Cleveland's Airport: An Aviation Hub In Ohio?

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is a city-owned airport in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state, as well as one of the fifty largest airports in the US by passenger numbers. The airport is located 9 miles (14 km) southwest of Downtown Cleveland and is the primary airport serving Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. It is served by a number of major airlines and offers nonstop passenger service to 43 destinations. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is also of historical significance, being the site of several first-in-the-world innovations in commercial air travel, including the first air traffic control tower and the first two-level terminal design separating arrivals from departures.

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (IATA: CLE)

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport was founded on July 1, 1925, and was one of the first municipality-owned facilities of its kind in the United States. The airport has been at the forefront of several innovations in aviation history, including being the first airport with an air traffic control tower, the first ground-to-air radio control system, and the first airfield lighting system, all implemented in 1930. It was also the first airport to employ a two-level terminal design, separating arrivals from departures. Additionally, it was the first airport in North America to be directly connected with a rail transit line in 1968.

The airport offers non-stop passenger service to 43 destinations and is operated by the Cleveland Department of Port Control, which also manages Burke Lakefront Airport located downtown. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport covers an area of 1,717 acres (695 ha) and has three runways. The airport consists of one two-level passenger terminal, which was completed in 1978 and renovated in 2016, and four concourses, three of which are currently in use.

The airport is committed to providing a range of services and accessibility options for travellers with reduced mobility needs, ensuring fair and equitable treatment for all its customers. It also offers the convenience of reserving parking in advance, with a Smart Parking Garage located just steps from the main terminal.

In recent years, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has experienced fluctuations in passenger traffic, with several airlines increasing their service to the airport. In 2022, the airport began discussions for a $2 billion renovation project to expand security and check-in counters, improve baggage inspection, expand gate waiting areas, and add new gates to accommodate additional flights.

Burke Lakefront Airport

Cleveland, Ohio, is served by the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, which is the largest and busiest airport in the state. The airport is located 9 miles (14 km) southwest of Downtown Cleveland.

Cleveland also has another airport, the Burke Lakefront Airport, which is a city-owned airport on the shore of Lake Erie, in the northeast part of downtown Cleveland. It is classified as a general aviation airport and is a designated reliever to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The airport is named after former Cleveland mayor and U.S. senator Thomas A. Burke.

Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport opened in 1947 as the United States' first downtown airport and as its first municipally-owned-and-operated airport. It was designed to serve as a supplemental airfield for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and originally featured a 2,000-foot dirt temporary runway and a small operations facility with a hangar.

The airport has two asphalt runways: 6L/24R, which measures 6,198 x 150 ft (1,889 x 46 m), and 6R/24L, which measures 5,197 x 100 ft (1,584 x 30 m). The airfield can handle large jets, including 737s, 757s, and A320s, as well as smaller general aviation aircraft.

In 2018, based on FAA data, Burke Lakefront Airport was the seventh busiest airport in Ohio. The airport's operations have decreased over the past two decades, from 100,321 in 2000 to 40,185 in 2019. However, between 2018 and 2019, operations at the airport increased by 16.5%. The airport is frequently used by professional sports team charter flights due to its proximity to sports stadiums and also serves as the operational hub for the Cleveland Clinic's fleet of air ambulances.

The airport covers an area of 450 acres (180 ha) and is home to three flight schools: T & G Flying Club, Inc., Zone Aviation, and Precision Helicopters. The International Women's Air & Space Museum is also located within the terminal at Burke Lakefront Airport.

CLE's history of innovation

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is Ohio's largest and busiest airport, serving more than 10 million passengers annually. It is also one of the 50 largest airports in the US by passenger numbers. Located just 12 miles from downtown Cleveland, the airport has a long history of innovation, dating back to its founding in 1925.

When it opened, CLE was the first municipal airport in the country and served as a stop for US Air Mail planes making coast-to-coast flights. It quickly grew in popularity, attracting aviation pioneers like Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh.

• First municipal airport in the country (1925): CLE was the first municipal airport in the United States, serving as a crucial stop for cross-country flights.
• First air-freight route (1925): The Ford Motor Company established the first air-freight route to and from Detroit, with the first car being flown disassembled and then assembled at Cleveland Airport.
• First interstate passenger services (1927): While commercial aviation began in Cleveland as early as 1918, it wasn't until 1927 that Stout Air Services (a division of Ford Motor Company) operated the first scheduled interstate passenger service between Cleveland and Detroit.
• First National Air Races (1929): Due to its large airfield, Cleveland was chosen to host the first National Air Races, which drew hundreds of thousands of spectators and renowned aviators.
• World's first airfield lighting system (1930): CLE pioneered airfield lighting, making night operations safer and more manageable.
• First air traffic control tower with radio communication (1930): Claude F. King, the airport's second commissioner, invented, constructed, and installed the first radio-equipped air traffic control tower, revolutionizing air traffic management.
• First passenger information board (1956): The world's first centralized electric information board, designed by Claude King, could display information for up to 32 flights, with regular updates from air traffic control and airlines.
• World's first airport-based EMT program (1965): CLE established the first emergency medical technician program at an airport, prioritizing the safety and well-being of its passengers and staff.
• First direct airport-to-downtown rail service (1968): The airport introduced the first direct rapid transit link to downtown Cleveland, providing a convenient and efficient transportation option for travellers.
• Innovation in customer service (present): CLE continues to innovate with a focus on customer service, introducing the AIRMALL, FlightView Screens, and social media communications to enhance the traveller experience.

These innovations have contributed to CLE's rich history and its standing as a significant airport in the aviation industry.

CLE's busiest airlines

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is indeed a real airport, located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state of Ohio, and is also one of the 50 largest airports in the US by passenger numbers.

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is served by several airlines, with the busiest and most prominent ones being:

• United Airlines — United has a significant presence at CLE, with a flight attendant base, a pilot base, and maintenance facilities at the airport. It is the largest carrier at CLE by passenger count. The airline has a long history with the airport, dating back to the post–World War II era until the mid-1980s when it was a hub for United. Even after closing its hub in 2014, United continues to be a major carrier at CLE.
• Frontier Airlines — Frontier Airlines has been expanding its service to CLE and has declared Cleveland a focus city. It offers flights to various destinations, including San Juan, Puerto Rico. In June 2024, Frontier overtook United as the airline carrying the most passengers monthly at CLE.
• Spirit Airlines — Spirit Airlines is a low-cost carrier that began serving CLE after United closed its hub. It offers flights to destinations like Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
• Delta Air Lines — Delta Air Lines is a major carrier at CLE, offering flights to destinations like Atlanta, Detroit, and New York-JFK. It primarily operates from Concourse A and B at the airport.
• Southwest Airlines — Southwest Airlines has a strong presence at CLE, with flights to destinations like Chicago-Midway, Baltimore, and Orlando. It primarily operates from Concourse B.
• American Airlines — American Airlines has increased its service to CLE over the years, offering flights to various destinations. It operates from Concourse C at the airport.
• Alaska Airlines — Alaska Airlines serves CLE and operates from Concourse C.
• JetBlue Airways — JetBlue Airways is another carrier serving CLE, operating from Concourse C.

These airlines contribute significantly to the passenger traffic at CLE, making them the busiest and most prominent carriers at the airport.

CLE's busiest routes

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is the largest and busiest airport in Ohio. It is also one of the top 50 largest airports in the US by passenger numbers. The airport serves over 10,000,000 passengers annually, with more than 125 daily departures to 45 nonstop destinations.

The busiest domestic routes from CLE between July 2023 and June 2024 were to Chicago–O'Hare, Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, and Chicago–Midway.

In 2024, CLE added a nonstop service to Salt Lake City, operated by Delta Air Lines. This route provides one-stop connections to destinations in the Mountain West, the US West Coast, Western Canada, and Hawaii.

CLE is of significant importance to the history of commercial air travel due to its numerous first-in-the-world innovations. It was the first airport with an air traffic control tower, a two-level design separating arrivals from departures, and a ground-to-air radio control system. It was also the first airfield lighting system and, in 1968, the first US airport directly connected to a local or regional rail transit system.

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