Beckley, West Virginia: Airport Accessibility And Travel Options

Raleigh County Memorial Airport (IATA: BKW) is located approximately three miles east of Beckley, West Virginia, United States. The airport is used for general aviation and sees one scheduled passenger airline. It covers 1,433 acres at an elevation of 2,504 feet and has two asphalt runways. The airport is owned and operated by the Raleigh County Airport Authority.

Raleigh County Memorial Airport's location

Raleigh County Memorial Airport is located in Beaver, West Virginia, approximately three miles east of the city of Beckley, in Raleigh County. The airport's address is 176 Airport Rd, Beaver, WV 25813, and its phone number is (304) 255-0476. The airport is owned and operated by the Raleigh County Airport Authority and is used for general aviation. It covers 1,433 acres of land at an elevation of 2,504 feet and features two asphalt runways: 1/19, which is 6,750 feet by 150 feet, and 10/28, which is 5,001 feet by 100 feet.

The airport first opened in the early 1950s with a 4,200-foot runway, and the first airline flights were Piedmont DC-3s in 1952. The runway was extended to 5,000 feet in the 1950s, and a new 6,750-foot runway was constructed between 1975 and 1979. The last Piedmont YS-11 left the airport in 1981.

In 2005, Raleigh County Memorial Airport was the least busy airport in the United States with an airline service, serving a total of 2,578 passengers that year. However, it has seen an increase in traffic in recent years. In the year ending April 30, 2022, the airport recorded 23,181 aircraft operations, an average of 63 per day. The airport is served by Contour Airlines, which operates flights to destinations such as Jacksonville International and Liberty International.

The airport's history

Raleigh County Memorial Airport, located approximately three miles east of Beckley, West Virginia, has a long history dating back to the 1950s. The airport first opened its doors between 1950 and 1952, with a 4,200-foot east-west runway. The first airline to operate at the airport was Piedmont, with their DC-3s taking to the skies in 1952.

During the 1950s, the runway underwent an extension to 5,000 feet, and by the late 1970s, a new runway, 1/19, was constructed, measuring 6,750 feet. This construction took place between 1975 and 1979. The airport has two asphalt runways: 1/19, which is 6,750 by 150 feet, and 10/28, which is 5,001 by 100 feet.

In terms of passenger numbers, the airport has seen fluctuations over the years. Federal Aviation Administration records show that in 2008, there were 3,630 passenger boardings, decreasing to 2,626 in 2009 and 2,429 in 2010. This led to the airport being categorised as a non-primary commercial service airport for the period of 2011-2015. However, based on the number of enplanements in 2010, it was later categorised as general aviation.

The airport is owned and operated by the Raleigh County Airport Authority and is used for general aviation. It covers a vast area of 1,433 acres at an elevation of 2,504 feet. While it is one of the smaller airports in the United States, serving only 2,578 passengers in 2005, it continues to serve the aviation needs of the local community.

Passenger boardings and enplanements

Raleigh County Memorial Airport, located about three miles east of Beckley, West Virginia, is both owned and operated by the Raleigh County Airport Authority. The airport is used for general aviation and has one scheduled passenger airline, subsidised by the Essential Air Service programme.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the airport had 3,630 passenger boardings (enplanements) in 2008, 2,626 in 2009, and 2,429 in 2010. Based on these enplanement numbers, the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) categorised Raleigh County Memorial Airport as a non-primary commercial service airport for 2011-2015. This classification applies to publicly-owned airports with at least 2,500 annual passenger boardings.

However, due to the decrease in enplanements in 2010, falling below the 2,500 threshold, the airport would later be categorised as a general aviation airport. In 2005, Raleigh County Memorial Airport was the least busy airport in the United States with an airline service, serving a total of 2,578 passengers that year.

The NPIAS report released in September 2020 further breaks down commercial service airports into four hub types based on their percentage of total US passenger enplanements: Large hub (L), Medium hub (M), Small hub (S), and Nonhub (N). To qualify as a Large hub, an airport must account for at least 1% of total US passenger enplanements, while Medium hubs account for between 0.25% and 1%. Small hubs represent between 0.05% and 0.25% of total enplanements, and Nonhub airports represent less than 0.05% but still maintain over 10,000 annual enplanements.

Runway and aircraft operations

Raleigh County Memorial Airport, located approximately three miles east of Beckley, West Virginia, features two asphalt runways. The primary runway, designated 1/19, measures 6,750 feet in length and 150 feet in width (2,057 x 46 meters). The secondary runway, designated 10/28, is 5,001 feet long and 100 feet wide (1,524 x 30 meters). These runways accommodate various aircraft, including single-engine, multi-engine, jet, and helicopter operations.

The airport covers a significant area of 1,433 acres (580 hectares) and sits at an elevation of 2,504 feet (763 meters). Its convenient location, just 15 minutes from downtown Beckley, makes it easily accessible via US 19, Interstate 77, or Interstate 64.

In the year ending April 30, 2022, Raleigh County Memorial Airport recorded an impressive 23,181 aircraft operations, averaging 63 operations per day. The majority of these operations, 85%, fell under general aviation, while air taxi and military flights accounted for 6% and 9%, respectively.

The airport is equipped to handle a range of aircraft, as evidenced by the 33 aircraft based there as of April 30, 2022. This included 21 single-engine planes, 7 multi-engine planes, 4 jets, and 1 helicopter.

With its two asphalt runways, convenient location, and capacity for diverse aircraft operations, Raleigh County Memorial Airport plays a vital role in serving the aviation needs of Beckley, West Virginia, and the surrounding region.

Airlines and destinations

Raleigh County Memorial Airport is located approximately three miles east of Beckley, West Virginia. The airport is owned and operated by the Raleigh County Airport Authority and is used for general aviation. The airport sees one scheduled passenger airline, Contour Airlines, which is subsidised by the Essential Air Service program.

The airline offers flights to a number of destinations, including:

• Jacksonville International Airport
• Liberty International Airport
• Pensacola International Airport

The airport also offers flights to Charlotte and Parkersburg, West Virginia.

The busiest domestic routes from Raleigh County Airport (BKW) in 2023 included Charlotte, North Carolina, and Parkersburg, West Virginia.

The airport has a convenient location, free long-term parking, and a personalised service, making the travel experience hassle-free. There are no long lines for security clearance, and passengers can choose to check their bags at the counter or at the gate. The airport is just 15 minutes from downtown Beckley and can be easily accessed via US 19, Interstate 77, or Interstate 64.

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