State College Regional Airport is adding more flights and larger aircraft to its fall schedule. Airport officials say the expanded service will help handle high traffic demand to and from Penn State.

American Airlines added a fourth flight to Philadelphia on August 6 and will add a fifth in October.

Starting this week, United Airlines will offer three daily flights to Washington Dulles International.

Next month, United will add a fourth daily flight to Chicago.

“Around September 21, flights to Chicago will be transitioned from a 50-seat aircraft to a 76-seat aircraft, an Embraer 175, which also offers first-class service,” said James Meyer, executive director of the Centre County Airport Authority, speaking at Tuesday’s Centre County Commissioners meeting.

Jason McMurtrie, the agency’s terminal manager, said these additional flights and larger aircraft coincided with Penn State’s move-in week. He said there are many international students who often lug a lot of luggage with them.

“Many regional planes have restrictions, you can take 50 people. There are 50 seats, but you can’t take all the luggage. So it takes days to get luggage,” McMurtrie said.

McMurtrie said larger planes could carry more people and their luggage.

Meyer said they are still working with United to get flights to Charlotte, North Carolina. He also hopes Delta Air Lines will return to the airport sometime next year. They pulled out last year because of a pilot shortage.