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 Per Pounds Enplaned and Deplaned Valley International Airport 2004-2010
    2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
    ABX Air Inc. 5,933,993 5,430,894 4,390,508 7,857,624 8,549,121 1,552,406 8,432,341
    Ameriflight, Inc. 0 564 4,357 16,976 11,406 5 7,496
    BAXGlobal 10,227,009 10,540,457 8,329,318 10,469,642 7,711,247 2,103,970 0
    Continental 36,061 42,272 32,731 14,397 5,872 13,341 19,681
    Emery Forwarding 10,529,275 11,722,862 5,051,695 0 0 0 0
    Federal Express Corp 29,781,363 33,277,209 37,183,090 35,633,699 37,689,666 37,755,209 50,023,161
    Lone Star Overnight 0 0 140,736 858,306 824,613 562,709 480,449
    Martinaire, Inc. 1,123,545 997,399 344,621 35,973 4,544 2,119 0
    UPS 10,758,836 13,889,661 16,291,835 18,200,113 15,271,834 11,465,606 12,190,990
    Southwest Airlines 3,237,889 2,970,827 3,372,488 2,798,443 2,432,065 1,683,009 1,609,606
    TOTAL 71,627,971 78,872,145 75,141,379 75,885,173 72,500,371 55,138,374 72,763,724
    Source: Valley International Airport 02.09.11
  • Number of People who Enplaned and Deplaned 2006-2010
    2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
    TOTAL 858,592 878,343 826,535 731,575 735,861
    Source: Valley International Airport 02.10.11

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.