Why do planes approach and depart on certain runways at the Airport?
The Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers determine the active runways at Philadelphia International Airport. Aircraft generally must take off and land into the wind. Depending on wind direction and weather conditions, the Airport operates in either West Flow (planes land from the east and takeoff to the west approximately 66 percent of the time), or East Flow (planes land from the west and takeoff to the east approximately 34 percent of the time).
