Owais Crawford
The Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is located on the southwestern edge of Indianapolis, Indiana. The airport, which opened in 1931, is about a 15-minute drive from downtown Indianapolis. It has a single terminal with two concourses and 39 gates in total, and was the first new terminal designed and opened in the US after the September 11 attacks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Indianapolis International Airport |
| Address | 7800 Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Drive Indianapolis, IN 46241 |
| Terminals | 1 |
| Concourses | 2 |
| Gates | 39 |
| Runways | 3 |
| Year of opening | 2008 |
| Yearly departures | 52,550 (average of 145 per day) |
| Destinations | 53 |
| Art | Public art is present in the airport |
| Hotel | A 253-room Marriott Westin-branded hotel is under construction |
| Solar farm | 162-acre (66 ha), 22 MW solar farm |
| Awards | Best Airport in North America (2012-2019), Best Domestic Airport, Ranked #1 in customer satisfaction |
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What You'll Learn
Indianapolis International Airport's history
Indianapolis International Airport, also known as IND, has been operational since 1931. The airport was first discussed in the summer of 1928, when the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and the Indianapolis City Council decided that the city should own its airport ground. In 1929, the city bought 320 acres on South High School Road for a landing area, with an additional 627 acres reserved for future expansion. The airport was originally called Indianapolis Municipal Airport and was the first in the area with concrete runways.
The field was renamed Weir Cook Municipal Airport on 28 March 1944, in honour of US Army Air Forces Col. Harvey Weir Cook, a Hoosier fighter ace during World War I. The first airline traffic operated from the field on 16 February 1931, when Transcontinental Air Transport moved from Stout Field. The airport was officially dedicated on 25 September 1931.
In 1957, the passenger terminal was on the east side of the airfield off High School Road. This facility was renovated and expanded several times before being replaced by the Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal on 12 November 2008. The terminal is named after a World War I pilot from Hancock County, Indiana. The current terminal was one of the first designed and built in the US following the September 11 attacks.
In 1976, coinciding with the opening of a new building to serve international arrivals and departures, the airport was renamed Indianapolis International Airport. The airport has continued to expand, with a new runway completed in 2024, and a hotel expected to be completed by 2027. Today, the airport serves more than 7 million business and leisure travellers each year and has been named the Best Airport in North America several times.
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Terminal, runway and gate information
The Indianapolis International Airport has a single terminal with two concourses and a total of 39 gates. The terminal is named after Colonel Harvey Weir Cook and opened in 2008. It was one of the first designed and built in the US following the September 11 attacks. International arrivals are processed in Concourse A, which contains 20 gates. Concourse B contains 19 gates. The airport has three runways: two parallel and one crosswind. The crosswind runway, 14/32, is the shortest of the three at 7,278 feet (2,218 m). The newest runway is 5R/23L, which was completed in 2024 as part of a large expansion program. The airport received a $26.6 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reconstruct Runway 5R-23L and Taxiway D to improve safety.
The airport's current 348-foot (106-metre) control tower opened in 2006 and is the fourth tallest in the United States and the ninth tallest in the world. The airport also has a Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) building, which is the second tallest in the US. The TRACON building and a new FAA Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) were the first components of the long-planned midfield complex to be completed.
The terminal has an Arrivals level and a Departures level. The Arrivals level includes baggage claims for international and domestic arrivals, while the Departures level features ticket counters in the centre of the civic plaza. Both concourses have security checkpoints on either side of the departure level. There are also complimentary electric vehicle charging stations on Level 3 of the Terminal Garage. The Ground Transportation Centre, where information about limousine, shuttle bus, hotel courtesy vehicles, and other transportation services can be obtained, is located on the first floor of the attached parking garage.
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Awards and recognition
Indianapolis International Airport has been recognised as one of the best airports in North America for eleven consecutive years. The Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) awards the airport this title as part of its Airport Service Quality Awards, which recognises airports for their customer experience. The airport has also been recognised by the J.D. Power list as the best medium-sized airport in North America.
In 2023, the airport was included in the "Condé Nast Traveler's" Readers' Choice Awards list of best airports in the United States. The magazine's readers highlighted the airport's shopping and dining options. "Travel + Leisure" also ranked it as the second-best domestic airport in its annual World's Best Awards.
In addition, the Indianapolis airport has received a significant amount of funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In 2024, the airport received a $26.6 million grant from the FAA, which was one of the largest grants awarded to airports in that funding round. The funding was used to reconstruct the Runway 5R-23L and Taxiway D to improve safety.
The airport has also been recognised for its architecture and design. In 2021, a panel of members from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) identified the Col. H. Weir Cook Terminal as one of the ten most "architecturally significant" buildings completed in the city since World War II.
Indianapolis International Airport has also been recognised for its sustainability initiatives. The airport is home to a 162-acre, 22 MW solar farm, demonstrating a commitment to renewable energy sources.
Furthermore, the airport has been praised for its employee benefits and workforce development. Employees of the Indianapolis Airport Authority receive benefits such as childcare reimbursement, tuition assistance, free healthcare, and retirement plan matching. The airport has also taken steps to attract a younger workforce and address the potential ""silver tsunami" of retiring employees.
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Airport facilities and attractions
Indianapolis International Airport is located seven miles (11 km) southwest of Downtown Indianapolis in Marion County, Indiana, United States. The airport is owned and operated by the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) and serves over 50 non-stop destinations across North America, the Caribbean, and Europe. It is the busiest airport in Indiana, handling 4,788,376 passengers as of 2023, making it the 47th busiest airport in the US.
Indianapolis International Airport has a single terminal with two concourses and a total of 39 gates. International arrivals are processed in Concourse A, which contains 20 gates, while Concourse B contains 19 gates. The airport has three runways: two parallel and one crosswind. The terminal, named after Col. Harvey Weir Cook, opened in 2008 and was one of the first designed and built in the US following the September 11 attacks. The airport's ~348-foot (106-meter) control tower, the fourth tallest in the US and the ninth tallest globally, opened in 2006.
The airport features a Ground Transportation Center on the first floor of the attached parking garage, where passengers can obtain information about various transportation services such as limousine, shuttle bus, hotel courtesy vehicles, and the IndyGo bus service. Rental car operations are also located here, providing a convenient drop-off and pick-up location.
Indianapolis International Airport is home to a 162-acre (66 ha) 22 MW solar farm, which was the largest airport solar farm globally when its second phase opened in 2014. The airport also boasts an art program that began in 2005, with most of the artwork accessible to the public.
In terms of dining and accommodation, a Marriott Westin-branded hotel with 253 rooms is expected to break ground in spring 2025. The hotel will offer a full-service restaurant, a seventh-floor lounge area with airfield views open to the public, a fitness centre, and dedicated parking.
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Indianapolis Airport Authority's future plans
The Indianapolis International Airport is located about seven miles (11 km) southwest of Downtown Indianapolis in Marion County, Indiana, United States. Owned and operated by the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA), the airport has been charting out its future course through various plans and initiatives.
In 2019, the IAA approved a 30-year strategic development plan with a focus on leveraging land assets for increased revenue and integration with multi-jurisdictional economic development efforts. This plan, developed by aviation planning consultants Landrum & Brown (L&B), identified seven development zones with 50 distinct development sites. Zone 2, for instance, is prioritised for the development of air cargo facilities. The IAA is spending $6.7 million on this master plan update, which is expected to be approved by 2026.
The airport has also been working on a range of expansion projects. In 2024, a new runway was completed as part of a large expansion program, supported by a $26.6 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The airport also received funding for reconstructing Taxiway D, improving safety with the addition of LED runway and taxiway lighting. Furthermore, a $76 million parking garage expansion is underway, adding 1,500 parking spaces.
The IAA has also been exploring the possibility of an airport hotel, with discussions gaining momentum. In February 2025, the IAA voted to build a 253-room Marriott Westin-branded hotel with direct access to the airport terminal. The hotel is expected to offer a range of amenities, including a full-service restaurant, a public lounge with airfield views, a fitness centre, and meeting spaces.
In addition to these developments, the airport has been working to enhance its flight offerings. In 2024, Aer Lingus announced nonstop flights to Dublin, Ireland, marking the return of transatlantic flights from Indianapolis. Allegiant Air also opened a new aircraft base at the airport in 2018, creating high-paying jobs and housing two Airbus aircraft.
With these various plans and initiatives, the Indianapolis Airport Authority is working towards the growth and development of the Indianapolis International Airport, aiming to improve the airport's infrastructure, services, and flight offerings.
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Frequently asked questions
The Indianapolis International Airport is located at 7800 Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Drive Indianapolis, IN 46241.
The airport offers gorgeous public art, dining, and shopping options. It also has a museum store called Cultural Crossroads, which offers merchandise and displays from eight Indianapolis cultural institutions.
The airport has a total of 39 gates, with 20 in Concourse A and 19 in Concourse B.
The Indianapolis International Airport was named Best Airport in North America in 2012-2019 by Airports Council International and Best Domestic Airport by Travel + Leisure Reader's Choice Awards. It was also ranked number one in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power.
