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Tampa International Airport (IATA: TPA, ICAO: KTPA, FAA LID: TPA) is located in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The airport is approximately six miles west of downtown Tampa and is owned by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA). Tampa International Airport has received numerous accolades over the years, including being ranked the best airport in North America for its size in 2020 by Airports Council International.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Tampa International Airport |
| IATA Code | TPA |
| ICAO Code | KTPA |
| FAA LID | TPA |
| Location | Six miles west of Downtown Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States |
| Owner | Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) |
| CEO | Joe Lopano |
| Year of Opening | 1971 |
| Destinations | 100 non-stop destinations across North America, South America, the Caribbean and Europe |
| Awards | Ranked #1 by Airports Council International, 6th in the world by CNN in 2011, Top 3 in the US by Condé Nast in 2016, 8th best domestic airport in the US by Travel+Leisure in 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
Tampa International Airport's location
Tampa International Airport (IATA: TPA, ICAO: KTPA, FAA LID: TPA) is located in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The airport is approximately six miles (9.7 km) west of Downtown Tampa and is owned by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA). The airport is a major transportation hub for the Tampa Bay region, offering connections to domestic and international destinations across North America, South America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
The airport's history dates back to the early 20th century when the land was owned by local developer John H. Drew. In 1928, the city completed the 160-acre (65 ha) Drew Field, which was leased to the U.S. Government during World War II and used as a training center for combat air crews. After the war, the airport expanded and modernized, and in 1971, the service building opened, housing the first communications center, police dispatch, employee cafeteria, and maintenance locker rooms.
Today, Tampa International Airport is highly regarded for its customer satisfaction and has received numerous awards and rankings over the years. The airport is led by Chief Executive Officer Joe Lopano, who has over 40 years of commercial aviation experience and has overseen significant growth and service expansions.
The airport's location in Hillsborough County is served by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority bus services, providing easy access to and from the airport. With ongoing expansion projects, there are plans to enhance connectivity by allowing bus services from nearby counties to connect directly to the airport.
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Hillsborough County ownership
Tampa International Airport is located in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The airport is publicly owned by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) and has been ranked highly by customers over the years. The HCAA is governed by a five-member Board of Directors, with three members being residents of Hillsborough County appointed by the Governor of the State of Florida for four-year terms. The Mayor of Tampa and a board member of the County Commissioners of Hillsborough County also serve on the board. The airport, which opened in 1971, is approximately six miles west of downtown Tampa and serves as a major transportation hub for the Tampa Bay region, offering connections to domestic and international destinations.
The Tampa International Airport Area encompasses not only the airport itself but also adjacent commercial zones and the Westshore Plaza shopping mall. The airport has a Rental Car Center with space for 5,300 vehicles, and the land to the south of this center has been earmarked for potential future light or commuter rail services. The airport's service building, located across from the Red Baggage and Ticketing levels, houses mechanical equipment, offices, rental car counters, and a police department/lost and found with a lobby on level two for walk-in lost and found requests.
The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority employs approximately 650 full-time staff who are responsible for the daily operation, administration, and maintenance of Tampa International Airport and its three general aviation airports. The airport has consistently received high customer satisfaction ratings, and in 2024, Travel+Leisure ranked it the eighth-best domestic airport in the US.
Tampa International Airport has a rich aviation history. The birthplace of commercial airline service, Tampa Bay saw the world's first scheduled commercial airline flight using a heavier-than-air airplane in 1914. The airport's history is also tied to military use, with the United States Army Air Corps negotiating for the use of Drew Field in 1939, leading to the airfield being used as a training center for combat air crews during World War II.
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Airport history
Tampa International Airport (IATA: TPA, ICAO: KTPA, FAA LID: TPA) is located in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The airport is approximately six miles (9.7 km) west of Downtown Tampa. Tampa Bay is known as the birthplace of commercial airline service. On January 1, 1914, pioneer aviator Tony Jannus flew the inaugural flight of the St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line from St. Petersburg to Tampa, marking the first scheduled commercial airline flight in the world using a heavier-than-air airplane.
In 1928, the city of Tampa completed the construction of the 160-acre (65 ha) Drew Field, located six miles west of Downtown Tampa. It was named after local developer John H. Drew, the former owner of the land. During the buildup to World War II, the United States Army Air Corps began negotiating for the use of Drew Field in 1939. In 1940, the City of Tampa leased the field to the U.S. Government for 25 years or until the end of the "national emergency".
During World War II, the airfield was used by the Third Air Force and renamed the Drew Army Airfield. It served as a training centre for 120,000 combat air crews, primarily in bomber aircraft for the European and Pacific theatres. The Army Air Forces also conducted locally based antisubmarine patrols from the airfield until the mission was transferred to Naval Aviation assets. After the war, the Army Air Forces vacated the facility, and Drew Field was returned to the City of Tampa.
The more popular Peter O. Knight Airport, opened in 1935 on Davis Islands near Downtown Tampa, served as the main airport for Tampa until the mid-1940s. However, it became too small to accommodate the larger aircraft coming into use, such as the Douglas DC-4, DC-6, and Lockheed Constellation prop-liners. As a result, the airlines Eastern Air Lines and National Airlines moved their operations to Drew Field in 1946. Trans Canada Airlines began international flights from Drew Field in 1950, and it was renamed Tampa International Airport.
The airport's second terminal, built for three airlines, opened in 1952 near the intersection of Columbus Drive and West Shore Boulevard. However, it quickly became congested as more airlines were granted authority to fly from Tampa in the late 1950s, and larger jets replaced piston airliners. An annex was built east of the terminal to accommodate the additional carriers. The introduction of jet flights by National, Eastern, and Delta Air Lines in 1960 further emphasised the need for expansion.
In 1971, Tampa International Airport unveiled its new Terminal Complex, featuring a groundbreaking hub-and-spoke design. Over 50,000 people attended the grand opening, and the airport was praised for its revolutionary design and focus on passenger experience. The complex included a two-story service building that housed the first communications centre, police dispatch, employee cafeteria, and maintenance locker rooms.
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Airport CEO
As the CEO of Tampa International Airport, it is my responsibility to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of our airport, serving the Tampa Bay region and beyond. Our airport is located 6 miles west of Downtown Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, and we are publicly owned by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA). With a rich history in aviation, Tampa Bay is the birthplace of commercial airline service, dating back to the inaugural flight of the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line in 1914.
Tampa International Airport first opened its doors in 1971, and since then, we have continuously strived for excellence in serving our customers and stakeholders. Our airport has consistently received high customer satisfaction ratings, and we have been ranked among the top airports in North America and the world by renowned organizations such as JD Power and Associates, CNN, Condé Nast, and Airports Council International.
We take pride in offering connections to 100 non-stop domestic and international destinations across multiple carriers. Our airport is easily accessible via various transportation options, including bus services provided by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. We are committed to expanding our facilities and services, with ongoing and upcoming expansion projects, such as the recent addition of our new Rental Car Center, which can accommodate 5,300 vehicles.
Safety and security are our top priorities, and we work closely with local and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure the well-being of our passengers and staff. Our airport police department is readily available to assist with lost and found inquiries and other security-related matters. Additionally, we prioritize sustainability and infrastructure improvement projects, such as the pumping station rehabilitation project and the replacement of aging pipelines.
At Tampa International Airport, we are dedicated to providing an exceptional travel experience for our customers. We continuously enhance our facilities, services, and connections to meet the needs of our growing community. By investing in our infrastructure and expanding our destinations, we aim to maintain our position as one of the best airports in the country. We invite you to experience our airport and discover why we have been recognized for our commitment to excellence in aviation.
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Airport awards
Tampa International Airport (IATA: TPA, ICAO: KTPA, FAA LID: TPA) is located 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Downtown Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The airport has won several awards and has been nominated for many more.
In 2020, Airports Council International named TPA the best airport in North America for its size for the second year in a row. In 2023, USA Today ranked it the second-best large airport in the country in its 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. Twenty airports were nominated for this award, including John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York and Miami International Airport (MIA). TPA was recognised for its many bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops, as well as the city's quick access to top vacation destinations on the Gulf Coast.
In November 2011, CNN ranked TPA sixth in the world for most-loved airports, and it was the only airport on the list from the US. In 2016, Condé Nast named it one of the top three airports in the country. TPA has also received consistently high customer-satisfaction ratings from JD Power and Associates over the years. In 2024, Travel+Leisure ranked it the eighth-best domestic airport in the US.
Tampa International Airport has a long history, with the Drew Army Airfield being used by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II as a training centre for 120,000 combat air crews. The airport has continued to expand and develop over the years, with a new 2.6-million-square-foot Rental Car Center opening in 2018, and ongoing plans for further expansion to allow for more bus services to connect directly to the airport.
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Frequently asked questions
Tampa International Airport is located in Hillsborough County, Florida.
The IATA code for Tampa International Airport is TPA.
Tampa International Airport is approximately six miles west of downtown Tampa.
Tampa International Airport is owned by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA).
