Niagara Falls Airport: What You Need To Know

Niagara Falls, straddling the Niagara River, which marks the border between the United States and Canada, is a popular tourist destination. It is accessible by air through several airports in the vicinity. Niagara Falls International Airport, located 6.4 km from downtown Niagara Falls, is the closest airport to the falls. This airport is notable for serving more Canadian passengers than Americans, despite being in the United States. Additionally, major airports in surrounding areas, such as Toronto Pearson International Airport, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Hamilton International Airport, and Buffalo Niagara International Airport, provide convenient access to Niagara Falls. These airports offer a range of transportation options, including rental cars, limousines, trains, buses, shuttles, and taxis, ensuring easy travel to and from Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls International Airport's history

Niagara Falls International Airport is located 4 miles (6.4 km) east of downtown Niagara Falls, in the Town of Niagara in Niagara County, New York, United States. The airport is owned and operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority and is a joint civil-military airfield that shares its runways with the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

Niagara Falls International Airport opened in 1928 as a municipal airport with four crushed-stone runways. During World War II, Bell Aircraft established a manufacturing plant next to the airport, where it built over 10,000 P-39 Airacobras and P-63 Kingcobras. Bell employed over 28,000 people at the plant. After the war, the plant was the development site of the Bell X-1, which was used by Chuck Yeager to break the sound barrier in 1947.

In 1946, civilian aviation operations and jurisdiction of the airport were returned, and a joint-use agreement was made with the United States Air Force for Air Force Reserve and New York Air National Guard use of a portion of the airport. The main runway was extended to over 9,000 feet (2,743 m) in 1959 to accommodate larger military aircraft and was extended again in 2003 to its current length of 9,829 feet (2,996 m).

In terms of commercial airline service, American Airlines served Niagara Falls until 1956. From 1982 to 1984, Air Niagara, a post-deregulation airline, flew to Newark Airport (EWR) and Kennedy Airport (JFK) using Boeing 727-100 jetliners. Empire Airlines also served the airport in the mid-1980s, flying to various destinations using both jets and commuter propjets. Kiwi International Air Lines briefly served the airport in 1998 with nonstop Boeing 727-200 jet service to Newark Airport.

In 2007, Direct Air initiated nonstop jet service to Myrtle Beach and Palm Beach International Airport. However, all Direct Air service at Niagara Falls International Airport ended in 2012. In 2009, a new terminal complex was completed, and Allegiant Airlines began jet service to several destinations in Florida. In 2010, Vision Airlines began jet service to Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, and Spirit Airlines started jet flights from the airport in 2011.

Nearby airports

There are several airports near Niagara Falls, including:

Niagara Falls International Airport

Niagara Falls International Airport is located 4 miles (6.4 km) east of downtown Niagara Falls, in the Town of Niagara in Niagara County, New York, United States. The airport is owned and operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority and is a joint civil-military airfield, sharing its runways with the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. The airport has three runways and serves general aviation, military, and commercial flights. Niagara Falls International Airport is notable for serving many more Canadian passengers than Americans, despite its location in the US.

Buffalo Niagara International Airport

Located approximately a 45-minute drive from Niagara Falls, Canada, Buffalo Niagara International Airport hosts approximately 100 non-stop flights per day. It is important to note that a passport is required to cross the border into Niagara Falls, Canada, even if arriving from a city within the United States.

Toronto Pearson International Airport

As Canada's largest and busiest airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport is located 78 miles (125 km) from Niagara Falls and is approximately a one-and-a-half-hour drive away. The airport sees nearly 50 million passengers annually.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

Located on Toronto Island, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is around 79 miles (127 km) from Niagara Falls and is just over an hour and a half drive. The airport welcomes nearly 3 million passengers annually from Canada and the United States.

Hamilton International Airport

Hamilton International Airport is less than a one-hour drive from Niagara Falls and sees approximately 350,000 passengers per year. The airport serves several destinations across North America.

Transport to/from the airport

There is an airport in Niagara Falls, New York, called the Niagara Falls International Airport (IATA: IAG, ICAO: KIAG, FAA LID: IAG). It is located 4 miles (6.4 km) east of downtown Niagara Falls, in the Town of Niagara in Niagara County, New York, United States. It is owned and operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority and is a civil-military airfield that shares its runways with the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

The airport is conveniently located 15 minutes from downtown Niagara Falls, NY, and is serviced by Allegiant Airlines, offering flights to and from cities in Florida.

If you are travelling to/from Toronto, there is a daily shuttle bus service between Toronto Pearson and Niagara Falls. There is no direct train service to Niagara Falls, but there are several bus companies that offer affordable bus transportation to Niagara Falls, NY, including FlixBus, Greyhound, and New York Trailways, as well as various tour operators.

The Amtrak Niagara Falls Station (NFL) is located less than 5 miles from Niagara Falls State Park and downtown Niagara Falls, NY. The station is served by the Empire Service and Maple Leaf train, connecting the region to the East Coast and Canada.

Once you've arrived at Niagara Falls, you can explore the region by car, bus, taxi, bike, trolley, or even electric vehicle, as there are several charging stations in Niagara Falls, NY, and Niagara County.

Airlines that fly to the airport

There are two airports that serve the Niagara Falls area: Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Niagara Falls International Airport.

Airlines that fly to Buffalo Niagara International Airport

Major airlines like JetBlue Airways, American Airlines, and United offer flights to Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines also offer flights to this airport.

Airlines that fly to Niagara Falls International Airport

Allegiant Air is the only airline that flies non-stop to Niagara Falls International Airport. However, the airport has been served by several other airlines in the past, including Direct Air, Vision Airlines, People Express Airlines, and Air France.

The airport's runways

The Niagara Falls International Airport (IATA: IAG, ICAO: KIAG, FAA LID: IAG) is located 6.4 km (4 mi) east of downtown Niagara Falls, in the Town of Niagara, New York, United States. The airport is owned and operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority and is a joint civil-military airfield, sharing its runways with the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

The airport initially opened in 1928 as a municipal airport with four crushed-stone runways. The main runway has since been extended multiple times to accommodate larger military aircraft. It now measures 9,829 feet (2,996 m) in length. The airport facilities are, for all practical purposes, similar to a small Air Force base.

Niagara Falls International Airport has three active runways, serving general aviation, military, and commercial flights. The airport has a diverse history of airlines serving its routes, including American Airlines, Air Niagara, Empire Airlines, Kiwi International Air Lines, Direct Air, Allegiant Airlines, Vision Airlines, and Spirit Airlines.

The airport's convenient location near the Canadian border has resulted in it serving a significantly higher number of Canadian passengers than Americans. This proximity to Toronto means that Niagara Falls International often receives diverted flights intended for Toronto Pearson International Airport, particularly due to its long runways.

Frequently asked questions