadelphia International Airport,...

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This annual celebration recognizes the cultural and historical contributions of people and organizations who identify as AAPI in the United States. In this episode, Chellie is joined by Khine Zaw, the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia’s President and CEO. To learn more about The Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia and Khine, please visit https://asianchamberphila.org/ And to learn more...

Nearly 9 out of 10 Americans (85%) are expecting to travel this summer, according to new data from the U.S. Travel Association – suggesting that people have brushed off their COVID fears and are returning to a “ready to travel” mindset. In fact, the foot traffic through TSA checkpoints over the last holiday weekend in the U.S. was only slightly less than in 2019 pre-pandemic.  As Americans’ enthusiasm for travel continues to rebound to pre-pandemic levels, the travel experience is most...

In honor of Women's History Month, Chellie is joined by Candace McGraw, CEO of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). Candace is also the new Vice Chair of ACI World, the association of the world’s airports. In this episode, Chellie and Candace celebrate women pioneers in aviation such as Bessie Raiche, Harriet Quimby, Bessie Coleman, The Betsy Ross Air Corps, Helen Richey and Amelia Earhart… just to name a few. It’s because of the path paved by these amazing women that...

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black military pilots in U.S. military service, operating between 1940 and 1946 as the 99th Pursuit Squadron. Despite earning an exemplary record while fighting the enemy abroad during World War II, these men faced racism and discrimination at home. Flying some 1,600 missions and destroying over 260 enemy aircraft, the Tuskegee Airmen helped lay the foundation for President Harry S. Truman’s decision to desegregate the armed forces in 1948. Delaware State...

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The COVID-19 pandemic has done little to slow this form of modern-day slavery. Instead, traffickers have taken advantage of the global crisis to continue targeting adults and children. Airports are a key point of access for traffickers, who use airports - as well as other transportation hubs, including train and bus stations - to scout for and move their victims. PHL is committed to working with relevant agencies and...