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Indianapolis International Airport, located 7 miles southwest of Downtown Indianapolis, has been serving the city for almost a century. The airport was first built in 1929, and renamed Weir Cook Municipal Airport in 1944, in honour of World War I pilot Colonel Harvey Weir Cook. The airport has since undergone several transformations, with the latest terminal opening in 2008, becoming the first airport built from scratch in the US after the September 11 attacks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Indianapolis International Airport |
| Previous Names | Indianapolis Municipal Airport, Weir Cook Municipal Airport |
| Year of Construction | 1929 (when the city bought the land), 1931 (when the airport opened) |
| Terminal Building | Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal, designed by HOK |
| Terminal Opened | November 12, 2008 |
| Terminal Area | 1.2 million square feet |
| Terminal Cost | $1.1 billion |
| Terminal Pavilion Gates | 40 |
| Number of Concourses | 2 |
| Total Gates | 39 |
| Location | 7 miles (11 km) southwest of Downtown Indianapolis in Marion County, Indiana, United States |
| Owner and Operator | Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) |
| Yearly Passengers | 4,788,376 (as of 2023) |
| Ranking | 47th-busiest airport in the U.S. (as of 2023) |
| Acres | 7,700 |
| Townships | Wayne and Decatur |
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What You'll Learn
Indianapolis Airport Authority
The Indianapolis International Airport has been owned and operated by the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) since 1962. The IAA has an eight-member board with members appointed by the mayor of Indianapolis and other officials from Marion, Hendricks, and Hamilton counties in central Indiana.
The airport itself has existed since 1929 when the city bought 320 acres on South High School Road for a landing area and an additional 627 acres for future expansion. The first airport was called the Indianapolis Municipal Airport and was the first in the area with concrete runways. The field was renamed the Weir Cook Municipal Airport in 1944 in honour of H. Weir Cook, a Hoosier fighter ace during World War I.
The Indianapolis Municipal Airport was renamed the Indianapolis International Airport in 1976. The current terminal, the Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal, opened on November 12, 2008, and was one of the first designed and built in the US following the September 11 attacks. The terminal cost $1.1 billion to build and is a 1.2-million-square-foot complex with 40 gates. The terminal is named in honour of Col. Harvey Weir Cook, a World War I pilot from Hancock County, Indiana.
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Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal
Indianapolis International Airport has been in operation since 1931, when it was known as Indianapolis Municipal Airport. The airport was renamed Weir Cook Municipal Airport in 1944, in honour of World War I fighter ace and Hoosier native H. Weir Cook, who died in a plane crash in 1943.
The airport's current terminal, the Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal, opened on November 12, 2008, and was designed by international engineering and architecture firm HOK. The terminal is a 1.2 million-square-foot complex that cost $1.1 billion to build. It was one of the first airports in the US to be designed and built following the September 11 attacks, with dual security points at the entry to ensure guest safety.
The terminal's focal point is Civic Plaza, a pre-security gathering place for passengers and airport visitors. Civic Plaza features restaurants, shops, comfortable seating, and panoramic windows offering views of the surrounding area, including the Indianapolis skyline. The plaza also serves as the access point for security checkpoints.
The Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal has 40 gates, equipped to accommodate both narrow and wide-body aircraft. The terminal houses all ticketing, check-in, and baggage claim functions, as well as security and concessions. The terminal's iconic design features a curved roof, acting as a symbolic gateway to the region. The airport authority aimed to create a structure that would become one of the city's most iconic new buildings, and it has been described as "an outstanding public asset for the city of Indianapolis and all of central Indiana."
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First post-9/11 airport
Indianapolis International Airport, located 7 miles southwest of Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, opened its new passenger terminal on November 12, 2008. It was the first airport in the US to be designed and built from scratch following the September 11 attacks.
The airport's history dates back to the late 1920s when the city of Indianapolis and its council discussed developing a municipal airport. In 1929, the city purchased 320 acres on South High School Road for a landing area and an additional 627 acres for future expansion. The Indianapolis Municipal Airport, the first in the area with concrete runways, was constructed on this site.
Over time, the airport underwent several changes and expansions. In 1944, it was renamed the Weir Cook Municipal Airport in honour of H. Weir Cook, a World War I fighter ace and Hoosier native. The airport's first airline traffic operated on February 16, 1931, and it officially opened on September 25, 1931. By the 1950s, the airport was feeling crowded, and a new terminal was built in 1956.
In 1976, the airport was renamed Indianapolis International Airport, and efforts were made to expand and upgrade its facilities to accommodate international flights. However, the current terminal, named the Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal, opened in 2008, is a significant upgrade. It was designed by the international engineering and architecture firm HOK, costing $1.1 billion to build. The terminal covers 1.2 million square feet and features a central gathering point called Civic Plaza, which includes concessions, retail stores, security checkpoints, artwork, and public event spaces. The terminal incorporates sweeping changes in US airport security protocols post-9/11 while also focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency.
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Passenger terminal
The Indianapolis International Airport, previously known as the Indianapolis Municipal Airport, first opened in 1931. The airport's terminal, built around the same time, was replaced in 1956. This new terminal was located on the east side of the airfield off High School Road. It was renovated and expanded several times, including in 1968, 1972, and 1987. However, it was eventually demolished in 2008 when the current terminal, the Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal, opened on November 12.
The Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal is a 1.2 million-square-foot complex that cost $1.1 billion to build. It was designed by the international engineering and architecture firm HOK, in collaboration with AeroDesign Group, a joint venture of three Indianapolis-area architectural groups. The terminal features a dual-level design with 40 gates that can accommodate both narrow and wide-body aircraft. It also houses all ticketing, check-in, and security operations, as well as baggage claim areas. The terminal is named after Colonel H. Weir Cook, a World War I fighter ace and pilot from Indiana.
The terminal's focal point is Civic Plaza, a pre-security gathering place for passengers and visitors. Civic Plaza boasts a 65-metre-wide skylight, providing panoramic views of the surrounding area, including the Indianapolis skyline. It offers a range of amenities, including restaurants, retail stores, comfortable seating, and tables for dining or socialising. The plaza also seamlessly integrates artwork and public event spaces into its design.
The terminal incorporates sustainable design features and energy-efficient architectural designs, such as the 55 linear miles of main ceiling panels. The Indianapolis International Airport is expected to earn a LEED Silver rating for its efforts in daylighting, energy efficiency, sustainable materials, water use conservation, indoor air quality, and recycling programs.
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Airport history
The history of Indianapolis International Airport dates back to the late 1920s when the city of Indianapolis and its council discussed developing a municipal airport. In 1929, the city purchased 320 acres on South High School Road for a landing area and an additional 627 acres for future expansion. This site became the Indianapolis Municipal Airport, the first in the area with concrete runways.
On February 16, 1931, the airport witnessed its first airline traffic when Transcontinental Air Transport moved from Stout Field, followed by American Airways on April 1. The airport was officially dedicated on September 25, 1931, and by its 30th anniversary in 1961, it boasted over 850,000 passengers annually. During this time, it was also known as Weir Cook Municipal Airport, named after H. Weir Cook, a Hoosier fighter ace during World War I.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, USAir (later US Airways) established a secondary hub at the airport, offering non-stop flights across the country. However, the USAir hub ended in the late 1990s. FedEx Express began its operations at the airport in 1988, expanding a decade later, and it remains a significant cargo hub.
The current Indianapolis International Airport terminal, named the Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal, opened on November 12, 2008. It was designed by HOK, an international engineering and architecture firm, and cost $1.1 billion to build. The terminal is a 1.2 million-square-foot complex featuring a 40-gate terminal pavilion, a monumental central hall, and Civic Plaza, which serves as a pre-security gathering area with restaurants, shops, and comfortable seating. The terminal incorporates enhanced security measures and sustainable design, making it the first post-9/11 airport built from the ground up in the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
The Indianapolis airport was first built in 1931 and was named the Indianapolis Municipal Airport.
Yes, the Indianapolis airport has been renovated and renamed multiple times. In 1944, it was renamed the Weir Cook Municipal Airport. In 1976, it was renamed the Indianapolis International Airport. The airport was renovated and expanded in 1968, 1972, and 1987. The current terminal, the Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal, was opened in 2008.
The 2008 renovation of the Indianapolis airport was significant because it was the first airport built from scratch in the US after the September 11 attacks. The terminal was designed with dual security points and sweeping changes to US airport security protocols.
