Airports In Virginia: A Comprehensive Guide

Virginia is home to 65-66 public-use airports, including military airports with restricted access. The busiest airport in Virginia is the Dulles International Airport. Other major airports in the state include the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, the Lynchburg Regional Airport, the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, the Norfolk International Airport, the Richmond International Airport, and the Roanoke Regional Airport. Two airports in Virginia, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport, serve the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

Airports in Virginia

Dulles International Airport

Washington Dulles International Airport (IATA: IAD, ICAO: KIAD, FAA LID: IAD) is located in Loudoun County and Fairfax County in Northern Virginia, 26 miles (42 km) west of downtown Washington, D.C. It is one of three major airports serving the Washington–Baltimore metropolitan area, alongside Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Airport. Dulles is the second-busiest airport in this metropolitan area and the 28th-busiest airport in the United States.

The airport opened in 1962 and is named after John Foster Dulles, a prominent United States Secretary of State during the Cold War. Dulles Airport is operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and occupies 13,000 acres (20.3 sq mi; 52.6 km2), making it the fourth-largest airport in the US in terms of land area. The airport has a main terminal and two parallel midfield terminal buildings, with 139 total gates.

Dulles handles the most international passenger traffic of any airport in the Mid-Atlantic outside the New York metro area, with approximately 90% of international passenger traffic in the Baltimore–Washington region. From 2004 to 2019, the airport handled over 20 million passenger enplanements annually, with an average of 60,000 passengers passing through daily to and from more than 139 destinations worldwide.

The airport is a hub for United Airlines and is frequently used by airlines that have codeshare agreements with United, including Star Alliance members like Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa.

In 2023, construction began on a 100 MW solar power facility, with plans to include the largest airport-based solar and battery development in the US.

Reagan National Airport

The airport has a rich history, dating back to its opening in 1941 as Washington National Airport. The original terminal, now known as Terminal 1, is still in use today. A larger second terminal, Terminal 2, was added in 1997. In 1998, the airport was renamed to honour former President Ronald Reagan, who served from 1981 to 1989.

The airport serves as a hub for American Airlines and offers nonstop flights to 98 destinations as of October 2023. While it is an international airport, Reagan National has no immigration or customs facilities, limiting international flights to those with preclearance capabilities. The airport's main runway is the busiest in the nation, accommodating a high volume of air traffic.

In addition to its role as a transportation hub, Reagan National Airport also has a unique approach procedure known as the River Visual. Due to security concerns and noise restrictions, aircraft approaching from the north follow the path of the Potomac River and turn just before landing. This approach treats passengers to stunning views of iconic landmarks, including the Capitol, the White House, and the Washington Monument.

Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport

With more than 40 scheduled flights daily, the airport provides convenient travel options for residents and visitors alike. Major airlines serving the airport include American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta, and Allegiant Air, which offers full-sized jets and frequent service to Florida destinations.

The airport features a range of amenities, including multiple cafes, Hudson News stores, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Ground transportation options are also readily available, with rental car companies, taxi and limousine services, and ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft permitted for pick-up. Additionally, the Smart Way Bus connects the airport to nearby points of interest, including Downtown Roanoke and Virginia Tech.

The history of the airport dates back to the period after World War I when local leaders prioritised the development of an airport in the Roanoke Valley. The airport has since expanded and modernised, with the terminal building completed in 1989 and a new control tower commissioned in 2004.

In 2021, the airport handled 478,000 passengers, with impressive on-time departure and arrival rates of 87% and 86%, respectively. Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport continues to be a vital transportation hub for the region, providing efficient and accessible air travel options for the community.

Military airports

Virginia has a number of military airports, some of which are still in use, while others are former military airports. Here is a list of some of them:

• Fort Walker/Bowling Green: No further information is available about this airport.
• A.P. Hill Army Airfield: No further information is available about this airfield.
• Davison Army Airfield: No further information is available about this airfield.
• Felker Army Airfield: No further information is available about this airfield.
• Langley Air Force Base: Langley Air Force Base is one of the military airports in Virginia.
• NS Norfolk (Chambers Field): This is a military airport in Virginia.
• NAS Oceana (Apollo Soucek Field): This is another military airport in the state.
• MCAF Quantico (Turner Field): This military airport is located in Virginia.
• Wallops Flight Facility (NASA): This facility is owned by NASA and is a military airport in Virginia.
• Williamsburg/Camp Peary: No further information is available about this airport.
• Camp Peary Landing Strip: No further information is available about this landing strip.

Former Military Airports in Virginia:

• Allen C. Perkinson Airport/Blackstone Army Airfield: Now a public-use airport, it was previously known as Blackstone Army Airfield.
• Hoover Field: This airport was operational until 1941 when it was closed.

These are some of the military airports in Virginia, both currently active and formerly operational.

Private-use airports

While there are several notable private-use airports in Virginia, it is important to note that some of these airports were previously public-use. These airports may have recorded commercial enplanements by the FAA, or been assigned an IATA airport code. Here is a list of some notable private-use airports in Virginia:

• Whitman Strip: Previously a public-use airport with the FAA code 0V5.
• Hartwood Airport: Formerly a public-use airport with the FAA code 8W8.

In addition to these, there are several other private-use airports in Virginia that are not listed here. These airports play a crucial role in providing specialised aviation services and contributing to the state's aviation landscape.

It is worth noting that Virginia also has a significant number of public-use airports, military airports, and general aviation airports that serve the diverse aviation needs of the state.

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