Airports Near Kentucky: A Comprehensive Guide

Kentucky has 27 airports, 5 of which offer year-round commercial flights. The remaining two are regional airports served by low-cost airlines. The busiest airport in Kentucky is Cincinnati International Airport, which is situated 20km from the city. The second largest airport in Kentucky is Louisville Airport, recently renamed Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. This airport is located 8km south of the city centre.

Kentucky's busiest airports

Kentucky has 62 public-use airports, including two international airports: Louisville International Airport and Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport. The Louisville International Airport is Kentucky's busiest airport, receiving nearly 4 million passengers annually. The airport has private hangars and a four-level parking garage to accommodate its heavy traffic.

Other busy airports in Kentucky include the Barkley Regional Airport, located about 14 miles west of Paducah in McCracken County. This airport is owned by the Barkley Regional Airport Authority and is used for general aviation. It is the fifth busiest airport in the state and employs about 100 people.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), publicly owned airports that receive scheduled passenger service and have more than 10,000 passenger boardings (enplanements) each year are classified as "Commercial service - primary" airports. These are further categorised into four "hub" types based on the percentage of total US passenger enplanements they account for: Large hub (L), Medium hub (M), Small hub (S), and Nonhub (N).

Reliever airports, as designated by the FAA, aim to relieve congestion at large commercial service airports and enhance general aviation access for the community.

Louisville International Airport

The airport's IATA code, SDF, is derived from its former name, Standiford Field. Despite being designated as an international airport, it does not have any regularly scheduled international passenger flights. However, it serves as a port of entry and handles a significant volume of UPS Airlines international cargo flights through the United Parcel Service's Worldport facility. In 2022, the airport handled over 6.7 billion pounds (3.38 million tons) of cargo, making it the third-busiest cargo airport in the United States and the sixth-busiest in the world.

The Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Airlift Wing operates C-130 transport aircraft from the co-located Louisville Air National Guard Base. The airport's main commercial terminal is the Jerry E. Abramson Terminal, featuring two floors. The first floor provides ground transportation and baggage claim services, while the second floor offers ticketing, passenger drop-off, and concourse access. There are a total of 24 gates across two concourses, connected by a rotunda with a unified security checkpoint.

In 2019, the Louisville Regional Airport Authority voted to rename the airport in honour of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, a Louisville native. The airport has undergone significant renovations over the years, including the addition of new runways, a UPS air mail facility, corporate hangars, a parking garage, and a control tower. As of 2024, the airport is in the midst of the SDF Next project, a major renovation initiative with over $1 billion in planned enhancements.

Cincinnati International Airport

The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, often abbreviated to CVG Airport, is located in Boone County, Kentucky, in the community of Hebron. The airport covers 7,000 acres of land, or 10.9 square miles, and is categorised as a medium-hub primary commercial service facility.

CVG Airport offers non-stop passenger service to over 50 destinations across North America and Europe, and also handles numerous cargo flights daily. The airport is a global cargo hub for Amazon Air, Atlas Air, ABX Air, Kalitta Air, and DHL Aviation. In 2017, Amazon announced that it would be investing $1.49 billion in the construction and expansion of a cargo facility at the airport, making it the company's principal shipping hub.

The airport has one terminal and two concourses, with a total of 51 gates. Both concourses are islands, accessible only by an underground moving walkway and people mover. International arrivals without pre-clearance are handled in Concourse B, which has 28 gates, while Concourse A has 23.

CVG Airport has been recognised for its excellent customer experience, receiving the 2024 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award for Best Airport of 5 to 15 Million Passengers in North America. The airport also offers convenient parking and a range of flight options to choose from.

Lexington Blue Grass Airport

Located in Fayette County, Kentucky, the Lexington Blue Grass Airport is about a 15-minute drive from downtown Lexington. The airport is situated among picturesque horse farms and is located directly across from the Keeneland Race Course. With its convenient location and easy accessibility, Blue Grass Airport serves as a catalyst for economic growth in the region, contributing significantly to the city of Lexington and other parts of Kentucky.

As the primary airport serving central and eastern Kentucky, Blue Grass Airport offers a range of services for both commercial passengers and general aviation. The airport provides direct flights to 16 cities, making it a convenient hub for travellers. Four major airline carriers operate from the airport: Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. In 2017, these airlines collectively served over 1.3 million passengers, with an all-time record of 1,571,805 passengers in 2024.

The airport covers an area of 911 acres (3.69 km2) and features two runways. One of the runways, 9/27, opened in 2010, replacing the previous runway with a length of 4,000 feet. Blue Grass Airport also offers a variety of ground transportation options, including taxi services, buses, hotel vans, and ride-sharing apps. Visitors can choose from short-term, long-term, and valet parking options, with major credit cards accepted for payment.

Overall, Lexington Blue Grass Airport, with its convenient location, diverse flight options, and economic impact, plays a crucial role in facilitating travel and contributing to the prosperity of the region.

Barkley Regional Airport

The airport has been serving the Purchase Region for over 70 years. In June 2023, a new $43 million state-of-the-art terminal building opened, replacing the original terminal built in 1953. The new terminal is intended to serve as the "Front Porch of the Purchase Region," providing a warm welcome to guests visiting Paducah and the surrounding area.

The airport has seen several airlines come and go over the years. In the past, it was served by Northwest Airlink, with flights to Memphis International Airport. Additionally, Allegheny Commuter, operating on behalf of USAir, offered non-stop flights from Evansville, Louisville, Nashville, and Owensboro, KY. In 1989, three airlines served the airport: American Eagle, Northwest Airlink, and Trans World Express, providing non-stop flights from various destinations within the region.

Frequently asked questions