A Lesser-Known Airport In New Jersey Is A Hidden Gem That's Quick And Convenient

Far away from the madding crowds of major air transportation hubs, Trenton–Mercer Airport (TTN) is a throwback to a time when navigating an airport was a relatively straightforward and stress-free experience. The hidden gem located in Ewing Township, New Jersey is less than an hour from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and about an hour from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). It's also an hour and a half from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), one of the best airports for spotting a celebrity, making it a great alternative for travel to and from the mid-Atlantic region. There's a catch, though. At the moment, only one airline operates out of Trenton–Mercer Airport and that carrier serves just five destinations including Atlanta (ATL) — one of the world's busiest airports — Fort Myers (RSW), Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA), and West Palm Beach (PBI).

Trenton–Mercer Airport has served as a base of operations for a number of airlines since it first opened to commercial traffic almost 100 years ago. However, Denver-based low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines — America's greenest airline — is currently the only commercial passenger airline operating flights out of TTN. Eastwind Airlines, a short-lived Trenton-based carrier, operated limited service out of TTN in the mid-1990s and Allegiant Air operated flights from Trenton to three Florida destinations from 2014 to 2016. For a while in the mid-2000s, Delta Air Lines had a stake in the game, offering flights between Trenton and airports in Boston (BOS) and Atlanta (ATL) via Comair, its Delta Connection partner. The carrier dropped Atlanta less than six months after introducing the route and eventually canceled its Boston service, too.

In contrast to its decades-long history of on-again-off-again collaborations with airlines, Trenton–Mercer Airport's partnership with Frontier Airlines (America's fastest-growing air carrier) appears to have staying power. In 2022, the airline marked the 10-year anniversary of its operations at TTN. It's too early to tell, but the October 2024 ceremonial groundbreaking kicking off a long-planned airport improvement project may pave the way for additional carriers and an expanded route network. The first phase of the Trenton-Mercer Terminal Replacement Project focuses on constructing a 20,000-square-foot Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting facility. It's a necessary component of an extensive plan to overhaul the entire facility. "We need this in place to move forward and clear the ground for the county's new terminal," Ewing Township Mayor Bert. H. Steinmann told Greater Trenton, a local economic development organization, at the groundbreaking ceremony. "Every piece has to fall into place just right, and this is a major step toward getting it done."

Initial plans announced in 2018, called for the complete replacement of the airport's existing terminal, a 25,000-square-foot facility built in 1970. While the final design is still in flux, the general plan is to build a new 125,000-square-foot terminal with 10 ticket counters and an improved traffic flow, in addition to updated passenger services and concessions. Plans also call for the construction of a 1,000-vehicle parking garage. In 2023, Trenton-Mercer Airport accommodated 325,865 passengers. The new facility is expected to service 476,507 passengers by 2025. In the meantime, the circa 1970 terminal continues to serve the region which means there's still an opportunity to experience one of the existing facility's signature amenities. Open to the public, Sky Lounge, the airport's vintage 70-seat restaurant, offers a bird's-eye view of the runway.