Lois Larson
Yes, there is an airport in Baltimore. The Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is located 9 miles south of downtown Baltimore and 30 miles northeast of Washington, D.C. BWI is one of the three major airports serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area and is the 23rd busiest airport in the United States in terms of passenger enplanements. The airport offers convenient parking options, modern terminals, and easy access to public transportation, making it a popular choice for travellers in the region.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport |
| Acronyms | BWI, KBWI, BWI Marshall |
| Location | Anne Arundel County, Maryland |
| Distance from Baltimore | 9 miles (14 km) south of downtown Baltimore |
| Distance from Washington, D.C. | 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Washington, D.C. |
| Operating bases | One of 12 U.S.-based operating bases for Southwest Airlines |
| Passenger enplanements (2023) | 12,849,636 |
| Passenger enplanements (2019) | 26,993,896 |
| Passenger enplanements (2020) | 11,204,511 |
| Passenger enplanements (2021) | 18,868,429 |
| Ranking (U.S.) | 23rd busiest airport in the U.S. (2023); 22nd busiest airport in the U.S. (2019); 24th busiest airport in the U.S. (2020) |
| Ranking (Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area) | Busiest airport in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area |
| Terminals | One terminal building with five concourses (A, B, C, D, E) |
| Transport links | Amtrak/MARC shuttle buses, taxis, MARC Train, Amtrak, MTA Light Rail, BayRunner Shuttle, private car, rental car, cab services, airport shuttles |
| Parking | Long-term parking with more than 10,000 spaces, covered shelter stops, and frequent shuttles |
| Reputation | Modern, user-friendly, "Easy Come, Easy Go" |
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What You'll Learn
Baltimore Airport's official name
Baltimore has an airport, and its official name is Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The airport is also commonly referred to as BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, BWI Marshall Airport, or simply BWI Airport.
History of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
The airport was originally known as Baltimore Municipal Airport at Harbor Field in southeast Baltimore. On November 16, 1973, the airport was renamed Baltimore/Washington International Airport to attract passengers from the Washington metropolitan area, particularly Montgomery and Prince George's counties in suburban Maryland. In 1980, the International Air Transport Association changed the airport's IATA code from BAL to BWI, and this change became official six months later.
In 2005, the airport was named in honour of Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
BWI Airport Today
BWI Airport is located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, approximately 9 miles (14 km) south of downtown Baltimore and 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Washington, D.C. It is one of three major airports serving the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area, along with Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. BWI is the busiest airport in this region, serving more than 26 million passengers annually. The airport offers convenient parking options, a modern terminal, and an Easy Come, Easy Go" reputation, making it a popular choice for travellers.
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Transport options to/from the airport
Baltimore is served by Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), which offers various transport options for travellers to and from the airport.
Car
If you're looking to rent a car, BWI Marshall Airport has a spacious rental car facility with various options. The airport also has a large long-term parking lot with over 10,000 spaces and frequent shuttles to the terminal.
Shuttle
Several companies offer shuttle services to and from BWI Airport, including GO Airport Shuttle, Super Shuttle Express, and ExecuCar. These services offer upfront pricing, flexible ride choices, and the convenience of being dropped off right at your terminal.
Taxi
Taxis are readily available at the taxi stand located just outside the baggage claim area on the lower level of the BWI Marshall Airport terminal.
Public Transportation
BWI Airport is also easily accessible via public transportation, with various bus and rail options available.
App-based Ride Services
In addition to traditional transportation options, BWI Airport is served by app-based ride services, providing flexible and efficient travel options to and from the airport.
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Airlines that use Baltimore Airport
Baltimore does have an airport, and it's a busy one. Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Airport) is the only airport in Baltimore, and it is the busiest airport in the National Capital Region. BWI Airport is located just 8 miles from downtown Baltimore and offers convenient parking, a modern terminal, and an "Easy Come, Easy Go" reputation.
There are 18 airlines that fly into Baltimore from 110 airports worldwide, providing around 4,900 direct flights each week. Some of the most popular routes to Baltimore depart from Atlanta, Chicago, and Boston airports. For example, a flight from Boston to Baltimore takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Some of the airlines that service BWI Airport include:
- United Airlines: They offer flights to Baltimore from over 200 airports within the United States and an additional 100 airports internationally.
- American Airlines: They provide flights to Baltimore, with fares collected within the last 24 hours available on their website.
In addition to these, there are likely to be several other airlines that use Baltimore Airport as a hub, given the large number of flights and the airport's status as the busiest in the region.
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Baltimore Airport's ranking
Baltimore is served by Baltimore/Washington International Airport, more commonly known as BWI Airport or BWI Marshall Airport. The airport is located in Linthicum Heights, about a 15-minute drive from Downtown Baltimore. It is named after Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve as a US Supreme Court Justice.
BWI Airport has been ranked highly in various categories over the years. In 2007, Aviation.com ranked it as one of the "Top 10 Easiest U.S. Airports to Get To". In 2009, a survey by Airports Council International ranked BWI as the world's top airport in the 15-25 million passenger category. The airport was also ranked seventh in medium-sized airports for customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates in the same year. In terms of health, BWI was named the second healthiest airport in the US by Health magazine in 2008.
However, in 2022, BWI Marshall Airport was ranked the 10th worst airport in the country by FamilyDestinationsGuide.com. This ranking was based on the percentage of delayed and cancelled flights, with BWI experiencing a relatively high number of delays and cancellations that year.
In terms of passenger traffic, BWI is the busiest airport in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. In 2023, it recorded 12,849,636 passenger enplanements, ranking 23rd in the US. The following year, it ranked second in the Baltimore/Washington area, serving 27,059,733 passengers.
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Baltimore Airport's history
Baltimore is served by Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), which is located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 9 miles (14 km) south of downtown Baltimore and 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Washington, D.C. BWI is one of three major airports serving the Washington–Baltimore metropolitan area.
Planning for a new airport to serve the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area began in 1944, just prior to the end of World War II. The Baltimore Aviation Commission announced that the airport would be built on a 2,100-acre (850 ha) tract of land near Linthicum Heights, Maryland, just a 15-minute drive from Downtown Baltimore. The site was chosen for its proximity to the Pennsylvania Railroad line, the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad line, and the proposed Baltimore–Washington Parkway, as well as its generally good visibility. An alternative site along Gov. Ritchie Highway at Furnace Branch was rejected by the United States Department of War, and another possible site at Lipin's Corner was deemed too far from Baltimore. The State Aviation Commission approved of the Linthicum Heights site in 1946, and ground was broken on May 2, 1947. Friendship Methodist Church, which was located on the site, held its last service on Easter Sunday in 1948 and was then razed to make room for the airport, along with a cemetery that was also located on the land.
Friendship International Airport was dedicated on June 24, 1950, by President Harry S. Truman, who arrived by plane from nearby Washington National Airport. The Governor of Maryland, William Preston Lane Jr., and Baltimore Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., who was taking his first aircraft flight, accompanied Truman. The cost to construct the airport totaled $15 million, $6 million over budget. The following month, airlines moved to the new airport from the old Baltimore Municipal Airport at Harbor Field in southeast Baltimore. Eastern Airlines flew the first scheduled flight, a DC-3, into the airport at 12:01 am on July 23, 1950.
In 1973, Friendship International was renamed Baltimore Washington International Airport, and facilities were updated at a cost of more than $30 million. In 1979, a modern passenger terminal opened, doubling the airport's overall capacity. In 2005, the airport was renamed Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport, in honor of Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Baltimore–Washington International Airport, also known as BWI Airport, is located 9 miles south of Baltimore.
There are several transport options to and from the airport, including:
- Bus services
- Amtrak/MARC shuttle buses
- Taxi
- Train
- Car rental
BWI Airport is the busiest airport in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. In 2019, it was ranked as the 22nd busiest airport in the United States, handling 26,993,896 passengers.
BWI Airport has a modern terminal, convenient parking options, and a reputation for being easy to navigate. It offers more than 700 daily domestic and international flights and serves over 75 cities nonstop.
