Jazmin Li
Louisville, Kentucky is served by Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, formerly known as Standiford Field. The airport is located in Jefferson County and was renamed in 2019 in honour of the boxer and Louisville native Muhammad Ali. It is a civil-military airport and is the sixth-busiest cargo airport in the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport |
| Former Names | Standiford Field, Louisville International Airport |
| IATA Airport Code | SDF |
| ICAO | KSDF |
| FAA LID | SDF |
| Location | Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky |
| Distance from Downtown Louisville | 7 miles |
| Distance from Kentucky Exposition Center | 0.2 miles |
| Daily Departures | 76 |
| Daily Arrivals | 76 |
| Daily Departing Seats | 7,300 |
| Number of Non-Stop Destinations | 40 |
| Number of Runways | 3 |
| Area | 1,500 acres |
| Year of Construction | 1941 |
| Year of Renaming to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport | 2019 |
| Airlines | Allegiant, American, Breeze, Delta, Southwest, Sun Country, United |
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What You'll Learn
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport's name change
Louisville Regional Airport Authority voted to rename the airport to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on January 16, 2019. The airport is located in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, and was renamed after boxing legend Muhammad Ali, a Louisville native.
The airport's former official names were Louisville International Airport and Standiford Field, the latter of which was named after Dr. Elisha David Standiford, a local businessman and politician who was active in transportation issues and owned part of the land. The field was built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1941 on a parcel of land south of Louisville, which was found not to have flooded during the Ohio River flood of 1937.
The new logo for the airport was unveiled on June 6, 2019, featuring "Ali's silhouette, arms up and victorious, against the background of a butterfly". The airport covers 1,500 acres and has three runways, with over 4.6 million passengers passing through in 2023. Despite being called an international airport, it does not have regularly scheduled international passenger flights but is a port of entry, handling many UPS Airlines international cargo flights through the United Parcel Service's worldwide air hub, often referred to as UPS Worldport.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is also the third-busiest in the United States in terms of cargo traffic and the sixth-busiest worldwide. The Kentucky Air National Guard's 123d Airlift Wing operates C-130 transport aircraft from the co-located Louisville Air National Guard Base. The airport is currently undergoing a major renovation project called SDF Next, which includes more than $1 billion in planned enhancements.
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The airport's location
Louisville's primary airport is Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, formerly known as Standiford Field, Louisville International Airport, and SDF. The airport is located in Jefferson County, Kentucky, and is just 7 miles (or 10 minutes by car) from downtown Louisville. The airport's address is 600 Terminal Drive Louisville, KY 40209.
The airport covers 1,500 acres (6.1 square kilometres) and includes three runways. The Kentucky Air National Guard's 123d Airlift Wing operates C-130 transport aircraft from the co-located Louisville Air National Guard Base. The airport is also a hub for UPS Airlines' international cargo flights, making it the third-busiest cargo airport in the United States and sixth-busiest in the world.
The airport's main commercial terminal is the Jerry E. Abramson Terminal. This terminal has two floors, with ground transportation and baggage claim services located on the first floor, and ticketing, passenger drop-off, and concourse access on the second floor. There are a total of 24 gates across two concourses, which are connected by a rotunda and a security checkpoint. The westernmost runway (17R/35L) is the longest at 11,887 feet (3,623 metres) and was extended in 2007 to accommodate larger aircraft.
The airport's former name, Standiford Field, was derived from Dr. Elisha David Standiford, a local businessman and politician who was active in transportation issues and owned part of the land on which the airport was built. The airport was constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1941 on a parcel of land south of Louisville that was found to have remained dry during the Ohio River flood of 1937. The field was under Army control until 1947 when it was turned over to the Louisville Air Board for commercial operations.
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Airlines operating from the airport
Louisville's airport, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, is conveniently located just 7 miles from downtown Louisville and 0.2 miles from the Kentucky Exposition Center. The airport offers 110 daily flights through nine airline brands, including major carriers such as Allegiant, American, Breeze, Delta, Southwest, Sun Country, and United.
Southwest Airlines began serving the airport in the 1990s, contributing to a significant increase in passenger boardings. The airport also handles many UPS Airlines international cargo flights through the United Parcel Service's worldwide air hub, known as UPS Worldport.
In addition to its commercial operations, the airport is also home to the Kentucky Air National Guard 's 123rd Airlift Wing, which operates C-130 transport aircraft from the co-located Louisville Air National Guard Base.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport consists of two concourses, Concourse A and Concourse B, each with 12 gates. The airport has three concrete runways, two of which are parallel, with the westernmost runway being the longest at 11,887 feet. The airport covers 1,500 acres and handled over 4.6 million passengers in 2023.
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Cargo traffic
Louisville International Airport, officially known as Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, is a civil-military airport in Louisville, Kentucky. The airport was renamed in 2019 to honour the boxer and Louisville native Muhammad Ali.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is one of the busiest cargo airports in the world. In 2020, the airport handled over 6.43 billion pounds (2,971,243 metric tons) of cargo, a 4.6% increase from the previous year. In 2025, it was ranked the fifth busiest in the world and third busiest in North America for cargo operations. The airport is home to UPS Worldport, which is the base for UPS Airlines, the fourth-largest cargo airline in the world. The airport's proximity to the Kentucky Exposition Centre and its central location in the United States also make it an ideal hub for cargo operations.
The airport's cargo operations have seen significant growth, particularly during the pandemic, due to the increased demand for online goods. In 2020, the airport's executive director, Dan Mann, emphasised the airport's vital role in global air cargo operations and its contribution to the region's economy, with over 82,000 jobs linked to the airport's operations.
UPS Airlines' presence at the airport makes it the third-busiest cargo airport in the United States, only after Ted Stevens Airport in Anchorage, Alaska, and FedEx's SuperHub at Memphis International Airport. The Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Airlift Wing also operates C-130 transport aircraft from the co-located Louisville Air National Guard Base, further contributing to the airport's cargo traffic.
The airport has three runways, with the longest being 11,887 feet (3,623 metres) to accommodate larger aircraft. The airport's two parallel runways were added in 1995, along with a new UPS air mail facility, showcasing the airport's focus on expanding its cargo capabilities.
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Passenger facilities
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is located in Louisville, Kentucky. The airport was renamed in 2019 to honour the boxing legend and Louisville native, Muhammad Ali. It is a civil-military airport and the sixth-busiest airport for cargo traffic in the world.
Louisville Airport has a small, two-level terminal with two concourses (A and B). The airport offers a range of passenger facilities, including:
- A large assortment of shopping and dining options, including two dozen eateries and shops on both sides of security.
- Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal.
- Outlets for charging mobile devices can be found in various locations, including comfortable seating with built-in power outlets and USB ports in Concourses A and B.
- ATMs and cash machines are available in the Upper Level Departures and the Airside Connector.
- Baby care services, including a nursing room located airside in Concourse A.
- Baggage carts are available landside on the upper and lower levels of the airport.
- Currency exchange facilities are provided by 5/3 Bank, located in the Ticketing/Check-in area. The bank is open from 10 am to 4 pm on weekdays and is closed on weekends.
- An information desk is located in the middle of the Arrivals/Baggage Claim area, between the baggage carousels.
- Water bottle refill stations are available throughout the terminal.
There are no private or pay-per-use lounges at the airport. However, the USO offers a free lounge to active members of the US military and their families, located landside in the hallway behind the west ticket counters. The lounge is open from 10 am to 6 pm on weekdays and 12 pm to 4 pm on Saturdays.
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Frequently asked questions
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.
SDF (IATA), KSDF (ICAO), and SDF (FAA LID).
The airport is approximately 7 miles (10 minutes) from downtown Louisville and 0.2 miles from the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport has three runways.
Airlines that operate from the airport include Allegiant, American, Breeze, Delta, Southwest, Sun Country, and United.
