Alabama's Airports: A Comprehensive Overview

Alabama has a varied mix of airports, ranging from small hubs to international gateways. The state is home to 34 airports, including six major airports and dozens of general aviation airports that don't provide commercial flights. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is Alabama's busiest airport, serving nearly three million passengers annually. Huntsville International Airport is the second busiest, with over a million passengers each year. These two airports are the only ones that handle a significant number of passengers. Alabama's airports cater to various types of travellers, including business passengers, flight students, and private flyers. Additionally, some airports, such as Birmingham-Shuttlesworth and Huntsville International, serve as joint military and civilian facilities.

Alabama's busiest airport

Alabama has 7 primary commercial airports, including 2 international airports. The busiest airport in Alabama is the Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport, which served 3,056,215 passengers in 2023. The airport is located in Jefferson County, five miles northeast of Downtown Birmingham, near the interchange of Interstates 20 and 59. It is the largest airport in Alabama by passenger volume and can handle all types of aircraft. The airport provides scheduled airline services for the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa metropolitan areas.

The airport was originally named Birmingham Municipal Airport and later renamed Birmingham International Airport before receiving its current name in 2008. The airport covers 2,170 acres of land and has two asphalt runways. It is home to a variety of airlines, including Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Express, and American Airlines. In addition to passenger services, the airport also handles cargo operations for FedEx and United Parcel Service.

The second busiest airport in Alabama is the Huntsville International Airport, which serves over a million passengers per year. Huntsville International Airport, also known as Carl T. Jones Field, is the largest airport in Northern Alabama. It primarily offers domestic flights, with Atlanta, Dallas, and Charlotte as the top connected cities.

Other notable airports in Alabama include the Mobile Regional Airport, Montgomery Regional Airport, and Northwest Alabama Regional Airport. These airports serve their respective regions and contribute to the state's air transportation network.

Alabama's primary airports

Alabama has 7 primary commercial airports throughout the state, including two international airports. The state's airports cater to a range of passengers, including business travellers, flight school students, and private passengers. Notably, some airports in Alabama are joint military and civilian facilities, including the two largest airports in the state.

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport

Alabama's busiest airport, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, is located about 8 km northeast of Birmingham's city centre and around 100 km from Tuscaloosa. The airport served almost three million passengers in 2018. It features a modern terminal that handles over a million passengers, mainly from American Airlines, Delta, Southwest Airlines, and United. Consequently, the airport focuses on US destinations, serving over 100 daily flights to 15 cities. While there is no public transport available, passengers can use taxis or car rentals.

Huntsville International Airport

Alabama's second busiest airport, Huntsville International Airport, is the largest airport in Northern Alabama. It is locally known as Carl T. Jones Field and is located 22 km from Huntsville. Like Birmingham-Shuttlesworth, Huntsville International Airport primarily offers domestic flights. Atlanta, Dallas, and Charlotte are the top three cities connected with the airport. American Airlines, Delta, United, and Silver Airways handle most of the daily flights.

Mobile Regional Airport

Mobile Regional Airport is located 25 km from Mobile and 23 km from Pritchard. The airport is served by American Airlines, United, and Delta.

Montgomery Regional Airport

Also called Dannelly Field, Montgomery Regional Airport is situated 14 km from Montgomery. American Eagle and Delta Connection are the primary airlines serving this airport.

Dothan Regional Airport

Dothan Regional Airport is 13 km from Dothan and 45 km from Enterprise. ExpressJet is the main airline operating from this airport.

Northwest Alabama Regional Airport

Muscle Shoals – Northwest Alabama Regional Airport is 1.5 km from Muscle Shoals. Boutique Air is the airline operating from this airport.

Tuscaloosa Regional Airport

Tuscaloosa Regional Airport is Tuscaloosa's municipal airport.

Alabama's international airports

Alabama has two international airports: the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport and the Huntsville International Airport. Both airports host international services, with direct flights to Canada and Europe.

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport

The airport is located about 8 km northeast of Birmingham's city centre and about 100 km from Tuscaloosa. It is Alabama's busiest airport, with almost three million passengers in 2018. The airport has one modern terminal that handles more than a million passengers, mostly from American Airlines, Delta, Southwest Airlines, and United. The airport serves over 100 daily flights to 15 cities, all within the US. There is no public transport available from the airport, but passengers can use taxis or car rentals.

Huntsville International Airport

Huntsville International Airport is the largest commercial airport in North Alabama, serving more than 1.4 million passengers annually. It is known for its outstanding customer service, state-of-the-art technology, and convenience. The airport offers nonstop service to 14 destinations, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. Additionally, it provides service to two airports in Washington, D.C.—Dulles and National. Huntsville International Airport is located 22 km from Huntsville and is also a good choice for travellers visiting Decatur and Athens.

Alabama's military airports

Alabama has 96 active public-use airports, with more than six million passengers passing through each year. The state's two busiest airports, Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport and Huntsville International Airport, are joint military and civilian airports.

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, located about 8 km northeast of Birmingham's city centre, is Alabama's busiest airport. It served almost three million passengers in 2018. The airport has one modern terminal that handles more than a million passengers, with most flights operated by American Airlines, Delta, Southwest Airlines, and United.

Huntsville International Airport, also known as Carl T. Jones Field, is the largest airport in Northern Alabama and the second busiest in the state, with over a million passengers per year. Huntsville airport offers mostly domestic flights, with Atlanta, Dallas, and Charlotte as the top three connected cities.

In addition to these two major airports, Alabama also has several other military airports and airfields:

• Redstone Army Airfield (Redstone Arsenal)
• Maxwell Air Force Base
• Cairns Army Airfield (Fort Novosel)
• Hanchey Army Heliport (Fort Novosel)
• Lowe Army Heliport (Fort Novosel)
• NOLF Wolf (closed)
• NOLF Silverhill (closed)

Some former airports in Alabama also have military connections, such as Sharpe Field (Tuskegee Army Airfield) and Freddie Jones Field.

Alabama's private airports

Alabama has 334 airports located in the state, including notable private-use airports such as Little Texas Airport and Sharpe Field (Tuskegee Army Airfield).

Little Texas Airport is a private-use airport facility in Alabama. While it does not offer commercial passenger flights, it is often used by private pilots and aircraft owners in the region. The airport is located near the town of Little Texas and is known for its small but well-maintained runway.

Sharpe Field, also known as Tuskegee Army Airfield, is another private-use airport in Alabama with a rich history. It was once a training ground for the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American pilots who served during World War II. Today, the airport is still active and is often used for private and recreational flights.

In addition to these notable airports, there are several other private-use airports in Alabama that cater to the aviation needs of the local community. These airports play a vital role in providing air transportation options for those who choose to fly privately or own their aircraft.

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