Rochester, New York: Which Airport To Choose?

what airport is in rochester ny

The closest major airport to Rochester, New York is the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC / KROC). The airport is located 5 miles from the center of Rochester, about 3 miles southwest of downtown in Monroe County, and is the fourth busiest airport in New York state.

Characteristics Values
Name Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport
Acronym ROC
Location 3-5 miles southwest of Rochester, NY
Owner Monroe County
Number of Runways 3
Number of Terminals 1
Number of Concourses 2
Number of Gates 22
Military Presence 642nd Aviation Support Battalion
Airlines Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, American Airlines, Trans States Airlines, USAir, Allegheny Airlines, Piedmont Airlines, AirTran, and more
Ground Transportation Rochester Regional Transit Service (RTS) buses, taxis, hotel shuttles, shared-ride shuttles, rental cars, ridesharing services (Uber and Lyft)
Other Features Cell-phone lot with flight-display information and electric vehicle charging station, solar panels, rainwater storage capabilities

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Greater Rochester International Airport

The Greater Rochester International Airport, also known as the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC), is located 5 miles from the centre of Rochester, New York. It is a public airport situated 3 miles southwest of downtown in Monroe County, New York. The airport is owned and operated by Monroe County and is home to the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, part of the 42nd Infantry Division.

The airport offers a range of ground transportation options for travellers, including taxicabs, free hotel shuttles, shared-ride shuttles, and rental cars. The Rochester Regional Transit Service (RTS) provides bus services throughout the day, with schedules available at the Visitors Information Booth, by phone, or through their mobile app. Additionally, ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft are also available.

The history of the airport includes several expansions and improvements over the years. The airport building initially had only one floor, with a small second floor added for administrative offices during the 1980 expansion. The 1963 expansion gave the terminal its final layout, with ten gates in two concourses. In 1967, Monroe County built runway 4-22, which was extended in 1969 to 8,002 feet. The first jetways were added to gates 1 and 3 by American in 1977, and various expansions in the late 1970s and 1980s included the addition of lounge spaces and jetways for different airlines.

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Airport transport options

The official name of the airport in Rochester, NY, is the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC). The airport is located three miles (4.8 km) southwest of Downtown Rochester, in Monroe County.

There are several transport options available for passengers travelling to and from the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport.

Rochester Shuttle Service

The Rochester Shuttle Service provides transportation to and from the airport, with hourly shuttles to and from the Mall of America. The service costs $20 for the first passenger and $10 for each additional passenger travelling together to any downtown hotel, and $25 to any northwest hotel. Private black car and luxury sedan services are also available for $50 downtown.

Passengers can check in at the Rochester Shuttle counter in the ground transportation atrium, which can be reached by taking the elevator or escalator down one floor from the baggage claim level. For pick-up, passengers can proceed out of door #6 of the terminal and cross the street to the Ground Transport Center. During inclement weather, passengers can take the skyway on the floor above.

Rochester Regional Transit Service (RTS) buses

The airport is served by RTS buses throughout the day. RTS bus schedules can be found at the Visitors Information Booth near Baggage Claim, by phone, or through the free "Where's My Bus" mobile app, which provides real-time bus schedules and updates.

Taxi and ridesharing services

Various taxi companies are available for ground transportation and can be hailed in front of the main terminal, centre entrance, lower level. Ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft are also available.

Car rental

Car rental counters at the airport are located on the lower level, adjacent to the baggage claim area. National chains such as Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis are available.

Hotel shuttle services

Many Rochester hotels offer exclusive free shuttle services to and from the airport. Passengers can use the hotel courtesy phones on the lower level at the east and west end of the main terminal to arrange transportation.

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Airlines that serve the airport

The Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) is located in Rochester, New York, and is served by several airlines.

Historically, the airport has been served by American Airlines, which operated jet services from the airport beginning in 1965, as well as Mohawk Airlines and United Airlines. In 1977, American added the first jetways to gates 1 and 3. In the 1980 expansion, new lounge areas were built for United, and Allegheny Airlines (the successor to Mohawk) also received new lounge space with three jetways.

As of 2013, Southwest Airlines replaced AirTran's service at the airport after its acquisition. Allegiant Air also started limited service from Rochester in 2014, with flights to Orlando-Sanford. In 2021, Frontier Airlines joined the roster of airlines serving ROC, launching service to Orlando. Additionally, Avelo Airlines expanded its presence at the airport in 2022 by introducing two new nonstop routes to Nashville, Tennessee, and Wilmington, North Carolina.

Other airlines that have served the airport include Trans States Airlines, which operated a United Express flight that skidded off the runway in 2012, and Piedmont Airlines, which took over one of United's lounges in 1987.

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Airport history

The Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) is a public airport located within the City of Rochester, three miles (4.8 km) southwest of Downtown, in Monroe County, New York, United States. The airport is owned and operated by Monroe County and is home to the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, part of the 42nd Infantry Division.

The site of the Greater Rochester International Airport, originally known as Britton Field, was used for aviation purposes as early as 1919. The Rochester Aircraft Corporation launched its first passenger flight from Britton Field on August 18, 1919. The Curtiss JN-4 was piloted by Earl F. Beers, a Rochester aviation pioneer. Beers urged the local government to purchase Britton Field for a municipal airport. In 1919, he offered passenger flights out of Britton Field, charging $1.00 per minute.

The modern era of the Greater Rochester International Airport began in 1927, with the construction of Hangar No. 1 on a patch of land south of Rochester on Scottsville Road. The airport was then named Rochester Municipal Airport. The first scheduled passenger flights between New York City and Rochester were made that year. After the Second World War, the airport saw a period of expansion as passenger volume, frequency of flights, and civilian pilot training increased. A flight training school, with nearly 1,000 students, was created. On January 1, 1948, Monroe County took possession and control of the airport, and it was renamed the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport.

Monroe County began making major improvements to the airport, including the construction of a new 5,000-foot-long instrument runway, lengthening of the north-south runway from 2,670 feet to 5,000 feet, and construction of the administration building on Brooks Avenue. The county opened a new million-dollar terminal complex at the airport in 1953. The red-brick structure was designed to accommodate Rochester’s needs through at least 1980.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there was talk of building a Rochester-Buffalo airport in southeastern Niagara County, which would have taken over passenger traffic from Rochester-Monroe County and Greater Buffalo International Airport airports. This plan never came to fruition. Instead, the Greater Rochester International Airport continued to expand and improve its facilities, including the addition of new lounge areas, jetways, and a second floor for administrative offices. The airport has received awards for its small size and convenience, and it continues to serve the Rochester area with pride.

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Airport facilities

The Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) is located in Monroe County, southwest of Downtown Rochester, New York. The airport has undergone several expansions and improvements over the years to enhance its facilities and better serve its passengers.

The airport's terminal has two levels, with ticketing and departures located on the second floor and baggage claim and ground transportation on the first floor. The terminal features two angled concourses, each with eleven gates. The eastern concourse, or Concourse B, opened in the summer of 1990, followed by the eastern half of the main terminal in 1991. The western half of the terminal, western concourse or Concourse A, and the parking garage were completed in 1992.

A variety of transportation options are available at the airport. The Rochester Regional Transit Service (RTS) provides bus services to and from the airport, with schedules accessible through a mobile app, phone, or visitor information booth. Taxi services, ridesharing options such as Uber and Lyft, and car rental agencies like Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis are also available. Additionally, many Rochester hotels provide complimentary shuttle services to and from the airport.

The airport has made significant efforts to enhance accessibility for passengers with disabilities. In 2016, the airport received $40 million in funding through the Governor Cuomo's Upstate Airport Economic and Revitalization Competition (UAERC). This funding was utilised to create a high-tech smart facility, improving accessibility and catering to the business and economic needs of the airport. The security checkpoint was enlarged as part of this project, now offering dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes alongside general lanes.

Other notable facilities at the airport include a cell phone lot with flight display information and an electric vehicle charging station. The airport also boasts unique food and beverage options, play zones, and art and culture exhibits for travellers to enjoy.

Frequently asked questions

The name of the airport in Rochester, New York, is the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport.

The airport is located about 3-5 miles from downtown Rochester.

The airport is served by Rochester Regional Transit Service (RTS) buses throughout the day. Many taxi companies are available for ground transportation and can be hailed in front of the main terminal. Passengers can also opt for ridesharing services from Uber and Lyft. Car rental counters at the airport include national chains such as Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis. Many Rochester hotels also offer exclusive free shuttle services to and from the airport.

Delta Air Lines has the largest market share of all the carriers that fly to the airport. Other airlines include JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Avelo Airlines, and United Airlines.

On November 14, 2002, a Cessna 210L was destroyed during a forced landing and collision, resulting in the death of the pilot. On February 22, 2012, a United Express Embraer ERJ-145 skidded off the runway, but fortunately, none of the 45 people on board were injured.

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