The airport where you can fly to Philadelphia by bus
In short: Atlantic City International Airport operates a unique logistical loophole: it sells airline tickets for a flight that never leaves the ground. Because of its proximity to Philadelphia, American Airlines uses buses to transport screened passengers between terminals, maintaining the seamless connection of a hub without the fuel costs.
The airport's identity is defined by its dual role as a civil aviation hub and a critical military installation. Since 1958, it has hosted the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing, which operates F-16C/D Fighting Falcons. The site also houses Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, opened in May 1998. This facility is the Coast Guard's largest single airframe unit, merging former stations from Brooklyn and Cape May to maintain a fleet of 10 HH-65C Dolphin helicopters.
The airport serves as a major research hub for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The William J. Hughes Technical Center sits on the property, providing a space for testing, research, and training for the Federal Air Marshal Service. While the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) operates the terminal and owns its building, the FAA owns most of the land and leases it to the SJTA.
The facility has faced significant shifts in commercial service over decades. In 2011, it was ranked as the 102nd busiest airport in the United States with over 1.4 million passengers. While it lost international status after WestJet and Air Canada ceased flights in 2010 and 2015 respectively, it remains a strategic regional alternative to Newark or Philadelphia. Recent developments include Breeze Airways' expansion into the market in May 2026 to replace abandoned Spirit Airlines routes.
Logistically, the airport is linked to broader transit networks via shuttle services to the Egg Harbor City rail station and the PATCO Speedline. While a $25 million to $30 million bill has been proposed for a dedicated NJ Transit rail station at the airport, current travelers rely on these multi-modal connections to reach Philadelphia and beyond.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Atlantic City International Airport
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