Harlingen offers Air Cargo Hub and International Airport

Harlingen is home to the busiest international airport in the Rio Grande Valley. Valley International Airport, also known as Rio Grande Valley International Airport, has nearly 1 million passengers and visitors walk through its terminal. And development of the NAFTA CargoPort ™ has the world's most successful cargo carriers using VIA as an air cargo hub.

Serviced by some of the world's most successful cargo carriers - Federal Express, UPS, Southwest Air Cargo, DB Schenker, DHL and Continental Airlines Cargo - Harlingen's NAFTA CargoPort ™ has aligned the Airport to be the Air Cargo Hub of the Rio Grande Valley.

Valley International Airport: Commercial Air Service

Valley International Airport (VIA) in Harlingen is the busiest international airport in the Rio Grande Valley. VIA is served by three airlines - Southwest Airlines, Continental Express and Sun Country Airlines.

Valley International Airport is classified a small hub airport. The air cargo carriers that service the NAFTA Air Cargo hub include:
  • Federal Express
  • UPS
  • DB Schenker
  • DHL
Airlines Flights
Southwest 11+ daily flights
Continental 5  + daily flights
Sun Country 5  + weekly flights Nov. & April
Source: Valley International Airport

  • Air Freight Enplaned and Deplaned Valley International Airport 2005-2008
    2005 2006 2007 2008
    ABX Air Inc. 5,430,894 4,390,508 7,857,624 8,549,121
    Ameriflight, Inc. 564 4,357 16,976 11,406
    DB Schenker 10,540,457 8,329,318 10,469,642 7,711,247
    Continental 42,272 32,731 14,397 5,872
    Emery Forwarding 11,722,862 5,051,695 0 0
    Federal Express Corp 33,277,209 37,183,090 35,633,699 37,689,666
    Lone Star Overnight 0 140,736 858,306 824,613
    Martinaire, Inc. 997,399 344,621 35,973 4,544
    UPS 13,889,661 16,291,835 18,200,113 15,271,834
    Southwest Airlines 2,970,827 3,372,488 2,798,443 2,432,065
    TOTAL 78,872,145 75,141,379 75,885,173 72,500,371
    Source: Valley International Airport
  • Number of People who Enplaned and Deplaned 2005-2008
    2008 2007 2006 2005
    TOTAL 826,535 878,343 858,592 852,524
    Source: Valley International Airport

The Valley International Airport has 3 runways. Two of those are parallel runways with enough separation (3,275 feet) allowing for simultaneous commercial operation. Runway 17R is equipped with ILS (CAT I) and is scheduled for extension to 10,000 feet.

Runway Length Width
17R - 35L 8,300' 150'
17L - 35L 5,950' 150'
13 - 31 7,256' 150'

There are 6 taxiways. Their width varies between 75 and 150 feet. There is a control tower that operates between 6 a.m. and midnight. The 144,000 square feet terminal has 7 gates equipped with 5 telescopic jet ways.