Rochester, New York: Airport Or No Airport?

Rochester, New York, has an international airport named the Greater Rochester International Airport. The airport covers 1,136 acres of land at an elevation of 559 feet and has three runways. The terminal has two concourses, each with two stories, with the top level home to shops, restaurants, bathrooms, and gates, and the bottom level home to offices, ground service equipment, and US Customs and Immigration. The airport is owned and operated by The Monroe County Airport Authority.

Greater Rochester International Airport

Rochester, New York, is served by the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport, located three miles southwest of the city's downtown area in Monroe County. The airport is owned and operated by the county and is the fourth busiest airport in New York state, handling about 2.3 million passengers in 2013.

The history of the airport dates back to the early 20th century. In 1910, a newspaper article mentioned a site near Scottsville Road as a possible location for "airships" to fly between Rochester and Toronto. The modern era of the airport began in 1927 with the construction of Hangar No. 1 on land south of Rochester, and the first scheduled passenger flights to and from New York City commenced that year. The airport was originally known as Britton Field, and in 1928, it was renamed Rochester Municipal Airport.

After the Second World War, the airport expanded significantly to accommodate increased passenger volume, more frequent flights, and a growing demand for civilian pilot training. Monroe County took control of the airport in 1948 and made numerous improvements, including extending runways and constructing administration facilities. The airport's name was changed to "Greater Rochester International Airport" in the mid-1980s.

Today, the airport has three runways and one passenger terminal with two concourses and 22 gates. Delta Air Lines has the largest market share, but other airlines serving the airport include JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. The airport offers scheduled services to more than 15 destinations across the US, as well as Toronto, Canada, and travellers can choose from various ground transportation options, including taxicabs, hotel shuttles, shared-ride shuttles, buses, and rental cars.

Rochester-Monroe County Airport

The airport has a two-concourse terminal in the north of the airfield, with two stories each. The top level of the terminal features shops, restaurants, bathrooms, and all gates, while the bottom level houses offices, ground service equipment, and US Customs and Immigration. The terminal has a total of twenty-one gates, with ten gates in concourse A and eleven in concourse B. Both concourses are named after famous individuals from Rochester: concourse A is named after Frederick Douglass, and concourse B is named after Susan B. Anthony.

The airport has undergone several expansions and renovations over the years. A new red-brick, single-level passenger terminal was opened on Brooks Avenue in 1953, with expansions in 1963, 1978, and 1980. In 1985, the New York Air National Guard constructed a small hangar and office facility on the south side of the airport, and in 1986, USAir added a fourth jetway. The airport handles eight regularly scheduled airlines and one charter airline.

The airport has had its share of notable incidents. On November 14, 2002, a Cessna 210L was destroyed during a forced landing, resulting in the pilot's death. On February 22, 2012, a United Express Embraer ERJ-145 skidded off the runway, but fortunately, none of the 45 people on board were injured. In 2014, a Socata TBM-700 departed from Rochester and lost contact with Air Traffic Control; it is believed the pilot suffered from hypoxia, and the aircraft crashed north of Jamaica.

Arrival times at Rochester Airport

Rochester, New York, is served by the Greater Rochester International Airport, which covers 1,136 acres of land and is located at an elevation of 559 feet. The airport has a two-concourse terminal, with shops, restaurants, bathrooms, and gates on the top level, and offices, ground service equipment, and US Customs and Immigration on the bottom level. The terminal has a total of twenty-one gates, with ten in concourse A and eleven in concourse B.

The airport has three runways: a primary runway, a general aviation runway, and a crosswinds runway. The primary runway measures 8,001 feet by 150 feet, the general aviation runway measures 4,000 feet by 100 feet, and the crosswinds runway measures 6,402 feet by 150 feet. Runways 4, 22, and 28 are equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS), with runway 4 featuring a Category II ILS.

When planning your arrival time at the Greater Rochester International Airport, it is important to consider various factors, including the time of day, security wait times, and your preferred level of comfort. While some travellers prefer to arrive at the airport well in advance to ensure ample time for check-in and security clearance, others may find this unnecessary, especially for early morning flights when some airport facilities may not even be open yet.

In general, it is recommended to arrive at the airport at least 1 to 1.5 hours before a domestic flight, and 2 to 3 hours before an international flight. However, as noted in a traveller's comment, arriving 2.5 hours before a 6:00 a.m. flight might be too early, with some facilities still closed and limited entertainment options available. In contrast, another traveller mentions that arriving 1.5 hours before a flight could result in missing it due to security wait times.

To ensure a smooth arrival and departure experience, it is worth noting that the Greater Rochester International Airport has implemented a new lighting system to indicate available parking spots, efficient security lines with updated CT scanners for baggage checks, and accessible amenities. Additionally, the airport has undergone renovations, giving it a modern feel that rivals larger cities' airports. You can also track flights in real-time using services like Flightradar24.

Accidents at Rochester Airport

Rochester, New York, is served by the Greater Rochester International Airport, which covers 1,136 acres of land and has a two-concourse terminal with twenty-one gates. The airport has had its fair share of accidents over the years, with at least three notable incidents.

The first incident occurred on November 14, 2002, when a Cessna 210L, N2444S, was destroyed during a forced landing and collision, about a mile east of the airport. Sadly, the pilot was killed, but there were no passengers on board. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) attributed the accident to "a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons."

A second incident took place on February 22, 2012, when a United Express Embraer ERJ-145, operated by Trans States Airlines, skidded off the runway around 11:30 PM ET. Fortunately, none of the 45 people on board were injured.

On September 5, 2014, the third notable accident occurred. A Socata TBM-700, carrying Larry and Jane Glazer of Rochester, NY, departed Rochester bound for Naples, Florida, but lost contact with Air Traffic Control. It is believed the pilot suffered from hypoxia, and the aircraft crashed north of Jamaica.

In addition to these incidents, there may have been other, less severe accidents or incidents at Rochester Airport that did not result in significant damage or injuries. It is important to note that airports conduct regular drills and exercises to ensure the preparedness of their emergency response capabilities, and not all activations of emergency protocols indicate a serious incident.

While the above-mentioned accidents did occur at or near Rochester Airport, it is important to put them into perspective. Airports, by design, prioritize safety, and incidents like these are relatively rare. The airport has a range of safety protocols and emergency response plans in place to manage various scenarios, and regular drills ensure that staff are well-prepared to handle any potential incidents effectively.

Airlines operating from Rochester Airport

Rochester, New York, is served by the Greater Rochester International Airport, which covers 1,136 acres of land and has three runways. The airport features a two-concourse terminal with shops, restaurants, bathrooms, and gates on the top level, and offices, ground service equipment, and US Customs and Immigration on the bottom level.

The airport handles eight regularly scheduled airlines and one charter airline. As of March 2025, there were nine airlines flying from Rochester to 26 airports around the world. The airlines operating from the airport include:

• Allegiant Air
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Frontier Airlines
• JetBlue
• Southwest Airlines
• Avelo Airlines
• Breeze Airways
• United Airlines

The airport offers over 15 non-stop destinations, including east coast cities like New York City and Boston, and tropical destinations like Miami and Orlando. The longest non-stop route is to Las Vegas, which is operated by Southwest Airlines and takes around five hours.

Frequently asked questions