Colonial Pipeline: Airports Serviced And Their Impact

Colonial Pipeline is a critical part of America's energy infrastructure, transporting over 100 million gallons of fuel daily across 14 states and serving millions of Americans. The company delivers refined petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, home heating oil, jet fuel, and specialised fuels for the US military. Colonial Pipeline connects Gulf Coast refineries with customers and markets across the Southeast and East Coast, spanning over 5,500 miles. The company has direct connections to several major airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Nashville International Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and Philadelphia International Airport.

Hartsfield Jackson International Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (IATA: ATL, ICAO: KATL, FAA LID: ATL) is the primary international airport serving Atlanta and its surrounding metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Georgia. The airport is located 10 miles (16 km; 8.7 nmi) south of the Downtown Atlanta district. It is named after former Atlanta mayors William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson.

The airport covers 4,700 acres (7.3 sq mi; 19 km2) of land and has five parallel runways aligned in an east-west direction. There are three runways that are 9,000 feet (2,743 m) long, one runway that is 10,000 feet (3,048 m) long, and the longest runway measures 12,390 feet (3,776 m) and can handle the Airbus A380. In 2023, the airport served over 104.6 million passengers, the most of any airport in the world. Hartsfield-Jackson is also the world's busiest airport by aircraft movements.

Hartsfield-Jackson is the corporate headquarters and primary hub of Delta Air Lines. With just over 1,000 flights a day to 225 domestic and international destinations, the Delta hub is the world's largest airline hub and is considered the first mega-hub in America. The airport has international service within North America and to Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia. Aside from Delta, Hartsfield-Jackson is also an operating base for low-cost carriers Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines.

The Colonial Pipeline is the largest refined products pipeline by volume in the country, spanning 5,500 miles. It transports over 100 million gallons of fuel daily, including gasoline, diesel, home heating oil, jet fuel, and specialized fuels for the U.S. military. The pipeline connects directly to major airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Nashville International Airport

The Metro Nashville Airport Authority has recently initiated two expansion programs: BNA Vision and New Horizons. BNA Vision upgrades included expanding concourses, constructing a new international arrivals facility, building new parking garages, and adding a hotel. The hotel opened in March 2024, and most BNA Vision upgrades were completed by 2023. The New Horizons upgrades will focus on further concourse expansions, baggage handling system upgrades, and terminal roadway expansions, with a scheduled completion date of 2028.

Charlotte /Douglas International Airport

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (IATA: CLT, ICAO: KCLT, FAA LID: CLT) is located about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Charlotte's central business district in North Carolina, United States. It is the primary airport for commercial and military use in the Charlotte metropolitan area. The airport covers 5,558 acres (2,249 ha) of land and was established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport. In 1941, the United States Army Air Forces took control of the airport and established Charlotte Air Base, which was later renamed Morris Field. The airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport in 1954 in honour of former Charlotte Mayor Ben Elbert Douglas Sr., who oversaw the airport's opening. In 1982, the airport was renamed Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and a new 325,000-square-foot passenger terminal was opened.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is one of the few airports in the United States with a public viewing area, where visitors can watch planes take off, land, and taxi. The airport is also home to the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, which features a collection of over 50 aircraft, including rare aircraft such as the Douglas D-558 Skystreak and the U.S.-built Harrier. The museum also has an extensive aviation library and photography collection. The airport is operated by the city of Charlotte's aviation department and is one of the major "hub" airports in the world.

In terms of passenger traffic, CLT was the 11th-busiest airport in the United States in 2019, processing over 50 million passengers. It was also the fifth-busiest in terms of aircraft operations, ranking sixth globally. The airport has a smoke-free facility, with smoking prohibited inside the terminal building, including restaurants, bars, lounges, and airline clubs. However, there is a designated smoking area accessible from inside and outside the terminal.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is one of the major airports connected directly to the Colonial Pipeline system. Colonial Pipeline is the largest refined products pipeline by volume in the country, spanning 5,500 miles across 14 states. It delivers more than 100 million gallons of fuel daily, including gasoline, diesel, home heating oil, jet fuel, and specialised fuels for the U.S. military. The pipeline connects Gulf Coast refineries with customers and markets across the Southeast and East Coast, serving the energy needs of Americans and supporting their ability to travel, work, and defend the nation. The Colonial Pipeline system includes two main lines, one devoted primarily to gasoline and the other carrying distillate products such as jet fuel, diesel fuel, and home heating oil. The pipeline also connects directly to several major airports, including Atlanta, Nashville, Greensboro, Raleigh-Durham, and Baltimore-Washington, ensuring a steady supply of aviation fuel for commercial and military aviation.

Piedmont Triad International Airport

The history of Piedmont Triad International Airport dates back to 1919 with the dedication of Maynard Field, one of the first commercial airports in the South, located near Greensboro. In 1927, the site was chosen for an airport over neighbouring Winston-Salem, and Greensboro and Guilford County jointly purchased the property, naming it Lindley Field. The field initially lacked runways, lights, a hangar, and a passenger station, but it quickly gained prominence, with Charles Lindbergh visiting in the same year. Regular mail service commenced in 1928, and the airport gradually developed over the years, with expansions and the addition of passenger gates and security checkpoints.

The terminal complex, completed in 1982, features 26 passenger gates distributed between the north and south concourses, with both concourses being identical in size. The top level of the terminal includes ticketing, security, boarding, and concession areas, while the bottom floor houses baggage claim and ground transportation. The airport has attracted several prominent airlines and businesses, including Continental Lite, FedEx Corporation, and American Airlines, which operated an Admirals Club.

Raleigh-Durham International Airport

RDU boasts two world-class terminals, providing passengers with a range of locally-focused dining and shopping options, alongside the latest technology and services. In 2024, the airport served a record-breaking 15.5 million passengers, surpassing its previous record of 14.5 million passengers in 2023. The airport's history dates back to 1929 when the region's first airport, Raleigh Municipal Airport, opened south of Raleigh. However, this airport was quickly outgrown, leading to the establishment of the Raleigh–Durham Aeronautical Authority in 1939 to build and operate a larger airport between Raleigh and Durham. The new Raleigh-Durham Airport commenced operations on May 1, 1943, with Eastern Airlines as its inaugural carrier.

Over the years, RDU has witnessed the presence of several notable airlines. In 1948, Piedmont Airlines joined Eastern Airlines at the airport, followed by Delta Air Lines in 1970. Today, Delta maintains a focus city operation at RDU, benefiting from the area's robust economy and the absence of a dominant network carrier. Additionally, Avelo Airlines established an operating base at Raleigh-Durham in February 2023, further enhancing the airport's connectivity.

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