Lois Larson
Will Rogers World Airport, also known as Oklahoma City Will Rogers World Airport or OKC Will Rogers International Airport, is the busiest commercial airport in the state of Oklahoma. The airport is named after the comedian and legendary cowboy Will Rogers, an Oklahoma native who died in an airplane crash in 1935. The airport handled nearly 4.42 million passengers in 2019, making it the busiest year on record for three consecutive years. Southwest Airlines carries the most passengers at Will Rogers World Airport, with a market share of nearly 48% as of April 2022. The airport offers a variety of services and facilities for passengers, including flight tracking, dining options, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection services for customs and immigration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Will Rogers World Airport |
| Location | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Airport Code | OKC/KOKC |
| Named After | Will Rogers, an Oklahoma native who died in an airplane crash in 1935 |
| Flight Tracking | Available on websites and apps like Flightradar24 |
| Busiest Day | Thursday, with an average of 7 flights |
| Busiest Airline | Southwest Airlines (48% market share as of April 2022) |
| Historical Fun Fact | The only airport to use "World" in its designation |
| Dining Options | Taco Bell and local eateries/upscale dining |
| Terminal Design | Native stone, loft ceilings, plate glass, and brushed metal |
| East Concourse | Completed in September 2021, with 4 gates for Delta flights |
| Maintenance | AAR Oklahoma has a major maintenance facility |
| Air National Guard | Home to the 137th Special Operations Wing and other ANG units |
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What You'll Learn
Airlines and destinations
Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport is the busiest commercial airport in the state. In 2019, the airport handled nearly 4.42 million passengers, marking its third year as the busiest on record. Southwest Airlines carries the most passengers at the airport, with a market share of nearly 48% as of April 2022. The airport is also home to one of Southwest Airlines' largest customer service and support centres.
Will Rogers World Airport offers U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) services for customs and immigration, and international flights are expected to begin operating from 8 November 2025, following the opening of a new customs facility earlier in the year.
The airport features a separate terminal for air taxi and corporate services, although most flights of this nature use the Wiley Post Airport, Oklahoma City's FAA-designated reliever facility.
In April 1957, Braniff International Airways offered the most daily nonstop departures from the airport, with 21. This was followed by American Airlines with 15, Central Airlines with five, Continental Airlines with four, and TWA with three.
Great Plains Airlines, a now-defunct regional airline based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, previously made Will Rogers World Airport a hub in 2001. The airline offered nonstop flights to Tulsa, Albuquerque, and Colorado Springs, as well as direct or connecting flights to Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago, and Washington.
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Airport facilities
OKC Will Rogers World Airport is located 8km (5 miles) southwest of Oklahoma City. It is the busiest commercial airport in the state of Oklahoma, handling nearly 4.42 million passengers in 2019. The airport first opened in 1911 as Oklahoma City Municipal Airfield and was renamed in honour of Oklahoma native Will Rogers in 1941. During World War II, it served as a major training facility for the US Army Air Forces.
The airport features three concourses with eateries and shops, as well as various amenities and services. There is a food court just past the west security checkpoint, offering grill and burger restaurants, a bakery, and a bar. Specialist shops sell electronics, regional gifts, and souvenirs. ATMs are available on the check-in level and in the post-security area, and phone chargers can be found within the terminal. Additionally, there are conference rooms available for booking, with a small room for five people and a large conference room that can accommodate up to 100 people.
For transportation, shuttle buses connect passengers from the arrivals plaza to the terminal. Rental car companies such as Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty also have services at the airport. The airport provides a Skycap porter service outside the terminal for luggage assistance, and SmartCarte luggage trolleys are available throughout the terminal for a small fee.
Will Rogers World Airport also has a separate terminal for air taxi and corporate services. It is home to Metro Technology Center's Aviation Career Campus and serves as a base for helicopter maintenance by the Oklahoma Army National Guard. The airport offers US Customs and Border Protection services, with international flights expected to begin in November 2025.
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Customs and immigration
Will Rogers World Airport offers U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) services for customs and immigration. Construction on a new customs facility began in 2024 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with a projected cost of $12 million. The new facility will be located on the lower level of the East Concourse and will be accessible via the two easternmost gates, serving international arrivals. The East Concourse expansion will also include a single TSA screening zone, expanded concessions and office space, and an updated terminal lobby.
The airport currently handles a large volume of passengers, with nearly 4.5 million travellers passing through in 2023. The addition of the new customs facility is expected to further increase traveller numbers and enhance connectivity to international destinations. Once the facility is complete, the airport plans to offer nonstop commercial flights to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. These flights will provide a more convenient travel experience for residents of Central Oklahoma, including a growing population from Mexico and Central America.
The U.S. Department of Justice also has a significant presence at Will Rogers World Airport, with the Federal Transfer Centre and its principal air hub located on the west side of the airport grounds. Additionally, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection operate their CBP Air and Marine Operations National Air Training Centre facility on-site. These agencies contribute to the efficient management of customs and immigration processes at the airport.
The new customs facility at Will Rogers World Airport is part of a broader effort to enhance the airport's infrastructure and improve the overall travel experience for passengers. The airport previously underwent a terminal expansion in 2021, which included the addition of a gate and boarding bridge for international flights. Furthermore, the airport offers a variety of amenities, including eateries, shops, and world-class artwork on display throughout the concourses.
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Passenger numbers
OKC Will Rogers World Airport is the busiest commercial airport in Oklahoma. In 2019, the airport handled nearly 4.42 million passengers, marking its busiest year on record for three years in a row. Southwest Airlines carries the most passengers at Will Rogers International Airport, with a market share of nearly 48% as of April 2022.
The day with the most flights departing from Will Rogers World Airport is generally Thursday, with an average of 7 flights leaving the airport.
In April 1957, the airport saw 21 daily nonstop departures on Braniff International Airways, 15 on American Airlines, 5 on Central Airlines, 4 on Continental Airlines, and 3 on TWA. A TWA Constellation aircraft flew nonstop from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles, but eastward nonstops didn't reach beyond Wichita, Kansas, Tulsa, or Dallas, Texas.
Great Plains Airlines, a regional airline based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, made Will Rogers World Airport a hub in 2001. The airline offered nonstop flights to Tulsa, Albuquerque, and Colorado Springs, as well as direct or connecting flights to Nashville, Tennessee, St. Louis, Chicago, and Washington. Unfortunately, the airline declared bankruptcy and ceased operations in 2004.
In 2008, Will Rogers World Airport officials approved a contract with Frankfurt Short Bruza Associates to begin planning for expansion. However, due to the Great Recession, passenger traffic declined industry-wide, and the expansion plan was postponed. The Phase III expansion plan was later updated in 2012 to include a new Central Concourse reconfiguration. The new East Concourse, completed in September 2021, features 4 gates exclusively for Delta flights and boasts a modern design and an observation deck for plane spotting.
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Airport history
Oklahoma's aviation history dates back to 1910, when Charles F. Willard made the state's first airplane flight. Before World War I, aviators used any flat land near local fairgrounds, and the only true airport was at Fort Sill, named Post Field. Oklahoma's first municipal airport opened in 1920, and Tulsa's first airport was founded in 1919 by Duncan McIntyre. Tulsa Municipal Airport, opened in 1928, became one of the world's busiest airports in the early 1930s due to the oil boom. Oklahoma's rich aviation history includes notable figures like Wiley Post, who in 1931 flew around the world in eight days and sixteen hours, and Thomas Cox Allen and James Herman Banning, who in 1932 became the first African American pilots to complete a transcontinental flight.
The Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City is named after the famous comedian and humorist, William Penn Adair Rogers, who was from the nearby town of Oologah. The airport has undergone substantial improvements over the past two decades, including a $100 million terminal extension completed in 2006. The airport features newsagents, gift shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, and a landscaped Plaza Garden. The Oklahoma City Airport Trust, founded in 1956, currently manages the airport.
The Will Rogers World Airport has a rich history, evolving from the Oklahoma City municipal airport into Will Rogers Field, a World War II airbase. It served as the largest light bomber training base in the country and provided advanced aerial bombardment and photographic reconnaissance training. The transformation of the airport into an airbase is detailed by Keith Tolman, who also discusses the base's decline following World War II.
The Will Rogers World Airport terminal building has been a significant hub for aviation organisations. In 1955, the international organisation The 99s, founded by 99 women pilots in 1929, moved its headquarters to the terminal building. The organisation's museum showcases the history of women in aviation. The terminal building also hosts an annual Will Rogers & Wiley Post Fly-In, celebrating the dynamic duo's friendship and contributions to aviation.
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Frequently asked questions
Southwest Airlines carries the most passengers at Will Rogers World Airport, with a market share of nearly 48% as of April 2022.
Thursday is the busiest day for departures at Will Rogers World Airport, with an average of 7 flights leaving the airport.
Will Rogers World Airport has a Taco Bell, but travellers may prefer to opt for local eateries or more upscale dining options that offer a better atmosphere and a taste of Oklahoma's culinary traditions.
The airport is named after Oklahoma native Will Rogers, a comedian and legendary cowboy who died in an airplane crash in 1935. The airport features a terminal with native stone, loft-ceilings, plate glass, and brushed metal, as well as a new East Concourse completed in September 2021 with an observation deck for plane spotting.
