Arnold Palmer Regional Airport

Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
Name	Arnold Palmer Regional Airport
Iata	LBE
Icao	KLBE
Faa	LBE
Type	Public
Owner	Westmoreland County Airport Authority
Location	Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Elevation ft	1,195
Runway1	6/24
Runway1 length ft	6,501
Runway1 surface	Asphalt

Arnold Palmer Regional Airport is a public use airport located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, serving Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and the Allegheny Plateau. Named for Arnold Palmer, the airport functions as a regional hub connecting the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, Allegheny County, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and the Laurel Highlands. The facility supports commercial service, general aviation, and medevac operations, and hosts events linked to Arnold Palmer Invitational and regional tourism.

History

The airport originated as a Works Progress Administration-era airfield and later expanded during the World War II mobilization when nearby Armstrong County and regional industrial centers required air support. After the war, control transitioned to local authorities including the Westmoreland County Airport Authority and benefitted from infrastructure programs tied to the Federal Aviation Administration modernization efforts. In the late 20th century, the facility was renamed to honor Arnold Palmer, reflecting ties to the PGA Tour and the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport namesake’s philanthropic activities; the renaming coincided with regional marketing alongside the Latrobe Country Club and the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. Commercial service history included operations by carriers such as Allegheny Airlines, USAir Express, Air Midwest, Mesa Airlines, and entrants from the Essential Air Service era. Post-2000 developments involved terminal renovations supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation, runway rehabilitation funded through FAA programs, and efforts to attract low-cost and regional airlines competing with Pittsburgh International Airport and Johnstown–Cambria County Airport service areas.

Facilities and operations

The airport resides on property formerly part of local industrial tracts near St. Vincent College and the Latrobe Country Club. The single primary runway, 6/24, is an asphalt surface accommodating aircraft types ranging from Cessna Citation business jets to regional turboprops like the Bombardier Dash 8 and regional jets from manufacturers such as Embraer and Bombardier Aerospace. The field includes a passenger terminal with fixed-base operator services provided by entities linked to General Aviation Manufacturers Association standards and supports Air Evac Lifeteam and STAT MedEvac rotors for critical care. Onsite navigational aids have been upgraded to include [instrument landing system] capabilities coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration flight inspection processes. Groundside facilities host rental car providers such as Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hertz, and maintenance operations performed by regional maintenance organizations tied to Aviation Repair Stations certification.

Airlines and destinations

Commercial carriers operating scheduled flights have included regional affiliates of major carriers and independent regional airlines such as Southern Airways Express, PSA Airlines, and commuter services under the banners of United Express and American Eagle at various times. Destinations have primarily focused on hubs including Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and LaGuardia Airport, with seasonal charter links to leisure markets promoted through partnerships with VisitPittsburgh and Discover Pennsylvania. Cargo and charter operators serving freight needs have included regional logistics firms contracted by FedEx Feeder and UPS Airlines via third-party providers.

Ground transportation

Ground access is provided via U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania and proximity to Interstate 70 in Pennsylvania, linking travelers to Harrison City, Pennsylvania, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and the Pittsburgh suburbs. Ground transportation options have included shuttle services coordinated with local hotels, taxi operations dispatched through regional companies serving Westmoreland County, as well as ride-hailing pickup zones utilized by platforms licensed in Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission jurisdictions. Long-term parking and short-term lots serve patrons traveling to events at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and visiting attractions such as the Westmoreland Museum of American Art and Railroaders Memorial Museum.

Accidents and incidents

The airport’s safety record includes occasional general aviation incidents investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and local authorities from Latrobe Volunteer Fire Department and Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety. Historical reports documented runway excursions and single-engine mishaps involving types like the Piper PA-28 and Cessna 172, as well as incidents during adverse weather conditions linked to regional National Weather Service advisories. Notable emergency responses have engaged Pennsylvania State Police Aviation units and coordinated with medical centers such as UPMC Altoona and Allegheny Health Network for patient transport.

Statistics

Passenger enplanements have fluctuated in response to airline service changes, regional economic cycles tied to Metropolitan Statistical Area dynamics, and tourism flows associated with the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and seasonal events in the Laurel Highlands. Annual operations counts combine commercial, air taxi, general aviation, and military movements recorded in FAA traffic data sets, with peak periods aligned to holiday travel and tournament weeks at Latrobe Country Club. Cargo throughput volumes reflect feeder operations for regional logistics networks serving Western Pennsylvania manufacturing and healthcare supply chains.

Category:Airports in Pennsylvania Category:Buildings and structures in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania