Burlington, Vermont: Airport Accessibility And Travel Options

Burlington, Vermont is served by Burlington International Airport (BTV), which is located in South Burlington, just 6km east of Burlington's central business district. The airport is owned by the City of Burlington and is the busiest airport in Vermont, with around 40% of its passengers coming from Quebec, Canada, as of 2015. With a rich history dating back to 1920, the airport has undergone numerous expansions and renovations over the years, including the addition of several gates, concession stands, and a parking garage. BTV offers a variety of services and amenities for travellers, including dining options, gift shops, and rental car services.

Burlington International Airport's address and contact details

Burlington International Airport

Address

1200 Airport Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403, United States.

Contact Details

• Telephone: 802-863-2874
• Email: Unknown
• Website: https://www.btv.aero/

Office Hours

Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Directions

From I-89, take Exit #14 (Route 2 east). Continue on Route 2 east for approximately 2 miles to Aviation Ave. (look for the blue sign marked "U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Air Cargo and Intl. Arrivals"). Turn left onto Aviation Ave. and continue to the end (the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office is on the left).

Airlines

• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• United Airlines
• JetBlue
• Frontier Airlines
• Breeze Airways
• Sun Country Airlines

Car Rental Agencies

• Advantage: (802) 651-8761
• Avis: (802) 864-0411
• Budget: (802) 651-6991
• Enterprise: (802) 864-1111
• Hertz: (802) 864-7409
• National: (802) 864-7441

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Telephone: 1-866-289-9673

The airport's history and previous names

Burlington, Vermont, is served by the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, which is located in the neighbouring city of South Burlington. The airport is owned by the City of Burlington and is 6km from the central business district.

The airport's history dates back to 1920 when WWI pilot and future Mayor of Burlington, Johnny Burns, Aviation Commissioner Mason Beebe, and Chamber of Commerce secretary James Taylor raised funds to purchase a field and transform it into a landing strip. The first aircraft landed on 14 August 1920, piloted by Captain Hubert Stanford Broad, a World War I veteran. The airfield was levelled using a horse-drawn grader and steamroller, and the airport office was set up in the 1853 Eldridge Schoolhouse, which was relocated to the site.

The Burlington Municipal Airport—Vermont's Aerodrome—was officially recognised on 22 September 1921, by Governor Hartness, himself a pilot. The airport came under the management of the City of Burlington in 1921 and received recognition from the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of America in 1928. The airport established financial sustainability by charging fees for hangar rentals.

In the 1930s, the airport attracted aviation pioneers such as Grace Hall Pugh, Vermont's "First Lady of Aviation", who became the state's first licensed female pilot in 1938. Amelia Earhart also visited the airport in 1934 and was presented with the keys to the city.

During World War II, the airport's operations were significantly impacted. A Defence Zone was established by the US government, restricting private aircraft operations within 150 miles of the East Coast. However, the Burlington Municipal Airport was located just outside this zone, allowing it to conduct pilot training. This led to a surge in activity, with the airport becoming the busiest in the world on 14 August 1942, and 11 February 1943, with an impressive number of landings on those dates.

In the post-war years, the airport continued to expand and modernise under the management of Hugh Finnegan from 1948 until his death in 1958. The airport's title was changed from "municipal" to "international" in 1969 to reflect its growing status.

In 2023, the airport was renamed the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport in honour of former US senator Patrick Leahy.

Airlines and destinations

Burlington International Airport (BTV) is served by a range of full-service and discount airlines, including American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Delta, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines. The airport offers non-stop flights to various destinations within the United States, such as Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York, Orlando, Raleigh, and Tampa. Internationally, the airport has served Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec, Canada.

As of 2020, the airport had fifteen gates serving five airlines. The busiest airlines at BTV from November 2023 to October 2024 included American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, United Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines. These airlines offered daily flights using mainline aircraft, with the largest scheduled passenger planes being the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 operated by United Airlines, and the A320 operated by Delta.

In addition to passenger services, Burlington International Airport also handles cargo and freight operations. Both major commercial parcel carriers, UPS Airlines and FedEx Express, fly into BTV, providing service for northern Vermont. FedEx Express operates medium-ranged Boeing 757-200 aircraft for cargo flights, while UPS uses smaller Cessna 208Bs operated by Wiggins Airways for connections to nearby airports.

Military use of the airport

Burlington, Vermont is served by the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, a joint-use civil-military airport. The airport is owned by the City of Burlington and is located in South Burlington, just three nautical miles (6 km) east of Burlington's central business district.

The airport hosts two military installations. The first is the Burlington Air National Guard Base, which operates alongside the airport. The base is home to the 158th Fighter Wing, an Air Combat Command (ACC)-gained unit of the Vermont Air National Guard. The 158th Fighter Wing consists of approximately 1,000 Air National Guard personnel, a mix of full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) and Air Reserve Technician (ART) personnel, as well as traditional part-time Air National Guardsmen. The unit has been flying the F-35 fighter jet since August 2019.

The second military installation at the airport is an Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) of the Vermont Army National Guard. The AASF is home to the 1st Battalion, 103d Aviation Regiment, and the 86th Medical Company (Air Ambulance). The airport is also the muster point for the Air Wing of the Vermont State Guard.

In addition to these permanent installations, the airport also accommodates military aircraft operations. As of May 2022, military aircraft operations made up 7% of the airport's annual aircraft operations, averaging 18 military aircraft operations per day. Certain taxiways at the airport are restricted to military aircraft only, and the airport's airspace is designated as Class C, with a ceiling up to and including 4,4000' MSL.

The airport's facilities and aircraft

Burlington International Airport (BTV) is a medium-sized, joint-use civil-military airport located in South Burlington, just three nautical miles (6 km) east of Burlington's central business district. It covers an area of 942 acres (381 ha) at an elevation of 335 feet (102 m) above mean sea level. The airport has two runways: 15/33, which is 8,319 by 150 feet (2,536 x 46 m) with an asphalt and concrete surface, and 1/19, which is 4,112 by 75 feet (1,253 x 23 m) with an asphalt surface.

BTV is the busiest airport in Vermont, serving Burlington, the state's most populous city, and its metropolitan area. It is the only airport in Vermont with mainline commercial service, and it is a base for the Vermont Air National Guard and an Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) of the Vermont Army National Guard and the Vermont State Guard. The airport accommodates a mix of light general aviation, air carrier, and tactical fighter aircraft, making it a complex environment for pilots and controllers.

As of May 2022, BTV averaged 250 aircraft operations per day, including general aviation (68%), air taxi (10%), scheduled commercial (16%), and military (7%). The airport has fifteen gates serving five airlines and various ground transportation options, including rental car companies and bus services to and from downtown Burlington and the University of Vermont.

BTV offers a range of passenger facilities, including dining options, gift shops, and parking. The airport also prioritises sustainability, partnering with the city-owned Burlington Electric Department for its electricity supply and installing a 2000-panel solar array on the rooftop of the airport's northern garage.

Frequently asked questions