Airports In North Carolina: How Many Are There?

North Carolina is a US state with 44 airports, 11 of which offer commercial flights. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is the state's busiest airport, located 10km west of Charlotte. It is a hub for American Airlines and serves almost 200 destinations. Other large airports include Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Piedmont Triad International Airport, and Wilmington International Airport. The remaining airports are mostly small hub and non-hub airports, with limited flight options.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport

The airport was established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport and has undergone several name changes since. In 1982, it was renamed to its current name, Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The airport has grown significantly over the years, becoming the sixth busiest airport in the United States in 2021, handling over 50 million passengers annually. It serves as a fortress hub for American Airlines, which operates the majority of the airport's flights.

The airport features three operating runways, one non-operating runway, and a passenger terminal with 124 gates across five concourses. It offers a variety of amenities, including currency exchange and ATMs. Charlotte Douglas International Airport provides ground transportation options, including taxis and public buses, with a flat-rate taxi to Uptown Charlotte costing $25 and taking approximately 15 minutes.

The airport has a rich history, playing a significant role in the development of aviation in the region. It has expanded and evolved over the decades, with renovations and new concourses being added to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is also known for its aviation museum, the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, which houses a collection of over 50 aircraft.

Raleigh-Durham International Airport

North Carolina has 11 airports that offer commercial flights, with most being small hub and nonhub airports. One of these airports is Raleigh-Durham International Airport, which is locally known by its IATA code, RDU. The airport serves Raleigh, Durham, and the surrounding Research Triangle region of North Carolina as its main airport. It is located in unincorporated Wake County and is surrounded by the city of Raleigh, with the towns of Cary and Morrisville to its south. Covering 5,000 acres (20 km2), it has two terminals, three runways, and 45 gates.

The region's first airport, Raleigh Municipal Airport, opened in 1929 but was quickly outgrown. In 1939, the North Carolina General Assembly chartered the Raleigh–Durham Aeronautical Authority to build and operate a larger airport between Raleigh and Durham. The new Raleigh–Durham Airport opened on May 1, 1943, with flights by Eastern Airlines. After World War II, Capital Airlines joined Eastern at RDU, followed by Piedmont Airlines in 1948. Over the years, various airlines have come and gone, and the airport has undergone modernisation and expansion.

The airport's Vision 2040 Master Plan details several major improvements aimed to be completed by 2040, including the construction of a consolidated rental car facility, an on-site hotel, expansion of parking lots and terminals, improvements to the taxiway layout, and the replacement of both runways.

Piedmont Triad International Airport

PTI is the third busiest airport in North Carolina, with approximately 280 takeoffs and landings each day, and is categorised as a primary commercial service airport. It is one of four international airports in the state and serves over 1 million passengers annually. The airport offers nonstop flights to 14 destinations, including New York, Miami, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Washington, D.C.

The history of PTI dates back to 1927 when the Tri-City Airport Commission selected a site near the community of Friendship for an airport. The airport was initially named Lindley Field, and Charles Lindbergh visited the field with the Spirit of St. Louis during his cross-country tour. After a brief closure during the Great Depression, the airport reopened in 1937 with two all-weather runways. Passenger service began in 1930, and the airport has changed its name several times over the years, reflecting the regions it serves.

PTI has undergone significant development and expansion since its early days. A new passenger terminal opened in 1958, and the airport gained prominence on the East Coast in the 1970s, offering passenger service from several major airlines. The current terminal building was completed in 1982 and has 26 passenger gates. The airport has continued to invest in improvements, including a new parallel runway in 2010 and a renovation project in 2011 that added new furnishings, automated baggage handling, and free wireless internet.

PTI is easily accessible via ground transportation, and the airport provides information and recommendations for travellers. The airport also offers a range of services and facilities, including hotels, vacation rentals, and lost and found services.

Wilmington International Airport

North Carolina is served by 11 airports offering commercial flights, with Charlotte Airport being the only large-sized one. However, Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is the third-largest airport in the state and is huge on hospitality and convenience. It is located just north of Wilmington, in unincorporated Wrightsboro, and is owned by New Hanover County. The airport is leased to the Wilmington Airport Authority from New Hanover County for $1 per year until 2049.

The airport covers 1,800 acres and has two runways and a single terminal with eight gates. It is also home to two fixed-base operators (FBO). There is a 24-hour U.S. Customs and Border Protection ramp for international flights, and the airport's location on the coast, halfway between New York City and Miami, makes it a desirable and less busy entry point to the United States.

A $60 million airport expansion completed in 2023 added five additional gates, a restaurant, and concessions to the terminal. ILM offers non-stop flights to many destinations, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and New York City. The airport serves southeastern North Carolina with major commercial and general aviation services.

Due to the increased number of passengers using the airport in recent years, Wilmington International Airport is undergoing many renovations and expansions. In 2018, the airport began an $86 million terminal expansion project, which included reconstructing the TSA and DHS baggage screening facilities, expanding the ticketing areas and airport offices, and renovating and expanding the concourse and TSA security checkpoint to include more gates and screening lanes.

Long-term plans for the airport include various projects to improve, expand, and renovate infrastructure. A five-year Vision Plan released in March 2023 outlines improvements to the entrance and parking areas of the terminal, with the construction of a 1,200-space parking deck and the expansion of existing parking lots planned by 2027. Improvements and a small expansion of the terminal are also included in the plan.

Asheville Regional Airport

North Carolina has 11 airports that offer commercial flights. Of these, Charlotte Airport is the only large-sized one, with the rest being small hub and non-hub airports.

The airport's IATA code is AVL, its ICAO code is KAVL, and its FAA LID is AVL. The airport covers 900 acres (360 ha) and has one asphalt runway measuring 8,002 ft × 150 ft (2,439 m × 46 m). This runway can handle almost any aircraft, including the Concorde supersonic transport (SST) and Airbus A340.

In 2023, the airport served a record-breaking number of passengers—2,246,411, to be precise—which was a 22.2% increase from 2022. The airport is currently undergoing a multi-phase renovation and expansion, with a new terminal building set to be 150% larger than the current one, boasting 12 gates instead of the current seven. The project also includes the construction of a new 127-foot (39 m) air traffic control tower, with an estimated completion date of 2025.

• Airbus A320 (150 or 177 passengers)
• Boeing 737-800 (183 passengers)
• Airbus A319 (126 passengers)
• Boeing 717-200 (110 passengers)
• Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ700 and CRJ900 - 65 or 76 passengers)
• Embraer 175 (76 passengers)

The airport has a proud history, with notable visitors including Charles, Prince of Wales, and former US President Barack Obama. It also has a dark past, with several fatal crashes occurring over the years, including a mid-air collision in 1967 that killed all 82 people on board.

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