Bi-County Airport Board hears report on May 7 roll-out of REAL ID
Apr. 24—PITTSTON TWP. — Mark C. Bailer, Scranton, director of public safety at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, on Thursday reported on the May 7, roll-out of REAL-ID. Bailer, who started in the position on March 21, advised the Bi-County Airport Board to inform their constituents to be ready for the mandatory start of REAL ID.
"Customers without REAL ID will still be able to fly, but the process will be twice as long to get through security," Bailer said.
With federal REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll, along with officials from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, and the American Automobile Association, recently encouraged Pennsylvanians to prepare now.
Getting a REAL ID is optional in Pennsylvania, but beginning May 7, travelers will need a REAL ID driver's license or ID card, or another form of federally-acceptable identification — such as a valid passport or military ID — to board a domestic commercial flight, and enter a military base or other federal facilities that require ID at the door.
More than 2.6 million Pennsylvanians have gotten a REAL ID driver's license or ID card since they became available in the state in 2019.
A passport is still needed for international travel.
Federal REAL ID regulations require that PennDOT must verify the following documents:
—Proof of identity.
—Proof of Social Security number.
—Two proofs of current, physical PA address.
—Proof of all legal name changes.
When a customer gets their first REAL ID, they will pay a one-time fee of $30, plus the renewal fee, which is $39.50 for a four-year non-commercial driver's license and $42.50 for a photo ID.
In other business, the Airport Board:
—Heard a report from Carl R. Beardsley Jr., executive director, on passenger activity.
"As you can see, we are experiencing significant growth," Beardsley said.
Beardsley said passenger enplanements for the month of March 2025 increased 27.7% to 21,475 — up from 16,814 in the month of March 2024.
In March 2025, 3 departing flights were cancelled — 2 for weather and 1 for maintenance. Beardsley said this accounts for 130 (.5%) out of a total of 26,986 departure seats. Also, five arriving flights were cancelled — four for weather and one for maintenance.
—Approved the Airport Use Agreement between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and Breeze Aviation Group, effective April 1, 2025.
—Authorize the advertisement for bids for HVAC Maintenance Services.
—Approved the financial report of Chris Dalessandro, Director of Finance, that showed for the month of March 2025, Airport Operations had an income totaling $135,640 compared to an income of $5,571 in March 2024 — a difference of $130,069.
Dalessandro said year to date, the profit is $294,388, compared to a loss in 2024 of $267,577 — a difference of $561,965.
Invoices received since the last meeting for supplies and services totaling $738,644.95 were approved by the Board. These invoices include major construction project costs of $316,5636.73.
—Approved three appointments presented by Michelle Aigeldinger, Director of Human Resources:
— Anthony Constantine, Dunmore, Maintenance 2, to be effective once confirmation of airport clearances and approved physical are received.
— Bryan Cadwalder, Old Forge, to Maintenance 2, to be effective once confirmation of airport clearances and approved physical are received.
— Jonathan Crawn, Dupont, to Maintenance 2, to be effective once confirmation of airport clearances and approved physical are received.
—Heard updates from Stephen Mykulyn, P.E., director of engineering, on engineering projects.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
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