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Norfolk International Airport is a major airport serving Coastal Virginia and the Outer Banks of North Carolina, US. Despite its name, the airport does not currently offer any international destinations with regularly scheduled services. The airport is located seven miles (11 km) northeast of downtown Norfolk, within the boundaries of the independent city in Virginia. But when was it built?
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What You'll Learn
- Norfolk International Airport opened in 1938
- The airport's first permanent terminal was completed in 1940
- Norfolk Municipal Airport was one of the nation's busiest airports in the 1950s
- The airport's main runway was repaved in 2018
- Norfolk International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Virginia
Norfolk International Airport opened in 1938
Norfolk International Airport, located in Virginia, United States, opened in 1938. The airport was established on the site of the former Truxton Manor Golf Course, which was converted to accommodate a 3,500-foot runway and a passenger terminal. The first permanent terminal was completed in 1940, and during World War II, the airport played a crucial role, with the Army Air Corps taking over operations and expanding the facilities to accommodate increased flights and larger aircraft.
The early history of the airport faced some challenges and disruptions. In 1932, commercial air travel encountered obstacles 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 were temporarily moved to Glenrock Airport. However, the onset of the Great Depression in 1932 led to the suspension of all commercial flights, grounding Norfolk for five years until the opening of Norfolk Municipal Airport in 1938.
Norfolk Municipal Airport soon became a vital asset during World War II, and its operations were taken over by the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1947. The Army Air Corps expanded the runway and added two more to handle the increased number of flights and larger aircraft during the war. After the war, the airport returned to city control, and commercial travel resumed with new airlines providing regular flights.
The airport has undergone several name changes and expansions over the years. In the 1950s, Norfolk Municipal Airport boasted more daily flights than New York's La Guardia Airport. In 1968, it was officially recognised as the air transportation centre for the entire region and was renamed Norfolk Regional Airport. The airport continued to expand and improve its facilities, including the construction of new terminals, concourses, and the addition of Federal Customs facilities.
Today, Norfolk International Airport is a major airport serving Coastal Virginia and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It offers daily arrivals and departures to major cities throughout the United States and is known for its proximity to the celebrated Norfolk Botanical Garden. The airport has two passenger terminals, modern cargo facilities, and handles a significant volume of passengers, aircraft movements, and cargo annually.
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The airport's first permanent terminal was completed in 1940
Norfolk International Airport, located about seven miles northeast of downtown Norfolk, Virginia, has come a long way since its early days of commercial air travel in the late 1920s. The airport's history is marked by several significant milestones, with the completion of its first permanent terminal in 1940 being a pivotal moment.
In the late 1920s, Norfolk citizens experienced commercial air travel for the first time, with round-trip services to Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia offered by the Mitten Line and the Ludington Line. However, these early endeavours were short-lived due to high costs. The story of Norfolk International Airport's development truly begins with the challenges faced by commercial air travel in 1932. That year, 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 were relocated to Glenrock Airport, but the onset of the Great Depression soon after led to the suspension of all commercial flights, grounding Norfolk for five long years.
In 1938, a pivotal chapter in Norfolk's aviation history unfolded with the establishment of Norfolk Municipal Airport. The city-owned Truxton Manor Golf Course was transformed, featuring a 3,500-foot runway. By 1940, the airport's first permanent passenger terminal was completed, marking a significant step towards establishing a permanent home for commercial air travel in southern Tidewater.
The completion of the terminal in 1940 set the stage for Norfolk Municipal Airport to play a crucial role during World War II. From 1942 to 1947, the airport was under the control of the Army Air Corps, who expanded the existing runway and added two more to accommodate the surge in flights and larger aircraft. As the war drew to a close, the airport was returned to the city's domain, and commercial travel resumed with renewed vigour, bolstered by the introduction of new airlines.
The years following the war saw further developments at the airport. In 1948, Piedmont Airlines initiated flights, and ground was broken for a larger, more modern terminal building. By the early 1950s, Norfolk boasted more daily flights than New York's La Guardia Airport, solidifying its position as one of the nation's busiest and finest airports. The subsequent decades witnessed the airport's evolution, adapting to the transition from propeller-driven aircraft to jets and earning its recognition as the air transportation centre for the entire region in 1968.
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Norfolk Municipal Airport was one of the nation's busiest airports in the 1950s
Norfolk International Airport, located in Virginia, was established in 1938 on the site of the former Truxton Manor Golf Course. By the early 1950s, it had become one of the nation's busiest airports, with more daily flights than New York's La Guardia Airport. This was due in part to its role during World War II, when the Army Air Corps took over operations from 1942 to 1947, expanding the runway and adding two more to accommodate the increased military air traffic.
In 1950, the Norfolk Port and Industrial Authority (NPIA) took over airport management, and the new terminal was officially dedicated in 1951. The airport continued to thrive and adapt to new technologies, transitioning from propeller-driven aircraft to jets in the 1960s. The airport was officially recognised as the air transportation centre for the entire region in 1968 and was renamed Norfolk Regional Airport.
Today, Norfolk International Airport remains a significant airport, serving Coastal Virginia and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It handles a substantial amount of air traffic, with over 4 million passengers and 75,000 flight operations in 2022. The airport has continued to expand and improve its facilities, including the construction of a new arrivals terminal in 2002, which offers sophisticated baggage claim and ground transportation services.
The airport's history dates back to the early days of commercial aviation in the region, with Norfolk citizens first flying commercially in 1926 on the Mitten Line, operated by Philadelphia Rapid Transit Air Service, Inc. However, commercial air travel faced challenges in the early 1930s due to the Navy's objections to the expansion of the Granby Street field and the onset of the Great Depression, which resulted in the suspension of all commercial flights for several years. Despite these early setbacks, Norfolk Municipal Airport rebounded and flourished in the post-war era, solidifying its place as one of the nation's busiest airports in the 1950s.
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The airport's main runway was repaved in 2018
Norfolk International Airport (IATA: ORF, ICAO: KORF, FAA LID: ORF) is located about seven miles (11 km) northeast of downtown Norfolk, Virginia, United States. The airport was established in 1938 on the site of the former Truxton Manor Golf Course, featuring a 3,500-foot runway and a passenger terminal, which was completed in 1940.
During World War II, the Norfolk Municipal Airport played a crucial role and underwent significant changes. The Army Air Corps took over operations from 1942 to 1947, expanding the runway and adding two more to accommodate the increased flights and larger aircraft. After the war, commercial travel resumed, and in 1948, Piedmont Airlines began operations, coinciding with the construction of a modern terminal building.
Over the years, the airport has undergone various improvements and expansions to meet the evolving demands of aviation. In the 1950s, Norfolk Municipal Airport experienced a boom in daily flights, even surpassing New York's La Guardia Airport. The transition to jet aircraft in the 1960s led to the need for longer and stronger runways, which the airport successfully adapted to.
In 2018, the airport's main runway was repaved. This essential maintenance work required a temporary suspension of flights during the night for 12 weeks, demonstrating the complex logistics involved in maintaining a busy airport while ensuring the safety and efficiency of its infrastructure.
The repaving of the main runway in 2018 was a critical step in maintaining the airport's operations and ensuring the safety of its passengers and staff. By undertaking this project, the airport demonstrated its commitment to providing a safe and reliable travel experience for all its stakeholders.
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Norfolk International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Virginia
Norfolk International Airport, located about seven miles northeast of downtown Norfolk, is one of the busiest airports in Virginia. It is owned by the City of Norfolk and operated by the Norfolk Airport Authority. The airport serves the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina.
The airport has a rich history, with commercial air travel commencing in 1926 when Norfolk citizens first flew commercially on the Mitten Line. However, operations moved to Glenrock Airport in 1932 due to objections from the Navy regarding the expansion of the Granby Street field. In 1938, Norfolk Municipal Airport was established on the site of the Truxton Manor Golf Course, featuring a 3,500-foot runway. During World War II, the airport was crucial to the war effort, with the Army Air Corps taking over operations and expanding the facilities.
Norfolk International Airport has two passenger terminals, with the main terminal built in 1974 and the new arrivals terminal opening in 2002. The airport has a nine-level covered parking garage with over 2,859 parking spaces and a $31 million construction cost. The airport has a variety of ground transportation options, including car rental companies and shuttle services.
Norfolk International Airport handles a significant amount of air traffic, with over 1,100 aircraft operations per day and about 70 million pounds of air cargo shipped annually. In 2010, the airport handled 3.33 million passengers, and in 2022, it ranked as the 65th busiest airport in the United States and the third busiest in Virginia for passenger traffic. The airport has a single 9,001-foot runway suitable for passenger jets and a shorter crosswind runway used by small planes under specific wind conditions.
The airport has continued to undergo improvements and expansions to meet the growing demands of air travel in the region. With its convenient location, efficient cargo facilities, and high passenger traffic, Norfolk International Airport plays a vital role in serving the transportation needs of Virginia and the surrounding areas.
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Frequently asked questions
Norfolk International Airport was established in 1938 on the site of the former Truxton Manor Golf Course.
Norfolk International Airport was formerly known as Norfolk Municipal Airport and later as Norfolk Regional Airport.
Norfolk Airport has been referred to as an international airport since at least 1995. However, as of 2022, there are no international destinations served by the airport.
The Norfolk Airport Authority owns and operates Norfolk International Airport.
Norfolk Island Airport is the only airport on Norfolk Island, an external territory of Australia, located in the Pacific Ocean.
