Tyler Texas Airport: Does It Exist?

Tyler, Texas, is served by Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, also known as Tyler Texas Pounds Airport or Tyler Pounds Airport. The airport is located 3 miles west of Tyler in Smith County, Texas, and is owned by the city. It is a primary commercial service airport, with a wide range of air and ground services for private aviation, business travel, and air charter fleets. The airport has been in operation since the 1930s, with Delta Air Lines offering the first airline service to the city.

Tyler Pounds Regional Airport's history

Tyler, Texas, is served by the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, a city-owned, public-use airport located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of the city, in Smith County. The airport opened in November 1929 as Tyler Municipal Airport, after the first tract of land for the airport was purchased in June 1929. The airport was originally named Rhodes Field after Chamber of Commerce manager, Russell S. Rhodes. The airport was renamed a year later as Tyler Municipal Airport in June 1930, with 240 acres of sandy hillside, a hangar, a small apron, a refuelling pit, and a sod runway.

During World War II, the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a training base and was renamed Pounds Field after Lieutenant Jack Windham Pounds, the first native son of Tyler and the first officer residing in Tyler who gave his life for his country during the war. At the end of the war, the airfield was turned over to the local government for civil use and became Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. Airline service began in the 1930s, with Delta Air Lines listing Tyler in its timetables by 1936 on a Dallas-Atlanta multi-stop route via Shreveport and other stops.

In 1952, Delta Douglas DC-3s flew eastbound from Fort Worth to Atlanta, making several stops, including Tyler, on the way. That same year, Mid-Continent Airlines was serving Tyler with Douglas DC-3 aircraft operating a daily southbound routing of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN - Sioux Falls - Sioux City - Omaha - St. Joseph, MO - Kansas City - Joplin - Tulsa - Muskogee, OK - Tyler - Houston Hobby Airport. Trans-Texas Airways also began serving Tyler in the 1940s with Douglas DC-3s, and by 1952, they were flying three DC-3s a day to Beaumont/Port Arthur via Lufkin, Palestine, and Nacogdoches, with one flight continuing on to Galveston and Houston.

In 1970, Texas International Airlines (formerly Trans-Texas Airways) Convair 600s and Beechcraft 99 turboprops flew non-stop to Dallas, with direct Convair 600 service to Memphis and New Orleans. By 1981, Metroflight Airlines was operating 12 weekday non-stops between Tyler and Dallas/Fort Worth, and by 1989, competition had resumed on the Tyler-Dallas/Fort Worth route, with American Eagle Saab 340s and Delta Connection Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirantes joining the fleet.

The airport continued to expand and improve, and on August 17, 2002, a new terminal building opened, doubling the airport's space. The airport was completely rebuilt in 2002 at a cost of $17.6 million, and it now features on-site parking, rental car facilities, and easy access from various areas of Tyler and East Texas. More than 150,000 passengers fly in and out of Tyler Pounds Regional Airport each year, and it was named the 2007 Airport of the Year for the State of Texas by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Airlines that serve the airport

Tyler, Texas, is served by Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, also known as Tyler Texas Pounds Airport or Pounds Airport. The airport is located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Tyler, in Smith County, Texas. It first opened in November 1929 as Tyler Municipal Airport. During World War II, the airfield was used as a training base for the United States Army Air Forces and was renamed Pounds Field after Lieutenant Jack Windham Pounds.

The airport has been served by several airlines over the years, including:

• Delta Air Lines: Listed in Delta's timetables by 1936 on a multi-stop route from Dallas to Atlanta via Shreveport and other stops. Delta left Tyler in 1956.
• Mid-Continent Airlines: Began serving Tyler by 1947 with Douglas DC-3 aircraft.
• Braniff International Airways: Acquired Mid-Continent and operated DC-3 flights in 1953 before discontinuing service to Tyler later that year.
• Trans-Texas Airways (TTa): Began serving Tyler in the 1940s with Douglas DC-3s. By the late 1960s, TTa was operating Convair 240 and Convair 600 turboprop flights to/from Dallas, Houston, and New Orleans.
• Texas International Airlines (TI): Formerly known as Trans-Texas, TI operated Convair 600 and Beechcraft 99 turboprops in the 1970s with nonstop flights to Dallas and direct flights to Memphis and New Orleans.
• Air Texas: In 1970, this commuter air carrier operated nonstop Beechcraft 99 service between Tyler and Austin, Dallas Love Field, and Houston Intercontinental Airport.
• Metroflight Airlines: Operated as an independent commuter air carrier with nonstop and direct flights to Dallas/Fort Worth in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Later became an American Eagle carrier operating code-sharing flights for American Airlines.
• Eastern Express: Operated by Metro Airlines on behalf of Eastern Air Lines, offering three flights a day from Houston Intercontinental Airport in 1985, including one nonstop and two direct one-stop flights via Longview.
• Frontier Airlines: Offered nonstop flights to Denver with Airbus A320 mainline jetliners from July 2019 to April 2020.

Passenger boardings at the airport

Tyler, Texas, is served by Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, also known as Tyler Pounds Airport or simply Pounds Airport. The airport is located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Tyler, in Smith County, Texas.

Tyler Pounds Regional Airport is a "primary commercial service" airport, according to the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records show that the airport served 76,168 passengers (enplanements) in 2008, 73,841 in 2009, and 74,357 in 2010. In total, the airport serves about 150,000 passengers per year.

The airport has been expanding to meet the goals set out in the Tyler Master Plan. On August 17, 2002, a new terminal building was opened, doubling the airport's space. The airport also underwent a $17.6 million rebuild in 2002, which included the addition of on-site parking, rental car facilities, and easy access from various areas of Tyler and East Texas.

Tyler Pounds Regional Airport has a long history of airline service, dating back to the 1930s. Delta Air Lines served the airport as early as 1936, offering a multi-stop route from Dallas to Atlanta via Shreveport and other stops. In 1952, Delta operated a DC-3 service through Tyler as part of a route between Fort Worth and Atlanta. However, Delta left Tyler in 1956.

Other airlines that have served Tyler Pounds Regional Airport include Mid-Continent Airlines, which operated a DC-3 service to the airport as early as 1947. In 1953, Mid-Continent was acquired by Braniff International Airways, which operated a daily round-trip DC-3 service through Tyler as part of a route between Houston Hobby Airport and Minneapolis/St. Paul. Trans-Texas Airways (later renamed Texas International Airlines) also served the airport, initially in the 1940s with DC-3 flights to Dallas Love Field, Beaumont/Port Arthur, and Houston Hobby Airport. By the 1960s, Trans-Texas Airways was operating Convair 240 and Convair 600 turboprop flights at Tyler.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Texas International Airlines and Metroflight Airlines competed on routes to Dallas/Fort Worth, with Metroflight eventually becoming an American Eagle carrier operating code-sharing flights for American Airlines. Today, American Airlines is the only airline serving Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, offering flights to and from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Amenities and services at the airport

Tyler, Texas, is served by Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, also known as Tyler Texas Pounds Airport or Tyler Pounds Field. The airport is located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Tyler, in Smith County, Texas, and provides jet service to cities worldwide via connections at the DFW airport.

Tyler Pounds Regional Airport offers a range of amenities and services for both commercial and private aviation. The airport features on-site short-term and long-term parking, rental car facilities, and easy access from various areas of Tyler and East Texas. For those travelling by private jet, fuel is available from the Jet Center of Tyler, and charter, maintenance, and related services are provided by East Texas Jet Support.

The airport does not accept cash or checks, and its daily opening times are 4:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

While there are no hotels on the airport property or in close proximity, there are a variety of accommodation options in Tyler, including hotels, motels, extended-stay suites, B&Bs, and other lodgings. The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites North Tyler is located 5 miles from the airport and offers a complimentary airport shuttle service. Other nearby hotels include the Candlewood Suites Hotel Tyler and Staybridge Suites.

Dining options near the airport include the Sky's the Limit Diner, located in the old Tyler Airport Terminal adjacent to the Historic Aviation Memorial Museum. The city of Tyler also features a wide spectrum of dining opportunities, from small local eateries to national chain restaurants.

Hotels near the airport

Tyler, Texas, is served by Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, a city-owned, public-use airport located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of the city in Smith County. The airport has been in operation since 1929 and has been expanding over the years to meet the goals set out in the Tyler Master Plan.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Tyler

This 3-star hotel is located just a 4-minute drive from The University of Texas at Tyler and offers an outdoor pool and a fitness centre. It provides free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and a business centre.

Residence Inn by Marriott Tyler

This 3-star hotel features a fitness centre, a shared lounge, and a bar. It is located 5 miles from The University of Texas at Tyler and offers free WiFi, an indoor swimming pool, and easy parking.

Comfort Suites Lindale

Located in Lindale, 31 miles from Splash Kingdom Waterpark, this hotel provides a fitness centre, free private parking, and a shared lounge.

La Quinta by Wyndham Lindale

This hotel in Lindale is within a 20-minute drive of Tyler Pounds Regional Airport and offers a breakfast buffet, free WiFi, and free private parking.

Farm Cabin w/ Fishing, Fire pit, Nature Trails

Located near the airport, this cabin offers a unique stay with fishing, a fire pit, and nature trails. The property owners are very friendly and accommodating, and there are additional amenities that make it perfect for guests of all ages.

Frequently asked questions