Lois Larson
The Albuquerque International Sunport is the primary airport serving the U.S. state of New Mexico, particularly the Albuquerque metropolitan area. It is located in Bernalillo County, between the Rio Grande and the Sandia Mountains, and is New Mexico's largest commercial airport, serving over 5 million passengers annually. The airport was originally named Albuquerque Municipal Airport when it opened in 1939, but was renamed Albuquerque Sunport in 1963, and then later changed to its current name, Albuquerque International Sunport, in 1994. The airport is unique for its low-lying structure and Pueblo Revival architecture, which references Albuquerque's Tiwa and Hispano heritage and New Mexico's Pueblo and Nuevo México roots.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Albuquerque International Sunport |
| Former Name | Albuquerque Municipal Airport |
| Year of renaming | 1963 |
| Year of opening | 1939 |
| Location | Bernalillo County, New Mexico |
| Number of runways | 4 |
| Passenger traffic | 5.4 million annually |
| Number of flights | 400+ daily |
| Cargo airlines | FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, Empire Airlines, Ameri |
| Passenger airlines | Southwest Airlines, Advanced Air, Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, Sun Country, United |
| Architecture | Low-lying structure, Pueblo Revival |
| Art | World-class art collection |
| Amenities | Free Wi-Fi, free cell phone parking, aircraft observation areas |
| Projects | Construction of a second terminal |
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What You'll Learn
Albuquerque Municipal Airport opened in 1939 with Pueblo Style architecture
Albuquerque International Sunport, locally known as the Sunport, is the primary international airport serving the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is located in Bernalillo County, between the Rio Grande and the Sandia Mountains, 3 miles (5 km) southeast of downtown Albuquerque.
Albuquerque Municipal Airport, the predecessor of the Sunport, opened in 1939 with two paved runways, a Pueblo-style terminal building, and a large hangar. The airport was designed by Ernest Blumenthal and featured a unique architectural style that referenced Albuquerque's Tiwa and Hispano heritage and New Mexico's Pueblo and Nuevo México roots. The Pueblo Style terminal building was designed to accommodate the new Boeing 307 Stratoliner operated by TWA (Transcontinental and Western Air). TWA became Trans World Airlines in 1946 and introduced the first jet service in 1961 using the Boeing 707.
The Albuquerque Municipal Airport was an important stop in the early transcontinental flights between Chicago and Los Angeles. It was the only major airport in the nation built in the Spanish Pueblo Revival style. The design emphasised the place of arrival, the Southwest, rather than the technological advances of flight that many other airport designs sought to showcase. The airport was part of the New Deal, which aimed to create jobs during the Great Depression. The construction techniques used made the building process more labour-intensive, with a poured-in-place concrete frame and adobe brick infill. The adobe bricks were even made on-site.
Within two years of the Albuquerque Municipal Airport's opening, the Albuquerque Army Air Base was constructed to the east. This facility later became Kirtland Air Force Base, which still shares runways and other facilities with the commercial operations of the airport today. The airport was renamed Albuquerque Sunport on April 17, 1963, and has since undergone numerous expansions and renovations to accommodate increasing air traffic.
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The airport was renamed Albuquerque Sunport in 1963
Albuquerque, New Mexico's largest commercial airport, was renamed Albuquerque Sunport on April 17, 1963. The airport first opened in 1939 as Albuquerque Municipal Airport, with two paved runways and a Pueblo Style terminal building designed by Ernest Blumenthal. The airport's unique low-lying structure and Pueblo Revival architecture reference Albuquerque's Tiwa and Hispano heritage and New Mexico's Pueblo and Nuevo México roots.
Before the opening of the Albuquerque Municipal Airport, the city was served by two private airports: the Albuquerque Airport (Oxnard Field) and the West Mesa Airport (TWA Airport). The first airlines to serve these airports were Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT), Western Air Express (WAE), and Mid Continent Air Express, all of which began operating in 1929. Within a year, these airlines moved their operations to the West Mesa Airport, where they remained for most of the 1930s.
In the years following the opening of the Albuquerque Municipal Airport, several airlines began serving the city, including Trans World Airlines (formerly TWA), which introduced the first jet service to Albuquerque in 1961 using the Boeing 707. The airport continued to expand and develop over the years, with the addition of new gates, concourses, and improvements to accommodate increasing traffic and security requirements.
The name "Sunport" is likely derived from the city's sunny climate and its role as a gateway to New Mexico, known as the "Land of Enchantment." The airport is known for its distinct southwestern architecture and cultural décor, and it offers a range of amenities, including New Mexican cuisine and local artisanal gifts. The airport is a focus airport for Southwest Airlines, which accounts for a significant portion of its passenger traffic.
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It is New Mexico's largest commercial airport
The Albuquerque International Sunport is New Mexico's largest commercial airport, welcoming over 5 million passengers annually and handling over 400 flights daily. It is the primary international airport serving the state of New Mexico, particularly the Albuquerque metropolitan area and the larger Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Los Alamos combined statistical area. The airport is located in Bernalillo County, between the Rio Grande and the Sandia Mountains, 3 miles southeast of downtown Albuquerque.
The Sunport is known for its distinct low-lying structure and Pueblo Revival architecture, which references Albuquerque's Tiwa and Hispano heritage and New Mexico's Pueblo and Nuevo México roots. The airport boasts a large art collection with rotating special exhibits, New Mexican cuisine, and many local artisanal gifts. It is served by 8 major carriers, offering non-stop service between ABQ and 32 destinations worldwide.
The history of the Sunport dates back to 1928 when the first private airport, Albuquerque Airport (later Oxnard Field), opened. In 1929, the West Mesa Airport (later the TWA airport) opened, and the first airlines began serving the airports. The Albuquerque Municipal Airport opened in 1939 with two paved runways and a Pueblo-style terminal building designed by Ernest Blumenthal. The airport was renamed Albuquerque Sunport on April 17, 1963, and in 1994, the name was changed to its current designation, Albuquerque International Sunport.
The Sunport has undergone various expansions and renovations over the years, including the addition of gates and concourses, as well as the construction of a second level for separate arrival and departure levels. The airport has also initiated a Sustainable Airport Master Plan to evaluate its capabilities and forecast future aviation demand, with the goal of providing systematic guidelines for maintenance, development, and operation.
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The airport is served by 8 major carriers
The Albuquerque International Sunport, known for its distinct Southwestern architecture and cultural décor, is New Mexico's largest commercial airport, welcoming over 5 million passengers annually. The airport is served by 8 major carriers and offers non-stop service between ABQ and more than 32 destinations, all with worldwide connectivity.
The airport, locally known as the Sunport, is the primary international airport serving the U.S. state of New Mexico, particularly the Albuquerque metropolitan area and the larger Albuquerque–Santa Fe–Los Alamos combined statistical area. It handles over 400 flights daily. The airport is located in Bernalillo County, between the Rio Grande and the Sandia Mountains, 3 miles southeast of downtown Albuquerque.
The Sunport is unique for its low-lying structure and Pueblo Revival architecture, which references Albuquerque's Tiwa and Hispano heritage and New Mexico's Pueblo and Nuevo México roots. The airport was first opened in 1939 as the Albuquerque Municipal Airport with two paved runways, a Pueblo-style terminal building, and a large hangar designed to accommodate the new Boeing 307 Stratoliner operated by TWA. The airport was renamed Albuquerque Sunport on April 17, 1963, and gained international status in 1971.
The Sunport has undergone several expansions and renovations over the years, including the addition of a west wing in 1980, the construction of a second level for separate arrival and departure levels, and the replacement of the satellite gate building with two concourses, A and B, providing 19 new gates with jet bridges. The airport is committed to providing a safe, clean, and passenger-friendly facility for business and leisure travellers.
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The Sunport provides free Wi-Fi and aircraft observation areas
The Albuquerque International Sunport is the primary airport serving the U.S. state of New Mexico, particularly the Albuquerque metropolitan area. The airport covers 2,039 acres and has three runways, with around 5.4 million passengers and over 400 flights daily. The airport is unique for its low-lying structure and Pueblo Revival architecture, which references Albuquerque's Tiwa and Hispano heritage and New Mexico's Pueblo and Nuevo México roots.
The Sunport provides free Wi-Fi internet access. In February 2005, it was voted one of the top five U.S. airports for wireless access, and the only one that provided it for free. As of October 2022, the service is still provided free of charge.
The Sunport also offers two free aircraft observation areas, including one near the Cellphone lot that is adjacent to the now-closed Runway 17/35. This observation area can also serve as a cell phone waiting area, where people can park and wait for a call from their arriving passenger before driving to the front of the terminal for pickup. This reduces congestion and security problems in front of the terminal and saves fuel.
In addition to free Wi-Fi and aircraft observation areas, the Sunport offers various other amenities and services. These include a free Cell Phone Waiting Area, bus services to and from the airport, and a Car Rental Center with free shuttle services to and from the terminal.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is called Sunport because of its unique low-lying structure and Pueblo Revival architecture, which references Albuquerque's Tiwa and Hispano heritage and New Mexico's Pueblo and Nuevo México roots. The airport was renamed Albuquerque Sunport on April 17, 1963, and in 1994, it was changed to its current designation, Albuquerque International Sunport.
The Albuquerque Municipal Airport, which opened in 1939 with two paved runways and a Pueblo-style terminal building, was renamed Albuquerque Sunport on April 17, 1963.
The Albuquerque Sunport is known for its distinct southwestern architecture and cultural décor. It boasts a world-class art collection, unique amenities, New Mexican cuisine, and local artisanal gifts. The airport is also referred to as the Sunport by locals in their online discussions.
