Airports Named After Presidents: A Historical Legacy

Several airports in the United States are named after current or former presidents, including John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C., and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, Texas. These airports honour the contributions of these presidents to the country and serve as a reminder of their legacy.

John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York

John F. Kennedy International Airport, commonly known as JFK, is one of the seven airports that serve New York City and its metropolitan area. Located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, JFK borders Jamaica Bay. It is the busiest airport in the New York airport system, the sixth-busiest airport in the United States, and the busiest international commercial airport in North America. Covering 5,200 acres, it is the largest airport in the New York metropolitan area.

The airport features five passenger terminals and four runways. Over 90 airlines operate from JFK, offering nonstop or direct flights to destinations on all six inhabited continents. The airport is accessible primarily by road, via the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway).

The facility opened in 1948 as New York International Airport, although it was commonly known as Idlewild Airport, after the Idlewild Beach Golf Course that it displaced. In 1963, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the airport was renamed in tribute to him.

JFK is supplied with electricity by the Kennedy International Airport Power Plant, a natural gas-fired electric cogeneration facility. The power plant also provides waste heat to power two heat recovery steam generators and a 25-megawatt steam turbine, which, in turn, run chillers and heat exchangers to provide cooling and heating for all of JFK's passenger terminals.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington, D.C

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (IATA: DCA, ICAO: KDCA, FAA LID: DCA) is a public airport in Arlington County, Virginia, United States, about five miles (eight kilometres) from Washington, D.C. It is the closest airport to the nation's capital and is owned by the federal government. It is one of two airports operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) that serve the Washington metropolitan area. The other airport is Dulles International Airport, located about 25 miles (40 km) to the west in Fairfax and Loudoun counties.

The airport opened in 1941 and was originally named Washington National Airport. Part of the original terminal is still in use as Terminal 1. A larger second terminal, now known as Terminal 2, opened in 1997. In 1998, Congress passed a bill to rename the airport in honour of the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan, who was in office from 1981 to 1989. The bill was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on Ronald Reagan's 87th birthday.

Opponents of the renaming argued that a large federal office building in Washington, D.C., had already been named for Reagan—the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. They also pointed out that the airport was already named for George Washington, the first president of the United States. Despite these objections, the legislation went ahead, although it did not require any funds to be spent on the name change. However, state, regional, and federal authorities later had to change highway and transit signs at their own additional expense. An online survey conducted in 2015 found that only 31% of people referred to the airport as "Reagan" and only 12% as "Reagan National", while 57% dropped the former president's name from the airport's name.

The airport has several lounges, including three American Airlines Admirals Clubs in Terminal 2 and a Delta Sky Club and a United Club in Terminal 2's Concourse B. There is also a USO lounge for retired and active military members in Terminal 1. An American Express Centurion Lounge opened in National Hall by the B Gates in July 2024, and a Capital One Landing lounge, a collaboration with chef José Andrés, opened in Terminal 2's Concourse D in November 2024. The airport is served by the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport station on the Washington Metro, with service on the Yellow and Blue lines.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Texas

In Houston, Texas, the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) was renamed in 1997 to honour the 41st president of the United States, George H. W. Bush, who was a resident of the city. Initially called the Houston Intercontinental Airport when it opened in 1969, it is also referred to as the Houston International Airport or George Bush International Airport.

The airport is located about 23 miles (37 km) north of Downtown Houston, with access from Interstate 45 and Interstate 69/U.S. Highway 59. The Hardy Toll Road expressway also provides an exit to the airport from the north or south. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, or METRO, offers bus services to and from the airport, including the 102 Bush IAH Express.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport is a major hub for United Airlines, which commands a 72% market share, and it is the second-busiest airport in Texas, with more than 46 million passengers annually. The airport covers 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land and has five runways. It offers scheduled flights to numerous domestic and international destinations across five continents.

The airport features various dining options, including Starbucks, which offers single-origin premium coffees, Frappuccinos, and lunch items such as sandwiches and salads. Terminal A showcases several art installations, including Ed Carpenter's "Light Wings," a multicoloured glass sculpture, and Terry Allen's "Countree Music," a cast bronze tree that plays instrumental music.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, Michigan

In the United States, several airports are named after former presidents, including the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This airport is named after Gerald R. Ford, the 38th president and 40th vice president of the United States. It is located in Cascade Township, approximately 13 miles (21 km) southeast of Grand Rapids.

The airport broke ground in November 1919, four miles (6.4 km) south of downtown Grand Rapids. This came eight years after the area witnessed its first landing, a Wright biplane at Comstock Park State Fairgrounds in 1911. The airport was initially called the Kent County Airport, and later the Kent County International Airport. In December 1999, it was renamed after President Ford, who represented the Grand Rapids area in the United States House of Representatives from 1949 to 1973.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport offers more than 100 daily flights and 30+ nonstop routes to destinations across the United States. It is the second-busiest airport in Michigan, after Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The airport is also home to the West Michigan Aviation Academy, a public charter high school that offers aviation, STEM, and robotics education.

The airport has received several awards, including being named America's Best Small Airport and one of North America's top guest-experience airports. It offers a range of amenities, including restaurants, retail stores, business centres, lounges, and family restrooms. The airport is also easily accessible by road, with nearby highways I-96, M-6, M-37, and M-11.

Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport, Little Rock, Arkansas

There are several airports in the United States that have been named after former presidents, including John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C., and Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. One such airport named after a former president is the Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport is named after Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States and a native of Arkansas, and his wife, Hillary Clinton, who served as Secretary of State and later became the first female presidential nominee for a major political party in the 2016 US presidential election. During World War II, the airfield, then known as Adams Field, was used by the US Air Force for antisubmarine patrols and training. American Airlines was the first airline to serve Little Rock, landing its first plane at Adams Field in June 1931.

The airport is the largest in the state of Arkansas and is considered a joint civil-military airport. In 2023, it processed more than 2.2 million passengers, with American Airlines being the largest airline, followed by Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines. The busiest route was to Denver International Airport (DEN), with 123,000 passengers.

Clinton National Airport has also been recognized for its commitment to equity and access for women and underrepresented groups in transportation careers, receiving the "Employer of the Year" award from WTS Arkansas. Unfortunately, in early 2023, a single-engine aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from the airport, serving as a reminder of the inherent risks of aviation.

Frequently asked questions