Baltimore-Washington Airport: A Sprawling Transportation Hub

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, also known as BWI Airport, is located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 9 miles (14 km) south of downtown Baltimore and 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Washington, D.C. It is one of the three major airports serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area, and it is the largest and busiest of the three. BWI is ranked as one of the top 10 best airports in the U.S. and serves more than 26 million passengers annually. The airport has five concourses with 78 gates and offers a variety of parking and transportation options.

Location and transport links

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, also known as BWI Airport, is located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It is situated 9 miles (14 km) south of downtown Baltimore and 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Washington, D.C. BWI is one of three major airports serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area, along with Dulles International Airport in Virginia and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia.

The airport is easily accessible from various parts of the region. It is located at the southeast terminus of Interstate 195, which connects to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Interstate 95. BWI offers a range of parking options, from garages within walking distance to the concourses to remote lots that require shuttles.

For those travelling by rail, there is a light rail station next to Concourse E, providing service to downtown Baltimore and other destinations via the Baltimore Light RailLink. The BWI Rail Station, located about a mile from the airport terminal, is served by Amtrak and MARC trains, with free shuttle bus service connecting the two locations. These trains provide connections to Union Station in Washington, D.C., and other destinations.

In addition to rail and road transport, BWI offers a variety of other transportation options. Passenger van services, such as BayRunner Shuttle, provide connections to various locations in Eastern and Western Maryland. Private car services, rental cars, taxis, and app-based ride services are also available. Shuttle services, including Prime Time Shuttle, operate to and from the airport, catering to different locations, including local hotels and nearby cities like Baltimore and Washington.

Passenger numbers

Baltimore/Washington International Airport, also known as BWI, is one of the busiest airports in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. In 2023, the airport recorded 12,849,636 passenger enplanements, ranking it 23rd in the US for passenger enplanements. The following year, in 2024, BWI served 27,059,733 passengers, ranking it second in the Baltimore/Washington area, just behind Washington/Dulles International Airport.

BWI has six terminals: Concourse A, B, C, D, E, and the Main Terminal. The Main Terminal has 52 gates, while Concourse A has 9, Concourse B and C have 14 each, Concourse D has 20, and Concourse E has 10. In 2011, Southwest Airlines was the airport's largest carrier, accounting for 56.12% of its passengers. The airline serves an average of 245 daily departures to the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

In 2009, BWI experienced a six percent increase in air travellers due to the introduction of discount flights. The airport was named the world's top-ranking airport in the 15-25 million passenger category by Airports Council International. Four years later, in 2013, BWI saw another increase in passenger numbers, with a new annual record of over 27.1 million passengers.

BWI has continued to enhance the passenger experience with various developments. In 2023, the airport introduced a new direct flight route to London via British Airways, aimed at making international travel more convenient and boosting tourism in the region. Additionally, BWI has undertaken a major renovation project, including a new concourse and terminal enhancements, to provide modern facilities and improved services. The airport has also implemented a new parking guidance system, utilising smart sensor technology to assist travellers in finding parking spaces more efficiently.

History

Baltimore/Washington International Airport, also known as BWI Airport, is located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It is one of the three major airports serving the Washington–Baltimore metropolitan area, alongside Dulles International Airport in Virginia and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, also in Virginia. BWI Airport is situated 9 miles (14 km) south of downtown Baltimore and 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Washington, D.C.

Planning for the airport began in 1944, just before the end of World War II, when the Baltimore Aviation Commission identified a 2,100-acre (850-hectare) tract of land near Linthicum Heights, Maryland, as the ideal location for a new airport to serve the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area. The site was chosen due to its proximity to Downtown Baltimore, railroad lines, and the proposed Baltimore–Washington Parkway, as well as its good visibility. The construction of the airport, initially known as Friendship International Airport, commenced in 1947 after the land was purchased from Friendship Methodist Church. The church was eventually demolished to make way for the airport, along with the relocation of 170 bodies from a nearby cemetery. Baltimore–Fort Meade Road was also rerouted to the west to accommodate the construction.

Friendship International Airport was officially dedicated on June 24, 1950, by President Harry S. Truman, who arrived for the occasion in the then-official presidential airplane, a Douglas DC-6. The airport's first scheduled flight took place on July 23, 1950, when an Eastern Airlines DC-3 became the first plane to both arrive and depart from the airport. By April 1957, the airport was recording 52 weekday departures, including a couple of nonstop flights to Miami, with westward nonstop flights reaching as far as Ohio. The airport's reach was significantly expanded with the introduction of jet service, as early Boeing 707s and Douglas DC-8s could not utilise the nearby Washington National Airport.

In 1972, the State of Maryland acquired BWI Airport from the city of Baltimore, and the following year, it was renamed Baltimore/Washington International Airport. On October 1, 2005, the airport was again renamed, becoming the BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport in honour of Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice. BWI Airport has consistently ranked as one of the busiest airports in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area and the National Capital Region. In 2023, it recorded 12,849,636 passenger enplanements, ranking it 23rd in the U.S. for passenger enplanements.

Airlines and flights

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, also known as BWI Airport, is located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 9 miles (14 km) south of downtown Baltimore and 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Washington, D.C. BWI is one of the three major airports serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area, alongside Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

BWI Marshall Airport offers over 300 non-stop flights and more than 650 domestic and international flight operations daily. The airport serves as one of 12 U.S.-based operating bases for Southwest Airlines, which is the airport's largest carrier. Southwest offers approximately 245 daily departures to destinations in the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean. In 2011, the airline accounted for 56.12% of the airport's passengers. BWI has five concourses with 78 gates, 14 of which are international. Concourse A/B, with 30 gates, is exclusively used by Southwest, while Concourse C, with 14 gates, is used by Southwest, American Airlines, and Contour Airlines.

In addition to Southwest, several other airlines operate at BWI Marshall Airport. These include Spirit Airlines, which offers flights to destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Atlanta, and Tampa; Delta Air Lines, with flights to Miami; and Frontier Airlines, also serving Atlanta. BWI was ranked as one of the "Top 10 Easiest U.S. Airports to Get to" by Aviation.com in 2007. The airport is easily accessible by road, with parking options including a garage within walking distance to the concourses and remote lots with shuttle services. Additionally, the BWI Rail Station is located on the airport grounds, with a free shuttle bus service connecting it to the terminals.

In terms of passenger traffic, BWI is the busiest airport in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. In 2023, the airport recorded 12,849,636 passenger enplanements, ranking 23rd in the U.S. for passenger enplanements. BWI came close to breaking its passenger record in 2019, serving 27,059,733 passengers in 2024 and ranking second in the Baltimore/Washington area.

Facilities and amenities

Baltimore/Washington International Airport, also known as Thurgood Marshall Airport or BWI Airport, is located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It is one of three major airports serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area, and it is the busiest airport in the region. The airport has extensive facilities and amenities to cater to the needs of its passengers and ensure a smooth travel experience.

BWI Airport boasts five concourses (A, B, C, D, and E) with a total of 78 gates. Concourse A/B, with 30 gates, is the exclusive domain of Southwest Airlines, which is the airport's largest carrier. Concourse C has 14 gates and is shared by Southwest, American, and Contour airlines. Concourse D has 23 gates and caters to all non-Southwest and American domestic flights. Concourse E, with 11 gates, is dedicated to international flights and offers tax and duty-free shopping outlets. The airport also has a cargo concourse spanning 395,000 square feet, including a large warehouse for Amazon Air and a foreign trade zone.

In terms of accessibility, BWI Airport is highly regarded for its comprehensive facilities for disabled passengers, exceeding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards in some areas. The airport provides convenient handicapped parking, elevator-equipped shuttle services, ramps, elevators, modified telephones, and special toilets to ensure easy access and navigation for all disabled visitors. Additionally, special paging is available for the hearing-impaired, and wheelchair assistance can be requested.

The airport offers a range of services to enhance the travel experience, including three ATM machines on the Upper Level and two on the Lower Level, four postal counters, and currency exchange services through Travelex business centres. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal, and there are specialty stores and restaurants like the Garden Court Café. The airport also has conference facilities, and larger airport hotels, such as Hilton and Marriott, offer additional meeting spaces.

BWI Airport provides a variety of parking options, from a garage within walking distance to the concourses to remote parking lots that require shuttle services. For those using public transportation, the airport is easily accessible via light rail, Amtrak, or MARC trains. The BWI Rail Station is located about a mile from the terminal and is connected by a free shuttle bus service.

Frequently asked questions