A Historical Overview Of Nashville Airport's Evolution

Nashville International Airport, originally named Berry Field, was established in 1937 and is a public/military airport in the southeastern section of Nashville, Tennessee, United States. The airport was dedicated on November 1, 1936, and was named after Col. Harry S. Berry, the Tennessee administrator for the Works Progress Administration. The current terminal was built in 1987, and the airport took its current name in 1988.

Nashville Airport's history

Nashville International Airport, originally named Berry Field, was established in 1937. However, the history of airports in Nashville goes back further, to the early 20th century.

Nashville's first airfield was a 2,000-foot strip on the E.L. Hampton farm, which was used by transients and locals between 1917 and 1921. This was known as Hampton Field and was replaced in 1921 by Blackwood Field, which remained in operation until 1928.

In 1927, an airport was opened on the site of what is now the McCabe Golf Course in West Nashville. Named McConnell Field, it was Nashville's first municipal airport. However, it soon became too small and air traffic shifted to Sky Harbor Airport in neighbouring Rutherford County, which opened in 1929.

In the 1930s, the need for an even larger and more modern airport became apparent, and construction of Berry Field began in 1936 as one of the first major Works Progress Administration projects in the area. The airport was dedicated on November 1, 1936, and named after Col. Harry S. Berry, the Tennessee administrator for the Works Progress Administration. It officially opened in June 1937, with three asphalt runways, a three-story passenger terminal, a control tower, two hangars, and a beacon.

During World War II, the airfield was requisitioned by the United States Army Air Forces Air Transport Command and expanded to 1,500 acres. After the war, the airport was returned to the city and, in 1958, planning began for expansion and modernisation. A new terminal opened in 1961, and the airport's first scheduled jets began operating in 1962.

By the 1970s, further expansion was needed, and the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) was created to manage the airport and oversee its growth. A new terminal was constructed between 1984 and 1987, and the airport was renamed Nashville International Airport/Berry Field in 1988.

In the late 1980s, American Airlines established a hub at Nashville, offering nonstop flights to many cities in the US and Canada, including a transatlantic flight to London. However, the hub closed in 1995, and Southwest Airlines gradually filled the void, making Nashville one of its top destinations.

The airport has continued to expand and modernise, with various renovations and infrastructure improvements taking place over the years. Today, Nashville International Airport is the busiest airport in Tennessee, offering service to numerous domestic and international destinations.

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Previous airports in Nashville

Nashville International Airport (IATA: BNA, ICAO: KBNA, FAA LID: BNA) is a public and military airport in the southeastern section of Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Established in 1937, it is the city's current primary airport. However, Nashville has had airports operating since the early 1900s, with a few different airports serving the city before the establishment of the current one.

Nashville's first airport was Hampton Field, which was operational from 1908 to 1921. It was replaced by Blackwood Field in the Hermitage community, which served the city from 1921 to 1928. These early airports were relatively small and basic, catering to the aviation needs of the time.

As aviation technology advanced and demand for air travel increased, it became apparent that Nashville needed a larger and more modern airport. The first airlines to serve Nashville, American Airlines and Eastern Air Lines, flew out of Sky Harbor Airport in nearby Rutherford County. Sky Harbor Airport was closer to the city and provided a more convenient option for travellers.

By 1935, the limitations of Sky Harbor Airport became evident, and the city recognised the need for a more extensive and advanced airport. A citizens' committee was organised by Mayor Hilary Ewing Howse to select a suitable location for the new airport. The committee chose a 340-acre plot along Dixie Parkway, and construction began in 1936. This new airport, later named Berry Field Nashville (BNA), opened in June 1937, offering more advanced facilities and accommodating the growing aviation demands of the city.

During World War II, Berry Field Nashville was requisitioned by the United States Army Air Forces Air Transport Command and played a crucial role in the movement of new aircraft overseas. The federal government expanded the airport to 1,500 acres during this period. After the war, the airport was returned to the city's control, and it continued to serve as Nashville's primary airport until the establishment of the current Nashville International Airport in 1988.

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The airport's name origin

Nashville International Airport was established in 1937 under the name Berry Field, after Col. Harry S. Berry, the Tennessee administrator for the Works Progress Administration. The airport's IATA code (BNA) is short for Berry Field Nashville, and the military facilities at the airport are still commonly referred to as Berry Field.

Berry Field was built as one of the first major Works Progress Administration projects in the area. A citizens' committee was organized by Mayor Hilary Ewing Howse to choose a location for the new airport, which was to be larger and closer to the city than the previous Sky Harbor Airport. A 340-acre plot along Dixie Parkway (now Murfreesboro Pike) was selected, and construction began in 1936. The airport was dedicated on November 1, 1936, and opened in June 1937 with much fanfare, including parades, an air show, and an aerial bombardment display.

In 1987, a new terminal was built, and in 1988, the airport was renamed Nashville International Airport. The name "Nashville International Airport" was chosen to reflect the airport's growing role in serving the aviation public, particularly in corporate and airline flying.

While the official name changed in 1988, the airport's military facilities are still known as Berry Field, and the airport's IATA code still reflects its original name.

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The airport's expansion

Nashville International Airport has undergone several expansions since it was established in 1937. Originally named Berry Field, the airport has expanded over the years to accommodate growing aviation demand and technological advancements. Here is a detailed overview of the airport's expansion:

Early Expansions (1930s-1940s)

The airport was constructed on a 340-acre plot and dedicated on November 1, 1936, as Berry Field, named after Col. Harry S. Berry. It officially opened in June 1937 and included a three-story passenger terminal, a control tower, two hangars, and three asphalt runways. During World War II, the airfield was requisitioned by the United States Army Air Forces, and the federal government expanded the airport to 1,500 acres. After the war, in 1946, the airport was returned to the city's control.

Post-War Expansion (1958-1963)

In 1958, the City Aviation Department initiated plans to expand and modernise the airport. By 1961, a new 145,000-square-foot terminal with a modern control tower was opened, boasting state-of-the-art electronics. This expansion also included the extension of an existing runway and the construction of a new crosswind runway. In 1962, Nashville International Airport became the first municipal airport in the United States to have a public reading room when the Nashville Public Library opened a branch inside the terminal.

Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (1970-1980s)

In 1970, the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) was formed and began planning for the long-term growth of the airport. By the 1970s, it was clear that further expansion was needed, and in 1977, the terminal underwent renovations and enlargements, bringing the total area of the airport to 3,300 acres with three modern runways.

The most significant expansion came in response to the announcement by American Airlines in 1985 that it would establish a hub at Nashville. Construction of a new terminal began in 1984 on the opposite side of the existing two crossing runways. This new terminal, designed by Robert Lamb Hart, was completed in 1987, featuring three main concourses and a smaller commuter concourse radiating from a distinctive three-story atrium. The airport was renamed Nashville International Airport/Berry Field, and a new parallel runway was opened in 1989.

Recent Expansions (2000s-2020s)

In the early 2000s, the airport underwent extensive renovations to the terminal building, with phase one completed in 2009 and phase two in 2011. These renovations included expanding food and vending services, improving flight information systems, constructing a new consolidated security checkpoint, expanding ticketing and check-in areas, and renovating baggage claim areas. Additionally, Runway 2L/20R was completely rebuilt, and other runways underwent pavement and concrete rehabilitation.

To accommodate the rapid growth in passengers and flights, the Metro Nashville Airport Authority launched two expansion programs: BNA Vision and New Horizons. BNA Vision consisted of expanding concourses, constructing a new international arrivals facility, and building new parking garages and an onsite hotel. The program was mostly completed in 2023, with the hotel opening in March 2024. New Horizons, scheduled for completion in 2028, will include additional concourse expansions, an upgraded baggage handling system, and an expanded terminal roadway.

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Airlines that have used the airport

Nashville International Airport (IATA: BNA, ICAO: KBNA, FAA LID: BNA) is a public/military airport in the southeastern section of Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Established in 1937, it is the busiest airport in Tennessee, with more boardings and arrivals than all other airports in the state combined.

Nashville International Airport was first served by American Airlines and Eastern Air Lines, with passenger service beginning in mid-July 1937. Both airlines operated Douglas DC-3s. American Airlines had 265 daily departures at its peak in 1993, but flights were gradually scaled back until the hub closed in 1995.

In 1961, Nashville International Airport saw its first scheduled jets with American Airlines 720/720Bs. Six airlines served Nashville that year, carrying a total of 532,790 passengers.

In 1985, American Airlines announced it would establish a hub at Nashville to compete with Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines, and Piedmont Airlines for north-south traffic in the eastern United States. The hub opened in 1986 and offered nonstop flights to many cities in the US and Canada, including a transatlantic flight to London. However, the hub operated at a loss and closed in 1995.

Southwest Airlines gradually filled the void left by American Airlines, subleasing its gates and seizing a majority of the Nashville market. As of May 2024, Southwest Airlines has been building up Nashville as one of its top destinations and opened a crew base at the airport.

In May 2018, British Airways inaugurated nonstop service to London, restoring transatlantic service since American Airlines ended its London flight in 1995.

Other airlines that currently serve Nashville International Airport include: