Ruth Haines
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is the largest and busiest airport in Ohio, United States, and is in the top 50 largest airports in the US by passenger numbers. The airport has been the site of several notable events, including the Cleveland Airport Mystery on the morning of 9/11, and a recent $1.1 billion transformation plan announced in May 2025. The airport has also undergone several changes in its airline carriers, with United Airlines, Continental Airlines, and USAir all previously serving as dominant carriers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Cleveland Hopkins International Airport |
| IATA | CLE |
| ICAO | KCLE |
| FAA LID | CLE |
| Location | Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
| Neighborhood | Hopkins |
| Distance from Downtown Cleveland | 9 miles (14 km) |
| Nearby Landmarks | Glenn Research Center |
| Innovations | First airport with an air traffic control tower, first two-level design separating arrivals and departures, first airport in North America directly connected to a rail transit line |
| Historical Carriers | United Airlines (until mid-1980s), Continental Airlines (1990s and 2000s), USAir (until early 1990s) |
| Current Carriers | United Airlines, Continental Airlines, JetBlue |
| Recent Developments | $1.1 billion transformation plan announced for a new terminal, parking garage, ground transportation center, and RTA station |
| Notable Incidents | Cleveland Airport Mystery (2004), Enraged Passenger Incident (2022) |
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What You'll Learn
The Cleveland Airport Mystery
On the morning of 9/11, an unknown airliner made an emergency landing at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. This incident, known as "The Cleveland Airport Mystery" (CAM), was first reported in May 2004 on the independent news website globalfreepress.com. The article, titled "Flight X", quickly gained traction among the 9/11 research community and was referenced in several books and documentaries.
According to the article, an unidentified plane made an emergency landing at Cleveland Hopkins Airport around the same time as Delta Flight 1989. The existence of this mystery plane was allegedly covered up by the emergency landing of Delta Flight 1989. Adding to the mystery, Cleveland Mayor Michael White reported that air traffic controllers could hear screams and yelling from the cockpit of the emergency plane. However, this report was later retracted, and no one involved with Delta Flight 1989 recalled hearing any disturbances.
Adding further intrigue, passengers on a Portland-Boston commuter flight, Roger Quirion and Brian Guerrette, reported that hijackers Mohammed Atta and Abdulaziz Al-Omari were onboard and exhibited suspicious behavior. When Delta Flight 1989 landed in Cleveland, FBI agents questioned the passengers, but Quirion and Guerrette did not mention the Portland flight or the hijackers, assuming the agents were already aware.
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United Airlines' hub closure
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is the largest and busiest airport in the state of Ohio, and is in the top 50 largest airports in the US by passenger numbers. The airport was once a hub for United Airlines, from the post-World War II era until the mid-1980s.
United Airlines established its easternmost domestic hub in Cleveland, but in the mid-1980s, it closed its hub and moved to a new hub at Washington-Dulles International Airport. This decision was driven by the larger market and lack of direct competition at Washington-Dulles.
Following the closure of the United hub, Continental Airlines (a separate carrier at the time) responded by increasing its capacity at Cleveland Airport, as did USAir, which became the dominant carrier at the airport until the early 1990s. Continental Airlines then became the airport's largest tenant, accounting for upwards of 60% of passenger traffic.
In 2010, United and Continental merged, and United closed the Cleveland hub, though it still maintains a flight attendant base, pilot base, and maintenance facilities at the airport. United's hub closure allowed low-cost carriers to enter the market, which previously had some of the highest average fares in the country.
Despite the initial sharp decline in passenger counts following the closure of United's hub in 2014, passenger traffic rebounded within a few years, returning to pre-closure levels. This rebound can be attributed to the entry of low-cost carriers and the increase in service by several other airlines to Cleveland.
While Cleveland no longer serves a significant role in United's network, the airline continues to maintain a relatively high level of service and a loyal customer base at the airport.
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Continental Airlines' transatlantic flights
Continental Airlines was one of the first major airlines to fly Boeing 757s on transatlantic routes. In April 1985, the airline first entered the transatlantic market with a Houston-London Gatwick service. In June 1999, Continental Airlines launched flights to London's Gatwick Airport from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, marking Cleveland's first scheduled transatlantic service since 1992.
The following year, in May 2009, Continental began flying to London's Heathrow Airport instead of Gatwick. Heathrow offered more connecting flights, and the airline was also about to join the Star Alliance, which included United Airlines. This meant that London-bound passengers could transit through United's Chicago hub instead of Cleveland. However, the airline discontinued this service four months later due to the recession and difficulty in obtaining affordable seasonal slots at Heathrow.
In addition to its transatlantic hub in Newark, Continental also operated connecting flights to Europe from Bristol Airport. These flights were popular with passengers who could now fly to the US without having to go through London or a larger European hub. However, in 2010, Continental Airlines ceased operations between Bristol and Newark, citing the recession and increased UK aviation taxes as reasons.
In 2010, Continental merged with United Airlines, becoming subsidiaries of United Continental Holdings. By 2012, Continental had ceased to exist as a brand, and all flights were operating under the United name.
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Airport transformation plans
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) has been at the forefront of several innovations over the years. It was the first airport with an air traffic control tower, the first with a two-level terminal design separating arrivals from departures, and the first airport in North America to be directly connected with a rail transit line.
However, in recent years, the airport has faced challenges. In 2014, United Airlines shut down its hub at the airport, resulting in a sharp decline in passenger numbers. While other airlines have since increased their service to Cleveland, the airport has been in need of an upgrade.
In May 2025, city officials announced plans for a $1.1 billion transformation of the airport, focusing on constructing an entirely new terminal rather than renovating the existing structure. This decision was a dramatic shift from previous discussions about costly renovations. The current terminal, built primarily for connecting passengers, has not kept up with the times.
The first phase of the project will focus on the terminal building, with plans for a new 6,000-space parking garage, a ground transportation center, and an RTA station. The project will be carried out in phases to minimize disruption, with work on a new 1,600-space Gold Lot breaking ground first.
The new terminal will address the changing needs of travellers and is expected to be a major step forward for Cleveland, offering improved facilities and a better experience for those visiting the city.
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Enraged passenger incident
An enraged female passenger caused a scene at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. The incident was recorded on video by an off-duty Cleveland police homicide detective, Steve Loomis. In the video, the woman can be seen making various accusations and turning around, saying, "I'll (expletive) kill you." Detective Loomis told an officer, "I got it all on tape... I'm not the only one videotaping. You'd think that they would want you to videotape something like that."
Despite the witness's footage and other videos taken of the incident, Cleveland police did not file any charges. Federal agencies were also contacted, but the TSA referred back to the police.
The woman's behaviour continued even as police attempted to talk to her inside the airport. She kept exploding in rage, at one point saying, "He's trying to kill me. He hates us."
The cause of the woman's rage is unclear, and it is unknown if any further action was taken following the incident.
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Frequently asked questions
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is a city-owned international airport in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state and is in the top 50 largest airports in the U.S. by passenger numbers.
United Airlines established its easternmost domestic hub in Cleveland after World War II, but it closed in the mid-1980s when the airline moved to Washington-Dulles International Airport. United continued to reduce its presence in Cleveland following its merger with Continental Airlines in 2010, and in 2014, the airline shut down its Cleveland hub.
The Cleveland Airport Mystery refers to events that occurred at Hopkins Airport on the morning of 9/11. It involves an emergency landing by an unknown airliner, suspected to be Flight 93, and another plane, Delta Flight 1989, that landed at the same time and may have been used to cover up the existence of the former.
