Reading Regional Airport: What Flies There and Who Runs It

Reading Regional Airport is a general aviation airport just northwest of Reading, run by the Reading Regional Airport Authority. It handles corporate, charter, and private flights along with flight training, but it has no scheduled passenger airline service, so you cannot book a regular commercial ticket out of it. Its code is RDG, and it is also known as General Carl A. Spaatz Field.

The airport sits at 24 Liberator Way, Reading, PA 19605, about three miles northwest of the city along Route 183 near Route 222.

Flights and charters

You cannot catch a scheduled airline flight there. Asked whether it offers commercial service, the airport's own answer is "No, not at this time." There are no daily airline departures the way there are at Philadelphia or Lehigh Valley.

What you can do from Reading is fly by charter. The airport says it works with 135 charter operators, including Air Charter Advisors, NetJets, and Wheels Up, which arrange private and on-demand flights. Separately, Boscov's Travel offers charter trips to Orlando on Southwest Airlines aircraft that leave from Reading, a package deal rather than a regular route.

Day to day, the airport supports corporate and business aircraft, air charter, flight training, aerial inspection and pipeline patrol, recreational flying, and military flight training. The field is open 24 hours a day.

Who runs it

The airport is owned and operated by the Reading Regional Airport Authority, a public body whose board includes the three Berks County commissioners, Christian Y. Leinbach, Michael S. Rivera, and Dante Santoni Jr., along with other appointed members. The authority's day-to-day operation is led by an airport director, Zackary J. Tempesco.

The authority holds public meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 8 a.m. in the board room at 24 Liberator Way. Its meetings, like other public meetings in the county, are open to residents. If you want to understand how county-connected bodies like this fit into local government, our guide to how Berks County government works lays it out.

Parking, rental cars, and food

For anyone meeting a charter, picking someone up, or visiting the museum:

• Parking is free for terminal patrons.
• Rental cars are available on site through Avis/Budget, National, and Enterprise.
• Klinger's at the Airport, a restaurant on site, opens at 11 a.m. for lunch and dinner.

General aviation pilots can also rent T-hangars at the field; the airport lists those at 610-372-4666.

The air museum and World War II Weekend

Reading Regional is home to the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, which collects, restores, and displays historic military planes and classic airliners. The museum is at 110 Air Museum Drive, Reading, PA 19605 (610-372-7333).

Every June the airport hosts the museum's World War II Weekend Air Show, a major annual event with vintage aircraft, reenactors, entertainers, and flight demonstrations. It is the one time each year the airport draws a large public crowd.

FAQ

Can I fly commercially out of Reading Regional Airport?

No. Reading Regional has no scheduled passenger airline service. Your options from the field are private and charter flights; for a regular airline ticket you would fly out of Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley (Allentown), or Harrisburg.

What is the airport code for Reading Regional Airport?

RDG. The field is also formally named General Carl A. Spaatz Field, after the first chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force.

Who owns Reading Regional Airport?

The Reading Regional Airport Authority, a public authority whose board includes the three Berks County commissioners. It runs the airport and holds public meetings twice a month.

Is parking free at Reading Regional Airport?

Yes. Parking is free for terminal patrons. Rental cars are available on site from Avis/Budget, National, and Enterprise.

When is World War II Weekend?

The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum holds its World War II Weekend Air Show at the airport every June. Check the museum's site for the exact dates and tickets each year.

Sources and contact

• Reading Regional Airport for what the airport is and does
• Reading Regional Airport FAQs for commercial service, charters, parking, and rentals
• Reading Regional Airport Authority for governance and meeting schedule
• Mid-Atlantic Air Museum for the museum and World War II Weekend

Reading Regional Airport: 610-372-4666, 24 Liberator Way, Reading, PA 19605.

Getting to the airport without a car? BARTA covers routes across Berks County, and our guide to the county's driver's license and photo centers is next door to travel-document questions like the REAL ID you now need to fly.