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Alabama has 7 primary commercial airports, including 2 international airports. Alabama's airports are vital links from the state to the rest of the US and the world, and they serve over 6 million passengers annually. The airports have expanded in number and size, in conjunction with the growth of commercial air travel. Alabama's busiest airport is Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, which served almost 3 million passengers in 2018. Huntsville International Airport is the second busiest airport in Alabama, with over a million passengers per year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of primary commercial airports | 7 |
| Number of international airports | 2 |
| Busiest airport | Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport |
| Second busiest airport | Huntsville International Airport |
| Number of passengers at Huntsville International Airport per year | Over 1 million |
| Number of passengers at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in 2018 | 3 million |
| Number of passengers at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in 2009 | 2.9 million |
| Number of daily flights at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport | 136 |
| Number of airports Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport serves | 43 |
| Number of cities Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport serves | 40 |
| Number of active public-use airports | 96 |
| Number of passengers across Alabama's public-use airports per year | Over 6 million |
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What You'll Learn
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
Alabama has two international airports, one of which is Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. This airport is Alabama's busiest, serving 3,243,023 passengers in 2024 and almost three million passengers in 2018. It is located in Jefferson County, five miles northeast of Downtown Birmingham, near the interchange of Interstates 20 and 59. The airport also provides scheduled airline services for the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa metropolitan areas.
The airport covers 2,170 acres at an elevation of 650 feet above mean sea level. It has two asphalt runways: 6/24, which is 12,007 by 150 feet, and 18/36, which is 7,099 by 150 feet. The main runway is long enough to accommodate a fully loaded Boeing 747. A Category II ILS allows operations in visibility as low as a quarter of a mile. The airport was originally built during World War II and has since been expanded.
The airport was previously known as Birmingham Municipal Airport and later Birmingham International Airport. In 2008, the airport was renamed Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport after Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, a civil rights activist and leader of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights.
In 2011, the airport began a comprehensive Terminal Modernization Project, which was completed in 2014. The project included extensive renovations to the 1973 landside terminal, the demolition of the 1962 terminal and 1973 airside concourses and gates, and the construction of new airside facilities with 19 gates equipped with jetways. The new terminal nearly doubled the airport's footprint while minimising the impact on the community and environment.
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Huntsville International Airport
The airport covers 6,000 acres of land at an elevation of 629 feet. It has two asphalt runways, with the west runway being the second longest commercial runway in the southeastern United States, at 12,600 feet in length. The airport has 12 gates with various amenities, including restrooms, shops, restaurants, and phones. Additionally, there is a 3-star hotel located above the ticketing area and lobby.
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Muscle Shoals – Northwest Alabama Regional Airport
Alabama has 7 primary commercial airports throughout the state, with 2 of them being international airports. The Muscle Shoals – Northwest Alabama Regional Airport is a public-use airport, located one mile east of Muscle Shoals, in Colbert County, Alabama. It is owned by the counties of Colbert and Lauderdale and is serviced by Contour Airlines. The airport covers 640 acres of land at an elevation of 551 feet and has two asphalt runways.
The airport was opened in February 1940 as Muscle Shoals Auxiliary Field but was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 as a World War II pilot training military airfield. It was used as a basic (stage 2) pilot training airfield and pilot training ended on May 30, 1944, with the drawdown of the AAFTC's pilot training program. The airfield was returned to civil control after the war.
Until 2009, Muscle Shoals was served by Northwest Airlines' hub in Memphis. After Northwest was acquired by Delta Air Lines, service was transferred to Delta's hub in Atlanta, which resulted in increased passenger numbers. However, Delta later announced that it would not re-apply for the Essential Air Service subsidy for flights between Muscle Shoals and Memphis. Eastern Airlines served Muscle Shoals from 1947 to 1964, and Southern Airways offered nonstop flights to Atlanta.
Today, the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport offers various amenities for travellers, including free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, free parking, and comfortable seating. The airport is conveniently located just minutes from downtown and is recognised as a gateway to the Shoals Area, known for its music heritage and family-friendly atmosphere.
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Bates Field Airport
Alabama has 7 primary commercial airports, including 2 international airports, throughout the state. Alabama's airports are an integral part of the state's transportation network, facilitating travel within the state and beyond.
One of the airports in Alabama is Bates Field Airport. This airport has a rich history, dating back to World War II when it played a crucial role in the nation's defense. In 1959, the airport saw the return of the U.S. Air Force, which activated the 78th Troop Carrier Squadron, equipped with Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar aircraft. The airport was then upgraded to a Group level in 1963 with the organisation of the 908th Troop Carrier Group, Medium. However, due to budget constraints, the Air Force moved its operations to the nearby Brookley Air Force Base in 1964.
Today, Bates Field Airport, also known as Mobile Regional Airport, is a public/military airport located 13 miles (21 km) west of Mobile, in Mobile County, Alabama. The airport is owned and operated by the Mobile Airport Authority and does not rely on local tax dollars for funding. Federal Aviation Administration records from 2008 to 2010 indicate that the airport consistently served over a quarter of a million passengers annually during this period.
Mobile Regional Airport is home to the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Training Centre, which provides advanced training for U.S. Coast Guard pilots and aircrew. It also houses the Alabama Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 131st Aviation Regiment's "B" Company. The airport's location, just outside the city of Mobile, underscores the fact that airports may be located in smaller towns while primarily serving a larger city.
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Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area
Alabama has 7 primary commercial airports, including two international airports. Huntsville International Airport is Alabama's second busiest airport, with over a million passengers per year.
The Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area is the most populated sub-region of North Alabama and is the second-largest combined statistical area in Alabama after Birmingham. The Huntsville-Decatur CSA had a total population of 879,315 people in 2022, which grew to 913,977 in 2024, and ranks 68th in the country. The CSA is situated along the Tennessee River and is made up of two metropolitan areas (Decatur and Huntsville) and three micropolitan areas (Albertville, Fort Payne, and Fayetteville). The significant cities included in the CSA are Albertville, Arab, Athens, Boaz, Decatur, Fayetteville, Fort Payne, Guntersville, Hartselle, Huntsville, and Madison, as well as DeKalb, Lawrence, Limestone, Lincoln, Madison, Marshall, and Morgan counties.
Huntsville is the largest city in the area, with a population of 215,006 people and a metro population of 502,728. Decatur is the second-largest city, with a population of 57,938 people and a metro population of 156,758. Mooresville is the smallest town in the CSA, with 47 people. The geography of the Huntsville-Decatur Metro Area ranges from the tall peaks of the southern Appalachian Mountains to the low valleys formed by the Tennessee River. Decatur sits on the southern shore of the Tennessee River, while Huntsville is about 10 miles from the river and sits at the base of Monte Sano Mountain. The heart of the Huntsville-Decatur Metro Area is linked by a 22-mile strip of Interstate 565.
The economy of the Huntsville-Decatur Area has significant technical, aerospace, manufacturing, and defensive components. Huntsville is also home to the second-largest research park in the country, Cummings Research Park. The Huntsville-Decatur Metro Area is the second-fastest-growing region in Alabama due to the ample job opportunities in the area. Both ports in the metro area are among the busiest in the state. The Port of Decatur, along the Tennessee River, has grown to be the largest and busiest along the Tennessee River.
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Frequently asked questions
The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is the biggest and busiest airport in Alabama, serving almost three million passengers in 2018.
Alabama has 7 primary commercial airports, including two international airports.
The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport and Huntsville International Airport are Alabama's two international airports.
Aside from the two international airports, Alabama has five other primary commercial airports. One of them is the Muscle Shoals – Northwest Alabama Regional Airport.
