Oklahoma City Airport: Size, Scale, And Significance

The largest airport in Oklahoma, OKC Will Rogers International Airport, is located in Oklahoma City. The airport is about 6-8 miles southwest of the city's downtown area and is spread across 8,081 acres (12.63 sq mi) of land. OKC Will Rogers International Airport is also the busiest commercial airport in the state, handling nearly 4.42 million passengers in 2019. The airport has a separate terminal for air taxi and corporate services, and is home to Metro Technology Center's Aviation Career Campus.

Location

OKC Will Rogers International Airport, also known as Will Rogers Airport or simply Will Rogers, is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. It is situated about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of the city's downtown area. The airport is named after Will Rogers, a comedian and legendary cowboy who was an Oklahoma native and died in an airplane crash in 1935.

The airport covers a vast area of 8,081 acres (12.63 sq mi) of land, making it the largest airport in the state of Oklahoma. It is a civil-military airport and the busiest commercial airport in the state. In 2019, OKC Will Rogers International Airport handled nearly 4.42 million passengers, setting a record for the third consecutive year. Southwest Airlines is the dominant carrier at the airport, with a market share of nearly 48% as of April 2022.

The airport has a rich history, first opening in 1911 as the Oklahoma City Municipal Airfield. It was renamed in honour of Will Rogers in 1941. During World War II, the airport played a significant role as a major training facility for the United States Army Air Forces. Numerous fighter and bomber units received their initial training at Will Rogers Field.

Will Rogers World Airport has a separate terminal for air taxi and corporate services. However, most of these flights operate through the Wiley Post Airport, which is Oklahoma City's designated reliever facility. Several organisations have a presence at the airport, including aircraft maintenance companies, customer service centres, and aviation training centres. The U.S. Department of Justice also operates major facilities at the airport for its Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS).

Ownership

The Will Rogers World Airport, commonly known as the OKC Airport or Will Rogers Airport, is owned by the City of Oklahoma. The City of Oklahoma leases the airport to the Oklahoma City Airport Trust, which is responsible for managing the facilities. The airport covers 8,081 acres (12.63 sq mi) of land and is located about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Oklahoma City's downtown area.

The Oklahoma City Airport Trust oversees the management of the Will Rogers World Airport and other city-owned airports, including the Wiley Post Airport and Clarence E. Page Municipal Airport. The Trust is led by Director Mark Kranenburg.

The Will Rogers World Airport is the busiest commercial airport in Oklahoma. In 2019, the airport handled nearly 4.42 million passengers, setting a new record for three consecutive years. Southwest Airlines is the largest carrier at the airport, with a market share of nearly 48% as of April 2022. The airport has a strong presence of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) organisations, with Southwest Airlines operating one of its largest customer service and support centres on the airport's northern grounds.

The Wiley Post Airport, named after Oklahoma aviation pioneer Wiley Post, serves as a reliever airport for the Will Rogers World Airport. It is a significant centre for corporate and business aviation, providing a base for over 480 aircraft in its fully leased hangars. The airport caters to a range of aircraft, from single and twin-engine planes to turboprop and jet aircraft.

The City of Oklahoma is committed to promoting and developing its aviation and aerospace industry, positioning itself as a hub for MRO activities. The state offers a skilled workforce and incentives for businesses in this sector, fostering collaboration and growth opportunities.

Passenger numbers

Oklahoma City Airport, also known as Will Rogers Airport or Will Rogers World Airport, is a small-hub US airport serving the greater Oklahoma City area. It is located 6 to 8 miles (around 10 km) southwest of the city centre. The airport is named after comedian and legendary cowboy Will Rogers, an Oklahoma native who died in an aeroplane crash in 1935.

Will Rogers Airport is the busiest commercial airport in the state of Oklahoma. In 2019, the airport handled nearly 4.42 million passengers, marking the busiest year on record for three years in a row. The passenger-friendly terminal handles an average of 150 commercial flights each day, carrying over 3.6 million passengers annually. More than 4.6 million people flew in and out of the airport in 2024, a 4.6% increase from 2023. Southwest Airlines carries the most passengers at Will Rogers Airport, with a market share of nearly 48% as of April 2022.

Oklahoma City began non-stop flights to Chicago in 1966. In 2001, Great Plains Airlines, a regional airline based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, made Will Rogers World Airport a hub, offering non-stop flights to various destinations. However, the airline ceased operations in 2004. Today, the airport offers nonstop service to 21 destinations.

Will Rogers Airport has a separate terminal for air taxi and corporate services, although most of these flights use the Wiley Post Airport, Oklahoma City's designated reliever facility. Wiley Post Airport is named after Wiley Post, an Oklahoma aviation pioneer who died in the same plane crash as Will Rogers. It functions as a major centre for corporate and business aviation, providing a base for over 480 aircraft.

Airlines operating there

The OKC Will Rogers International Airport, formerly known as Will Rogers World Airport, is a civil-military airport located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. The airport is named after Will Rogers, a comedian and legendary cowboy who was an Oklahoma native. It is the busiest commercial airport in the state of Oklahoma, handling a record of nearly 4.42 million passengers in 2019.

Airlines Operating at OKC Will Rogers International Airport:

Southwest Airlines:

Southwest Airlines is the dominant carrier at OKC Will Rogers International Airport, with a market share of nearly 48% as of April 2022. The airline has one of its largest customer service and support centers located on the northern grounds of the airport.

Braniff International Airways:

In April 1957, Braniff International Airways offered 21 daily nonstop departures from Oklahoma City, the highest among all airlines at that time.

American Airlines:

American Airlines had a strong presence at the airport in April 1957, with 15 daily nonstop departures.

Central Airlines:

Central Airlines provided convenient connections within the region, with five daily nonstop departures listed in the April 1957 OAG.

Continental Airlines:

In April 1957, Continental Airlines offered four daily nonstop departures from Oklahoma City, contributing to the airport's network.

Great Plains Airlines:

Great Plains Airlines, a regional airline based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, made Will Rogers World Airport a hub in 2001. They offered non-stop flights to nearby destinations and direct or connecting flights to other cities until they ceased operations in 2004.

Alaska Airlines:

Alaska Airlines serves passengers travelling to and from Seattle, Washington, with daily nonstop flights to and from Oklahoma City.

Delta Air Lines:

Delta Air Lines provides convenient connections to various destinations, including Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Salt Lake City, with daily nonstop departures.

Frontier Airlines:

Frontier Airlines offers convenient travel options with nonstop service to Denver, Colorado, and seasonal nonstop flights to Orlando, Florida.

Allegiant Air:

Allegiant Air provides year-round nonstop flights to Las Vegas and seasonal nonstop service to Los Angeles, Destin-Fort Walton Beach, and Orlando-Sanford, operating on Thursdays and Sundays, with occasionally added days.

Will Rogers World Airport also accommodates air taxi and corporate services, with a separate terminal facility, although most of these flights operate through the Wiley Post Airport, the designated reliever airport for Oklahoma City.

Facilities

OKC Will Rogers International Airport, also known as Will Rogers Airport or simply Will Rogers, is the largest and busiest commercial airport in Oklahoma. Located about 6 to 8 miles southwest of Oklahoma City's downtown area, the airport covers 8,081 acres (12.63 sq mi) of land. It is a civil-military airport that first opened in 1911 as the Oklahoma City Municipal Airfield and was renamed in 1941 after Oklahoma native Will Rogers, a comedian and legendary cowboy who died in an airplane crash in 1935.

Will Rogers World Airport features a passenger-friendly terminal that handles an average of 150 commercial flights each day, carrying over 3.6 million passengers annually. In 2019, the airport recorded its busiest year, accommodating nearly 4.42 million passengers for the third year in a row. Southwest Airlines carries the most passengers at this airport, with a market share of nearly 48% as of April 2022.

The airport has three concourses filled with eateries and curated shops, as well as a host of amenities and services. It boasts world-class artwork on display throughout the facility. Will Rogers World Airport also has a separate terminal for air taxi and corporate services, although most of these flights use the Wiley Post Airport, a designated reliever facility.

Several organizations have established a significant presence at Will Rogers World Airport. AAR Oklahoma operates a fixed-base location, a major maintenance and overhaul facility, and regional headquarters. ARINC also has major facilities at the airport and plans to double its size. Atlantic Aviation operates a fixed-base operation on the east side of the airport, off Taxiway H. Southwest Airlines has one of its largest customer service and support centers at the airport, and the Metro Technology Center's Aviation Career Campus is also located here.

The U.S. Department of Justice operates major Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS) facilities, including the Federal Transfer Center and its principal air hub on the west side of the airport grounds. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection runs their CBP Air and Marine Operations National Air Training Center, with a hangar on the north side of the airport. The Oklahoma City Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol meets weekly on the grounds of the Oklahoma Air National Guard base, also located on the west side of the field.

Frequently asked questions