The Mystery Behind Sdf Airport's Abbreviation: Solved!

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, also known by its former official names Louisville International Airport and Standiford Field, is a civil-military airport in Louisville, Kentucky. The airport's IATA airport code, SDF, is based on its former name, Standiford Field. Standiford Field was named after Dr. Elisha David Standiford, a local businessman and politician who played an important role in Louisville transportation history and owned part of the land on which the airport was built.

SDF stands for Standiford Field, the former name of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport

The airport code SDF stands for Standiford Field, the former name of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The airport is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and is a civil-military airport. Standiford Field was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1941 on land owned by Dr. Elisha David Standiford, a local businessman and politician. The airport was named in his honour, recognising his significant role in Louisville's transportation history.

Standiford Field opened to the public in 1947, with American, Eastern, and TWA as the first airlines to operate there, serving around 1,300 passengers a week. The airport has since undergone numerous expansions and improvements, including the construction of new terminals, concourses, and runways.

In 1995, the airport's name was changed from Standiford Field to Louisville International Airport. This was done to reflect the airport's status as a major international air cargo hub and to accommodate the growing passenger traffic.

In 2019, the airport was renamed Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in honour of the boxing legend and Louisville native, Muhammad Ali. The new name pays tribute to Ali's illustrious career and his commitment to bringing people together. Despite the name change, the airport code SDF was retained as the new code ALI was already in use by another airport.

The airport is named after Dr Elisha David Standiford, a local businessman and politician

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, also known by its former official names Louisville International Airport and Standiford Field, is named SDF after its previous name, Standiford Field. Standiford Field was built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1941 on a parcel of land south of Louisville that was found not to have flooded during the Ohio River flood of 1937. The airport is named after Dr Elisha David Standiford, a local businessman and politician, who was active in transportation issues and owned part of the land.

Dr Elisha David Standiford was a United States Representative from Kentucky. He was born near Louisville, Kentucky, and attended the common schools and St. Mary's College, near Lebanon, Kentucky. As a businessman and legislator, he played an important role in Louisville transportation history. Standiford Field opened for passenger business on November 15, 1947. Three airlines – American, Eastern, and TWA – were then handling more than 1,300 passengers a week. The old Consolidated Vultee cafeteria on the airport was used as a temporary terminal. For the first 2 ½ years, the airlines operated out of a World War II vintage barracks on the east side of the field.

Growing pains led to the construction of Lee Terminal, a new $1 million facility that opened on May 25, 1950, with 42,400 square feet of space, sufficient to handle 150,000 passengers annually. That terminal was named for Addison Lee, Jr., Airport Authority Chairman from 1929 to 1949. Six gates were included in the new terminal. The parking lot contained space for 300 vehicles. In the mid-to-late 1950s, two interior concourses replaced fenced, open-air gate positions. In all, air terminal space was increased to 114,420 square feet.

Boarding at Standiford Field increased from 600,000 a year in 1965 to almost a million in 1970. Due to this increase in passenger activity, 1970 and 1971 brought new construction and an expansion of the terminal. The main lobby was extended; a concourse housing USAir facilities was completed; and a 33,000-square-foot Delta Air Lines concourse was built. In addition, ramps serving the USAir and Delta concourses were constructed. The Federal Aviation Administration moved into the second control tower on Derby Day 1971. The parking lot was increased to 2,000 spaces and major airfield improvements were made.

Standiford Field was built in 1941 by the US Army Corps of Engineers

Standiford Field, now known as the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, was built in 1941 by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The airport was constructed on a parcel of land south of Louisville, which was found to have remained dry during the Ohio River flood of 1937. The airport was named after Dr. Elisha David Standiford, a local businessman, legislator, and transportation advocate who owned part of the land on which the airport was built.

The US Army Corps of Engineers built a single 4,000-foot north-south runway. However, due to World War II, the War Department delayed transferring the airport to the community until the war's conclusion. During the war, Standiford Field was integral to airfield operations and aircraft manufacturing, with companies like Curtiss-Wright and Consolidated Vultee building aircraft for the War Department.

In 1947, the Federal Government handed over the airport to the Louisville Air Board, marking the beginning of commercial operations. The airfield opened to the public that same year, attracting three airlines—American, Eastern, and TWA—which served over 1,300 passengers weekly. Initially, the airlines operated from a World War II-era barracks on the east side of the field until a proper terminal, the Lee Terminal, opened in 1950.

Standiford Field has undergone numerous expansions and improvements over the years, including the construction of new terminals, concourses, and runways, as well as the addition of various facilities and services. The airport has played a significant role in the region's aviation history and continues to serve as a vital transportation hub for Louisville and the surrounding areas.

The airport is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and covers 1,500 acres of land

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, also known by its former official names Louisville International Airport and Standiford Field, is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and covers 1,500 acres of land. The airport is situated just 10 minutes from downtown Louisville and is easily accessible from the surrounding areas of Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

The airport's IATA airport code, SDF, is derived from its former name, Standiford Field. Standiford Field was built in 1941 by the Army Corps of Engineers on a 1,500-acre parcel of land south of Louisville. The land was chosen as it was not affected by the Ohio River flood of 1937. The airport was named after Dr. Elisha David Standiford, a local businessman, legislator, and transportation advocate who owned part of the land.

Standiford Field remained under the control of the Army until 1947, when it was turned over to the Louisville Air Board for commercial operations. All commercial flights were then moved from Bowman Field, which was too close to downtown Louisville to expand, to Standiford Field. The airport opened for passenger business on November 15, 1947, with American, Eastern, and TWA as the first airlines, handling over 1,300 passengers per week.

Over the years, the airport has undergone various expansions and improvements, including the construction of new terminals, concourses, and runways. In 1981, United Parcel Service (UPS) began its overnight delivery business at the airport, significantly increasing its cargo operations. Today, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is a bustling airport, accommodating millions of passengers and handling billions of pounds of cargo annually.

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is one of the major airports in Kentucky

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (IATA: SDF, ICAO: KSDF, FAA LID: SDF), formerly known as Standiford Field, is one of the major airports in Kentucky. The airport is named after the legendary boxer and Louisville native, Muhammad Ali. With over 4.6 million passengers in 2023, the airport is a significant hub for the region. Covering 1,500 acres, the airport has three runways and a rich history that dates back to the 1940s.

Standiford Field was constructed in 1941 by the Army Corps of Engineers on land owned by Dr. Elisha David Standiford, a local businessman and politician. The airport was named after Standiford due to his involvement in transportation issues and land ownership. During World War II, the airport was under the control of the Army and was used for airfield operations and aircraft manufacturing. Curtiss-Wright and Consolidated Vultee built planes for the War Department at Standiford Field.

In 1947, the airport was turned over to the Louisville Air Board for commercial operations, and all flights were moved from Bowman Field, the previous main airport in Louisville, to Standiford Field. American, Eastern, and TWA were the first airlines to operate at Standiford Field, serving over 1,300 passengers per week. The increasing demand for commercial aviation and the limitations of Bowman Field's location led to the expansion and improvement plans for Standiford Field.

The Louisville Airport Improvement Plan (LAIP) in the 1980s brought significant changes, including the construction of a new landside terminal, parallel runways, and various enhancements. The airport was totally renewed by the 1990s, and the name was changed to Louisville International Airport in 1995. The Kentucky Air National Guard also moved its base to the airport, adding military operations to its functions.

Today, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport continues to be a vital cargo and passenger hub. While it handles a significant volume of UPS Airlines international cargo flights, it does not have regularly scheduled international passenger flights. The airport is currently undergoing a major renovation project, SDF Next, with over $1 billion in planned enhancements to further improve its facilities and services.

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