Wayne County Airport: A Metropolitan Hub's Location

The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is located in Romulus, a Detroit suburb in Michigan, United States. It is Michigan's busiest airport, serving Detroit and its metropolitan area. The airport is easily accessible from I-94 and I-275 and offers convenient transportation options, including public transit and rental car services. DTW provides a seamless and enjoyable travel experience with multiple terminals, six runways, and various amenities, accommodating both domestic and international flights.

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport's location

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, also known as DTW, is located in Romulus, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, in the United States. It is the primary international airport serving Detroit and its surrounding metropolitan area. With over 32 million passengers in 2012, it is Michigan's busiest airport and one of the world's leading air transportation hubs.

The airport covers 4,850 acres of land and is operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority. It has six runways, two terminals, and 129 gates in total. The airport is easily accessible from Interstate 94 via Merriman Road (exit 198) and from Interstate 275 via Eureka Road (exit 15). Both entrances and the terminals are connected by John D. Dingell Drive, an expressway completed in 1999.

DTW is Michigan's busiest airport, with ten times as many boardings and alightings as the next busiest airport in the state, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids. The airport serves over 140 destinations and was named the best large U.S. airport in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power & Associates in 2010, 2019, and 2022.

In addition to its efficiency and customer-friendly reputation, DTW is also known for its accessibility. The airport offers a variety of transportation options, including free shuttle buses between the two terminals and to the Green parking lots. Rental car companies, private off-site parking lots, and most hotels in the airport's vicinity provide their own shuttle services as well.

DTW is also accessible by public transit, with several bus routes serving the airport. These include the RTA's Detroit Air Xpress (DAX), SMART's FAST Michigan bus route, and two local SMART bus routes: route 125 to Downriver communities and route 280 to downtown Romulus and western Wayne County suburbs.

Romulus, Michigan

Romulus is best known for being home to the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, one of the busiest airports in the United States. The airport is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and offers a range of dining and shopping options for travellers.

Beyond its connection to aviation, Romulus has historical significance as a stop on the Underground Railroad in the 1800s. The city has two intact structures from this period: the Samuel Kingsley Home, a famous historic landmark, and the White Church at Pullens Corner, now called 5 Points Church. The Romulus Historical Museum also offers insights into the local history and heritage.

The city has several parks, including Elmer Johnson Park, Eugenio Fernandez Park, and Mary Ann Banks Park, which provide recreational opportunities for locals and visitors. Romulus also hosts annual events, such as the Pumpkin Festival, which draws people together for a celebration of the fall season with parades, crafts, and family-friendly activities.

Romulus has a variety of small businesses, including hotels, bars, and restaurants. However, retail options are scarce, and residents often need to travel to adjacent cities for major grocery retailers.

The airport's history

Wayne County Airport, now known as Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), has a long history that dates back to the late 1920s. As early as 1927, Wayne County began planning for an airport in the western townships of the county. The following year, in 1928, the county board of commissioners issued a $2 million bond to fund the purchase of one square mile of land at the corner of Middlebelt and Wick roads, which marks the northeastern boundary of today's airport.

The groundbreaking for the airport occurred in April 1929, and construction was completed in the same year. The first landing at the airport took place on February 22, 1930, and it was officially dedicated as Wayne County Airport on September 4, 1930. That same year, Thompson Aeronautical Corporation, a forerunner of American Airlines, began offering its services from the airport. From 1931 until 1945, the airport hosted Michigan Air National Guard operations, and during World War II, it was renamed Romulus Field and used by the United States Army Air Forces.

In 1947, the airport was renamed Detroit-Wayne Major Airport and expanded significantly over the next few years, with the addition of three new runways. By 1949, the airport had added runways 3L/21R and 9L/27R, followed by runway 4R/22L in 1950. During this time, most airline traffic moved from the cramped Detroit City Airport to Willow Run Airport, located about 20 miles west of the city.

In 1954, Pan-Am became the first passenger airline to operate from Detroit-Wayne Major, followed by BOAC in 1956. In 1958, the airport was renamed Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), and the Leroy C. Smith (South) Terminal was completed, giving the airport its present name. That same year, American Airlines moved its operations from Willow Run to Detroit-Wayne, followed by other major airlines such as Northwest, Allegheny, and Delta.

Over the next few decades, the airport continued to expand and develop, with the addition of new terminals, runways, and airlines. In 1966, the North Terminal (later renamed the James M. Davey Terminal) opened, and by June of that year, all commercial air carriers had moved from Willow Run Airport to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. In 1974, the Michael Berry International Terminal was built, followed by the completion of the last of the original three parallel runways in 1976.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the airport underwent further expansion and improvements, including the construction of a new Midfield Terminal (later named the Edward H. McNamara Terminal) and additional runways. In 2002, the Midfield Terminal officially opened, and in 2008, the new North Terminal replaced the aged Berry and Smith terminals.

Today, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is Michigan's busiest airport, serving as a major hub for Delta Air Lines and a base for Spirit Airlines. It covers 4,850 acres of land and offers services to over 140 destinations worldwide. The airport has six runways, two terminals, and 129 in-service gates, making it a large hub primary commercial service facility.

Airlines and destinations

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, located in Romulus, Michigan, is the primary international airport serving Detroit and its surrounding metropolitan area. It is Michigan's busiest airport, with ten times as many boardings and alightings as the next busiest airport in the state. The airport is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and is also a base for Spirit Airlines.

The airport has two terminals: the McNamara Terminal and the Evans Terminal. The McNamara Terminal is used exclusively by Delta and its partners, Aeromexico, Air France, and WestJet. This terminal has three concourses, A, B, and C, with a total of 121 gates. The Evans Terminal, on the other hand, houses all non-SkyTeam airlines serving the airport, including Air Canada, Alaska, American, American Eagle, Frontier, Icelandair, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Royal Jordanian, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country, Turkish, United, United Express, and various other non-SkyTeam and non-Delta partner charters. This terminal has 29 gates.

Together, the two terminals serve a wide range of destinations across the globe. Some of the airlines and their destinations include:

• Delta: Amsterdam, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Cancún, Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Honolulu, Houston–Intercontinental, London–Heathrow, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Seattle/Tacoma, Seoul–Incheon, Shanghai–Pudong, Tokyo–Haneda, and many more.
• Spirit: Albany, Alpena, Appleton, Birmingham (AL), Burlington (VT), Charleston (SC), Chattanooga, Chicago–Midway, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus–Glenn, and many others.
• American: Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New York–LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Washington–National, and seasonally to Anchorage.
• WestJet: Seasonal service to Calgary and Vancouver.
• Lufthansa: Frankfurt and beyond.
• Royal Jordanian: Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Seattle/Tacoma.
• Sun Country Airlines: Seasonal service to Minneapolis/St. Paul.
• Turkish Airlines: Istanbul and beyond.

Transport to and from the airport

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is located in Romulus, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, United States.

Detroit Metro Airport offers a range of transport options for passengers to reach the airport and travel onwards to their destination.

By Car

The airport is accessible from I-94 via Merriman Road (exit 198), which is the nearest entrance to the Evans Terminal, and from I-275 via Eureka Road (exit 15), which is closer to the McNamara Terminal. Both entrances and the terminals are connected by John D. Dingell Drive, an expressway completed in 1999. There are also parking options available, including handicap-accessible areas, valet parking, and cell phone waiting lots.

By Bus

The airport is served by several bus services, providing connections to downtown Detroit and other local areas:

• Detroit Air Xpress (DAX): Operates daily from 3:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., including holidays. Services the Evans and McNamara Terminals, with amenities like luggage storage, comfortable seating, charging ports, and Wi-Fi. Tickets cost $8 at the door or $6 in advance.
• SMART: Currently serves the Evans Terminal with Route 125 (Fort Street-Eureka Road) and Route 280 (Middle Belt South). It also serves the McNamara Terminal with Route 125. SMART offers a high-frequency service called FAST, which connects Downtown Detroit with the suburbs. FAST Route 261 (Michigan Avenue) serves both DTW terminals.
• Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority: Provides AirRide service between DTW and Ann Arbor, serving both the Evans and McNamara Terminals.
• Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART Bus): Provides a direct connection from the airport to the Rosa Parks Transit Center in downtown Detroit via Route 261, also known as the Michigan Ave FAST bus.
• Michigan Flyer: Offers intercity bus service to Ann Arbor, Brighton, and East Lansing.
• Robert Q Airbus: Provides private bus service to destinations in southern Ontario, Canada, including Windsor and London.

By Taxi or Ridesharing

Passengers can also use taxi services or popular ridesharing apps to arrange transportation to and from the airport.

Frequently asked questions