Roberta Aguirre
Norfolk International Airport, also known as ORF, is an airport located in Norfolk, Virginia. It is about seven miles (11 km) northeast of downtown Norfolk and is owned and operated by the Norfolk Airport Authority. The airport has a rich history dating back to the early days of commercial aviation in the region. In this article, we will explore the history of the airport, its current operations, and the plans for its future development.
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What You'll Learn
Norfolk International Airport's runway and taxiway history
Norfolk International Airport (IATA: ORF, ICAO: KORF, FAA LID: ORF) is located seven miles (11 km) northeast of downtown Norfolk, Virginia, United States. The airport is owned and operated by the Norfolk Airport Authority, a bureau under the municipal government.
The airport was established in 1938 on the site of the former Truxton Manor Golf Course, with a 3,500-foot runway and a passenger terminal that was completed in 1940. During World War II, the airport was taken over by the Army Air Corps, who expanded the runway and added two more to accommodate the increased number of flights and larger aircraft. After the war, the airport returned to city control, and commercial travel resumed with new airlines. In 1948, Piedmont Airlines began operations.
In the 1960s, the airport transitioned from propeller-driven aircraft to jets, which required longer and stronger runways and taxiways. The airport was officially recognised as the region's air transportation centre in 1968 and was renamed Norfolk Regional Airport. In 1974, a new terminal was dedicated, and additional land was acquired for further expansion. In 1976, the airport's name was changed to Norfolk International Airport, and new outbuildings, including a fire station, maintenance depot, and ATC tower, were completed.
The airport has one main runway and a parallel taxiway. There was also a shorter crosswind runway built perpendicular to the main runway, which was closed in 2016 due to safety concerns. However, it was reopened in 2017 after being repainted to define an adequate safety zone. There have been ongoing proposals to build a second runway to increase reliability and safety, but these have been rejected due to high costs.
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The airport's location and surroundings
Norfolk International Airport (IATA: ORF, ICAO: KORF, FAA LID: ORF) is located seven miles (11 km) northeast of downtown Norfolk, Virginia, United States. The airport is within the boundaries of the independent city of Norfolk and serves the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of southeast Virginia, along with the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in Newport News. The airport also serves northeast North Carolina and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Norfolk International Airport is adjacent to the Norfolk Botanical Garden and is surrounded by natural beauty. The airport is easily accessible by road, with a nine-level parking garage adjacent to the arrivals terminal, providing 2,800 covered parking spaces for short-term, long-term, and rental parking. Overall, the airport's parking facilities can accommodate up to 7,000 vehicles. In July 2019, construction began on a new 1.09 million square foot parking garage, which will consolidate all parking lots at ORF and replace the employee shuttle service.
The airport is owned and operated by the Norfolk Airport Authority, a bureau under the municipal government. In 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) categorised Norfolk International Airport as a small hub airport. The airport has a 9,001-foot long runway suitable for scheduled passenger jets and a shorter crosswind runway used by small planes under certain wind conditions. There have been proposals to build a second runway to improve safety and reliability, but these have been rejected due to high costs.
Norfolk International Airport offers daily arrivals and departures to major cities throughout the United States. In 2022, the airport served over 4 million passengers and handled over 75,000 flight operations, ranking it in the top 14% of the country's airports in terms of passenger traffic. The airport also handles a significant amount of air cargo, with about 70 million pounds of cargo shipped annually. The airport's modern cargo facilities include two terminals with 88,000 square feet of space and direct ramp access from the plane to the warehouse.
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History of commercial flights in Norfolk
Norfolk International Airport, abbreviated as ORF, is located seven miles (11 km) northeast of downtown Norfolk, Virginia, United States. The airport serves the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina. Despite bearing the name 'international airport', there are currently no regularly scheduled international flights from ORF.
The history of commercial flights in Norfolk dates back to the late 1920s. In 1926, Norfolk residents experienced their first commercial flights on the Mitten Line, operated by Philadelphia Rapid Transit Air Service, Inc. This service offered round-trip flights to Washington and Philadelphia, but it was short-lived due to high costs.
In 1929, Ben Epstein, a World War I veteran pilot, established an air taxi service between Norfolk and Richmond from his airfield on Granby Street. The same year, the Ludington Line commenced the first daily scheduled service from Epstein's field to Washington, D.C. Commercial air travel during this era was a special occasion, with families dressing in their finest attire to board the 10-passenger Fokker Trimotor aircraft.
However, in 1932, commercial air travel in Norfolk faced a challenge when the Navy objected to the expansion of the Granby Street field due to its proximity to the Norfolk Naval Air Station. As a result, operations moved to Glenrock Airport, but the onset of the Great Depression in 1932 led to the suspension of all commercial flights, grounding Norfolk for five years.
In 1938, the city-owned Truxton Manor Golf Course was converted into the Norfolk Municipal Airport, featuring a 3,500-foot runway. This site became the permanent home of commercial air travel in southern Tidewater. The first permanent terminal was completed in 1940. During World War II, the airport was taken over by the Army Air Corps (1942-1947) and played a crucial role in the war effort, accommodating increased flights and larger aircraft.
After the war, commercial travel resumed with new airlines entering the market. In 1948, Piedmont Airlines began operations, coinciding with the construction of a modern terminal building. By the early 1950s, Norfolk had more daily flights than New York's La Guardia Airport. In 1951, a new terminal was officially dedicated.
The 1960s marked the transition to jet aircraft, and Norfolk Municipal Airport successfully adapted to the demands for longer and stronger runways and taxiways. In recognition of its growing importance, the airport was renamed Norfolk Regional Airport in 1968.
Today, Norfolk International Airport continues to serve the region, accommodating various airlines and handling a significant volume of passenger and cargo traffic. However, the airport has faced challenges, including safety concerns related to its crosswind runway and proposals for expansion to meet increasing demand.
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Passenger statistics and flight operations
Norfolk International Airport, abbreviated as ORF, is located seven miles (11 km) northeast of downtown Norfolk, Virginia, United States. The airport serves the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina. Despite its name, there are no international destinations with regularly scheduled services from the airport.
Passenger statistics
In 2021, 1,663,977 passengers flew in or out of Norfolk International Airport, representing an increase of 87.80% compared to 2020 (886,033). The following year, in 2022, the airport saw an increase of 23.86% in passenger volume, with 2,060,926 passengers using the airport. In June 2022, 201,657 passengers travelled through the airport, an increase of 22.19% compared to June 2021.
Flight operations
Norfolk International Airport has one 9,001-foot runway suitable for scheduled passenger jets and a shorter crosswind runway used by small planes under certain wind conditions. In 2017, the airport had 67,679 aircraft operations, averaging 185 per day, with 39% airline, 27% air taxi, 27% general aviation, and 2% military. As of December 2022, there were 4,332 flights, serving 6 countries and 139 routes, with 29 airlines operating at the airport.
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Airport facilities and infrastructure
Norfolk International Airport (ORF) is located seven miles (11 km) northeast of downtown Norfolk, Virginia, United States. It is owned and operated by the Norfolk Airport Authority, a bureau under the municipal government. The airport serves the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina.
ORF is classified as a small-hub airport by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It has a single 9,001-foot long runway suitable for scheduled passenger jets and a shorter crosswind runway used by small planes under certain wind conditions. The airport has been seeking to build a second runway to improve safety and reliability, but funding has been rejected due to high costs.
In terms of infrastructure and facilities, Norfolk International Airport offers:
- A modern 54,000-square-foot terminal facility with various services, including aircraft rental, sightseeing flights, and aircraft repair.
- Two modern air cargo terminals with 88,000 square feet of space and direct ramp access to the warehouse.
- A nine-level parking garage with 2,800 covered parking spaces for short-term, long-term, and rental parking. Construction started in July 2019 on a new 1.09 million square foot parking garage to consolidate all parking lots and replace the employee shuttle service.
- The FAA Norfolk Air Traffic Control Tower, standing at 134 feet tall and built in 1995.
The airport has a rich history of commercial flights dating back to 1926 when Norfolk citizens first experienced round-trip flights to Washington and Philadelphia. Norfolk International Airport continues to expand and improve its infrastructure to accommodate increasing demand and enhance safety.
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Frequently asked questions
ORF stands for Norfolk International Airport.
Norfolk International Airport is located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States.
In 2022, Norfolk International Airport ranked as the 65th-busiest airport in the United States and the third-busiest in Virginia in terms of passengers served annually.
Norfolk International Airport has one 9,001-foot long runway suitable for scheduled passenger jets, and a shorter crosswind runway used by small planes under certain wind conditions.
Norfolk International Airport is adjacent to the Norfolk Botanical Garden.
