Newport News Airport: Does It Exist?

Yes, Newport News, Virginia, has an airport. The Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (IATA: PHF, ICAO: KPHF, FAA LID: PHF) is a small airport with domestic flights serving the Hampton Roads area. It is owned and operated by the Peninsula Airport Commission, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The airport covers 1,800 acres, most of which are in Newport News, with nearly half of the airfield in York County.

Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport

Newport News does have an airport, known as the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport. The airport is located in Newport News, Virginia, United States, and serves the Hampton Roads area, along with Norfolk International Airport in Norfolk. The airport covers 1,800 acres, most of which is in Newport News, with nearly half of the airfield in York County.

The airport is owned and operated by the Peninsula Airport Commission (PAC), a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The PAC was created in 1946 by Virginia's General Assembly to establish a new airport for the cities of Newport News and Hampton. The airport was originally named the Newport News-Williamsburg Airport, but in September 1990, the PAC officially renamed it to the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.

The airport has seen significant growth over the years, with its best year being 2010, when it served about 1.063 million passengers. In 2011, it was the third-fastest-growing airport in the United States and the 118th largest airport. However, the loss of the dominant air carrier AirTran in 2012 and competition from low-cost airlines at nearby airports have led to a significant drop in passenger numbers since 2011.

Airport history and expansion

Newport News does have an airport, the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (IATA: PHF, ICAO: KPHF, FAA LID: PHF). The airport is owned and operated by the Peninsula Airport Commission (PAC), a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The history of the airport can be traced back to 1946 when Virginia's General Assembly passed legislation creating the Peninsula Airport Commission (PAC) to determine a location for and establish a new airport for the cities of Newport News and Hampton. The airport was initially served by four airlines in early 1976, offering nonstop or direct flights to various destinations across the United States. A US Customs facility was added to the terminal in the same year to accommodate international arrivals.

In 1984, Charles J. Blankenship was hired as the executive director, and his strategic plan, which included developing a business park and a marketing campaign to attract air carriers, led to the airport becoming America's fastest-growing airport in 1985 and 1986. On December 19, 1980, the Daily Press reported that a committee authorized by the PAC recommended changing the airport's name to "Newport News/Williamsburg International," which officially took place in September 1990.

The airport underwent significant expansion in the early 21st century, with a new air traffic control tower completed in July 2007, replacing the 1951 tower. A new terminal opened in late 1992, and a new three-level parking garage was inaugurated in June 2007. The original control tower, which had been in continuous service for 55 years, was shut down in July 2007.

The airport's best year in terms of passenger numbers was 2010, with about 1.063 million passengers. However, the loss of the dominant air carrier AirTran in 2012 and competition from low-cost airlines at nearby airports led to a significant drop in passenger numbers. In 2019, the airport handled 431,077 passengers, and in 2023, that number decreased further to 144,966.

The airport continues to develop plans for efficient use of airport property, environmental compatibility, and terminal facility improvements to address future aviation demands. The Airport Layout Plan (ALP) outlines proposed improvements and development phases, focusing on short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals. The airport is committed to incorporating green technology and sustainability in its operations, becoming the first airport in the nation to undergo a sustainability project.

Airlines and destinations

Newport News does have an airport, the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (IATA: PHF, ICAO: KPHF, FAA LID: PHF). The airport is owned and operated by the Peninsula Airport Commission, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It covers 1,800 acres (7.3 km2 or 728 ha), most of it in the city of Newport News, and nearly half of the airfield with runways 20 and 25 in York County.

In early 1976, four airlines served the airport with nonstop or direct flights:

• Allegheny with McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jets from Boston, Hartford, Philadelphia, and Providence.
• National with Boeing 727-100 and Boeing 727-200 jets from New York JFK Airport, Washington DC National Airport, and nearby Norfolk.
• Piedmont with NAMC YS-11 turboprops from Atlanta, Columbus (OH), Florence (SC), New Bern (NC), Norfolk, Parkersburg (WV), Richmond (VA), Roanoke (VA), and Washington DC National Airport.
• United with Boeing 727-100 and Boeing 737-200 jets from Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare Airport, Moline (IL), and Washington DC National Airport.

In 1985, USAir (later renamed US Airways) introduced McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 and British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven jets from Pittsburgh and Washington, DC Dulles Airport. By late 1989, these were the only jet services at the airport. In the fall of the same year, Emerald Air operated Douglas DC-9-10 jets nonstop from Orlando twice a week.

In 1995, US Airways (formerly USAir) operated DC-9-30 and Fokker F28 Fellowship jets, offering nonstop flights from Charlotte and Pittsburgh. However, this jet service was discontinued later that year. American Eagle (after the merger of American Airlines and US Airways) served Philadelphia and Charlotte from the airport.

In 2010, Frontier Airlines began nonstop service from Newport News, with four direct flights a week to Denver using Airbus A318s, which were soon replaced with larger Airbus A319 jets. Beginning May 13, 2011, Frontier flights were operated with 162-seat Airbus A320s, and as of September 12, 2011, they operated a seasonal service.

In January 2011, Delta Air Lines introduced two more daily flights to Atlanta on 142-seat McDonnell Douglas MD-88s, offering a total of four flights per day. Delta service with Airbus A320s began later that year, and in 2012, they replaced their early-morning Bombardier CRJ900 regional jet departure to Atlanta with mainline McDonnell Douglas MD-80 service.

Allegiant Airlines also began jet service to the airport with flights to Orlando Sanford Airport, but they ceased serving the airport by 2012.

American Airlines operates flights from Newport News/Williamsburg to Washington, D.C., Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando.

Passenger numbers

Newport News, Virginia, is served by two airports: Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (IATA: PHF, ICAO: KPHF, FAA LID: PHF) and Norfolk International Airport (IATA: ORF, ICAO: KORF).

Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is the smaller of the two airports serving the city. In 2010, the airport had its best year ever in terms of passenger numbers, with about 1.063 million passengers. Passenger numbers were slightly down in 2011, with around 1.059 million passengers. In 2019, the airport handled 431,077 passengers, but this number dropped to 144,966 in 2023. This represents a decrease of more than 85% in the annual number of passengers since 2011. The drop in passenger numbers has been attributed to the loss of the dominant air carrier AirTran in 2012 and competition from low-cost airlines at nearby airports.

The airport covers 1,800 acres (7.3 km2 or 728 ha), with most of it in the city of Newport News and nearly half of the airfield in York County. In the early years, four airlines served the airport with nonstop or direct flights. By 1985, the airport had become the fastest-growing airport in the United States, a feat it repeated in 1986. In 1990, the airport was renamed Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, and a new terminal opened in 1992. A new air traffic control tower was completed in 2007, replacing the old tower that had been in service since 1951.

Norfolk International Airport is the larger of the two airports serving Newport News and offers additional flight options. It is located 22 miles from Newport News and primarily serves the city of Norfolk, Virginia.

Airport transport options

Newport News, Virginia, is served by two airports: Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (PHF) and Norfolk International Airport (ORF).

Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport

Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport is located 16 miles from the centre of Newport News. It is a small airport with domestic flights only.

If you are being dropped off at the airport, there are short-term parking options available. If you are driving yourself, the airport also offers long-term parking.

Norfolk International Airport

Norfolk International Airport is located 22 miles from Newport News. This airport is larger than Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport and offers additional flight options.

To get to Norfolk International Airport from Newport News, you can drive yourself or share a cab ride with a colleague. The airport offers long-term parking for those who need it.

Other nearby airports

In addition to the two main airports serving Newport News, there are several other international and domestic airports within a 200-mile radius:

• Richmond International Airport (75 miles)
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (182 miles)
• Washington Dulles International Airport (194 miles)
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport (202 miles)
• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (219 miles)

Frequently asked questions