The airport is also heavily utilized for the transport of air cargo due to the growth of e-commerce and its proximity to major population centers on the East Coast.

The first terminal building at the airport was built in 1938 as part of a Works Progress Administration project.

In late July 1944, the War Production Board approved the construction of a second-story addition to the airport's administration building.

TWA left in 1967, replaced by Allegheny Airlines; Colonial's successor Eastern Air Lines remained until 1991.

In 2012, Frontier Airlines started twice-a-week nonstop Airbus A319 flights to Orlando International Airport; they ended in 2013.

[12] On June 11, 2016, André Borschberg began the 14th leg (ABE to JFK, which included a dramatic Statue of Liberty flyover).

After several years of falling passenger counts in the early 2000s, the airport has lately experienced a significant rebound in passenger totals due to it being an alternative to the comparatively congested Philadelphia International and Newark Liberty International airports, its facility improvements, a rapidly growing regional population, carrier expansions, especially Allegiant Air, and multiple new routes being added for popular destinations and major hubs across the country.

[25] Amazon.com used the Lehigh Valley International Airport (LVIA) as one of the first five locations in the United States for their Amazon Air shipping service.

LVIA was selected for the pilot concept of the program due to its close proximity to large population centers, cost-effectiveness, and robust infrastructure.

[31] For similar reasons as Amazon, FedEx Ground selected an area that was once owned by the Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority to construct its largest terminal in the country as of 2016.

Former carriers Trans-Bridge Lines runs several daily buses from ABE to Manhattan, stopping at both Newark (EWR) and New York (JFK) Airports.

[40] United Airlines also has a bus service to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

[41] Continental Airlines, which later merged into United, previously operated flights from Allentown to Newark but switched to a bus service in 1995 due to constant delays from air traffic control.

[43] By February 2010, bus was the only form of service offered by Continental after it cancelled its Allentown to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport flights.

[44] LANta provides local bus service to the airport with routes 215 (Bethlehem), 319 (Lehigh Valley Mall-Bethlehem Square), and 325 (Allentown).