Mcghee Tyson Airport: A Mid-Sized Hub Of Convenience

McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is a public and military airport located 12 miles south of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. Covering 2,250 acres of land, the airport has two levels, with the top level housing ticket counters, security, gates, restaurants, and shops, and the bottom level used for car rental counters, baggage claims, and airline and airport offices. The airport has 12 gates and offers nonstop flights to 25 destinations with 6 airlines, accommodating any size of aircraft with its parallel 9,000-foot runways.

Runway expansion

Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport is a public and military airport located 12 miles south of Knoxville, Tennessee. The airport was named after United States Navy pilot Charles McGhee Tyson, who was killed during World War I. The airport covers 2,250 acres of land and is elevated 986 feet above the ground.

McGhee Tyson Airport has been undergoing a multi-year runway expansion project, which is the most expensive project the airport has ever undertaken. The project was funded by multiple partners, including the Federal Aviation Administration, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Air National Guard Bureau, and the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority. The north runway, 5L/23R, was extended by 1,000 feet to a total length of 10,000 feet (3,000 m). This extension allows heavier planes to take off and remain in the air for longer, enabling fewer connections and more direct commercial flights. The runway reconstruction is part of the Airfield Modernization Plan, which aims to improve the airport's capabilities and convenience for the coming decades.

The original runway was built in 1937 when an American Airlines Stinson Trimotor landed, marking the airport's first airline flight. The runway has undergone several extensions over the years, with the most recent expansion completed in December 2021. The project took about six years of design and planning and another six years of construction. During the construction, 3,000 feet of the runway were demolished while 6,000 feet remained open for small planes to operate.

In addition to the runway expansion, the airport has also undergone various improvements over the years. A new air cargo facility was built in 1968, followed by the opening of a new passenger terminal in 1974. In 1990, runway 5R/23L was rebuilt to a length of 9,000 feet, and a new cargo facility was constructed in 1992 to accommodate cargo operations for Federal Express, UPS, and Airborne Express. In 2000, significant improvements were made to the passenger terminal, including the addition of two new concourses and twelve new gates. More recently, in 2023, the airport announced plans for a six-gate expansion to the terminal, targeting completion by 2028 to meet the region's growing needs.

Passenger capacity

The McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee, has seen a steady increase in passenger traffic over the years. In 2019, the airport celebrated a new record, with approximately 2.5 million passengers passing through its gates, with each month setting a new high over the previous year. This positive trend was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted the airport's operations in 2020. Despite this setback, the airport has shown resilience, and passenger numbers have been on the rise again.

In 2023, McGhee Tyson Airport recorded 2.8 million passengers, a remarkable achievement, and this upward trajectory is expected to continue. Projections indicate that the airport will surpass 3 million passengers in a year for the first time in 2024, a significant milestone. This growth in passenger numbers has prompted the airport to undertake expansion plans to accommodate this increasing demand.

The current terminal, completed in 2000, was initially designed to handle up to 2.6 million passengers annually. However, with passenger numbers consistently exceeding this capacity, expansion plans have become a priority. The expansion, scheduled to begin in 2027, will include the addition of more gates, restrooms, concessions, seating areas, and a larger TSA checkpoint. The project is expected to be a complex undertaking, involving the extension of one wing of the terminal and potentially adding six or more new gates.

To address parking challenges, the airport has also embarked on a $185 million parking structure project, which includes the construction of a new six-story parking garage. This initiative will not only provide additional parking spaces but also create more space for the terminal to expand. Furthermore, the airport received a $27.9 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration in 2016 to extend one of its runways to 10,000 feet, making it capable of accommodating larger aircraft and contributing to the airport's overall capacity enhancement.

Aircraft based at the airport

McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in East Tennessee is a public and military airport located 12 miles south of downtown Knoxville. It covers 2,250 acres of land and is home to a variety of aircraft.

In 2023, the airport accommodated 186 based aircraft, including 84 single-engine planes, 26 multi-engine planes, 50 jets, 22 military planes, and 4 helicopters. TYS also houses a maintenance base for Endeavor Air and serves as a crew base for Allegiant Air. Additionally, Cirrus Aircraft has delivery, maintenance, and training centres at the airport.

The airport's two levels are designed with a Smoky Mountain theme, featuring faux waterfalls and wood carvings of bears. The top level, accessible via curbside drop-off and the parking garage, includes ticket counters, security checkpoints, gates, restaurants, and shops. The bottom level is dedicated to car rental counters, three baggage claims, airline offices, and airport administrative offices. The airport boasts 12 gates, with several airlines, including Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines, using them regularly.

TYS has a rich history, with its original location in West Knoxville opening in 1930, and the current location in Blount County being purchased in 1935. Over the years, it has undergone significant developments, including the construction of new runways, cargo facilities, and improvements to the passenger terminal. The airport provides a range of flight options through partnerships with leading airlines, catering to various destinations and offering convenient travel experiences.

Airport facilities

McGhee Tyson Airport is a public/military airport located 12 miles south of Knoxville, in Alcoa, Tennessee. Covering 2,250 acres of land, it is the premier air facility serving East Tennessee. The airport boasts modern infrastructure designed for passenger convenience, ample parking, a state-of-the-art terminal, rental car services, free Wi-Fi, and a variety of restaurants and stores.

The airport has two levels. The top level, which can be accessed via the curbside drop-off and parking garage, features ticket counters, security, gates, restaurants, and shops. It is designed with a Smoky Mountain theme, including faux waterfalls and wood carvings of bears. The bottom level is used for car rental counters, three baggage claims, airline offices, and airport offices. There are 12 gates in total.

In 1968, a new air cargo facility was built, followed by a new passenger terminal in 1974. In 1990, runway 5R/23L was rebuilt to 9,000 feet, and in 1992, a new 21-acre cargo facility was added to the north side of the airport for Federal Express, UPS, and Airborne Express. In 2000, improvements to the passenger terminal were completed, including the addition of two new concourses, 12 new gates, ticket counters, and a restaurant. The airport also features a heavy-maintenance hangar near the air cargo facilities, built by the now-defunct ExpressJet Airlines.

McGhee Tyson Airport offers nonstop flights to 25 destinations through six airlines, including Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and United Airlines. The airport is easily accessible, with short-term and long-term parking options, as well as rental car services, ride shares, taxis, charters, and hotel shuttles available.

Airport location

McGhee Tyson Airport is located in Alcoa, Tennessee, 12 miles south of downtown Knoxville. The airport is named after Charles McGhee Tyson, a United States Navy pilot who was lost on patrol in World War I. The airport covers 2,250 acres (9.1 km2) of land and has two parallel runways, each capable of accommodating any size of aircraft in today's inventory. The north runway, 5L/23R, is 10,000 feet (3,000 m) long, while the other runway, 5R/23L, is 9,000 feet (2,700 m) long.

The airport serves as a hub for several airlines, including Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines (seasonal), and United Airlines. It offers nonstop flights to various destinations across the United States, including Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, and Denver. The airport is easily accessible and provides a range of facilities for passengers, including car rental services, short and long-term parking, and nearby hotels.

In terms of layout, the airport has two levels. The top level, which can be accessed via curbside drop-off and the parking garage, houses ticket counters, security checkpoints, gates, restaurants, and shops. This level features a Smoky Mountain theme, complete with faux waterfalls and wood carvings of bears. The bottom level is dedicated to car rental counters, baggage claims, airline offices, and airport administrative offices.

McGhee Tyson Airport has undergone several expansion and renovation projects over the years. In 2000, a $70 million project added new concourses, gates, ticket counters, and the first Ruby Tuesday airport restaurant in the nation. More recently, in 2021, the airport completed a multi-year runway expansion project, lengthening the north runway to 10,000 feet. The airport set a record in 2024, with 3.3 million passengers travelling through, reflecting its growing importance in the region.

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