Valley International (KHRL), Texas
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Valley International Airport, KHRL, serves the Harlingen area of South Texas with a towered field offering three paved runways and onsite CBP inspection services backed by a USDA compliance agreement. Situated roughly 29 nautical miles from the nearest metro center, the airport recorded 22,598 total annual operations in 2025 according to FAA TFMSC data, with business aviation accounting for 3,237 of those movements. Fuel is available in both 100LL and Jet A, and the field operates on an attendance schedule spanning 0600 to midnight daily.
Runways
Valley International has three paved runways. The longest, 18R/36L, is 9,400 ft long and 150 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Valley International has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 6am to 12am, daily, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Valley International has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals. A USDA compliance agreement is in place.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Valley International recorded 3,237 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in December. Business aviation traffic at KHRL is concentrated toward the December period, according to FAA TFMSC data, with lower activity in the spring months.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month December, 349 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Valley International averages 30.2 days above 90°F in August and 0.6 freeze days in January. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 97.2°F, and January the coldest, at 71.7°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Valley International has published operating constraints in five categories: access, runway notes, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
When the control tower is closed, request ARFF coverage through Corpus Christi Approach or Flight Service.
For clearance delivery when the control tower is closed, contact Corpus Christi Approach.
Lighting operates from dusk to dawn. When the control tower is closed, activate the MALSR on Runway 18R and the lighting on Runway 31 and Runway 36L via CTAF.
Migratory birds are present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
PCR VALUE: 310/F/D/X/T
PCR VALUE: 210/R/B/W/T
PCR VALUE: 380/F/D/X/T
The visual glide slope indicator is unusable beyond 7 degrees right of centerline.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Valley International has five airfields within 29 NM. The closest is Cameron County (KPIL), 17.06 NM east.
Part of the Rio Grande Valley area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KHRL
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at KHRL.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What customs procedures apply at KHRL?
Valley International Airport, KHRL, has CBP inspection services available onsite along with a USDA compliance agreement. This combination allows arriving aircraft to clear both customs and agricultural inspection at the field rather than diverting elsewhere. Crews should confirm current CBP hours and any advance notice requirements before planning an international arrival, since onsite availability does not remove standard notification procedures. The USDA compliance agreement is a relevant detail for flights carrying agricultural cargo or arriving from regions with produce or livestock restrictions.
How long is the longest runway at KHRL?
The longest runway at Valley International Airport, KHRL, is 18R/36L at 9,400 feet, with a width of 150 feet and an asphalt surface. A second parallel runway, 18L/36R, measures 5,950 feet, and a crosswind runway, 13/31, runs 7,257 feet. All three runways are paved. The 9,400-foot length on 18R/36L accommodates a wide range of business and commercial aircraft without length-driven weight restrictions on that runway.
What happens at KHRL when the control tower is closed?
When the KHRL tower is closed, pilots must request ARFF coverage through Corpus Christi Approach or Flight Service rather than assuming onsite response. Clearance delivery functions are also handled by contacting Corpus Christi Approach during non-towered hours. Approach lighting on runways 18R, 31, and 36L, including the MALSR system, is pilot-activated via CTAF between dusk and dawn when the tower is not staffed. Dispatchers should build these coordination steps into planning for early or late operations at Valley International Airport.
Are there wildlife hazards reported at KHRL?
Yes, migratory birds are reported on and in the vicinity of Valley International Airport, KHRL. This is listed as a general remark applicable to the airfield and its surrounding airspace rather than tied to a specific runway or season within the data. Crews operating at KHRL should factor bird activity into approach and departure planning, particularly during low-altitude phases of flight. No specific mitigation program details or seasonal timing are specified beyond the presence of migratory birds on and around the airport.
What is the seasonal traffic pattern for business aviation at KHRL?
Business aviation traffic at Valley International Airport, KHRL, shows a concentration pattern across the year based on FAA TFMSC data, with December recording the highest monthly figure at 349 operations. Other relatively higher months include February at 289 and October at 291 operations, while May shows the lowest count at 217. Total annual business aviation operations at KHRL reached 3,237 in 2025 out of 22,598 total airport operations. Dispatchers planning flights into KHRL during the December period should anticipate comparatively busier conditions than the mid-year months.