McAllen International Airport covers 370 acres (150 ha) at an elevation of 107 feet (33 m). It has two asphalt runways: 14/32 is 7,120 by 150 feet (2,170 x 46 m) and 18/36 is 2,639 by 60 feet (804 x 18 m).[1][4] In November 2015, runway 13/31 was redesignated 14/32 and an EMAS, engineered materials arrestor system, was installed at the runway 14 approach end.
In the updated 20-year Master Plan for MFE, runway 14/32 will be extended to 10,000ft and a parallel runway will be added. An expanded cargo apron will be on the south side of the airport.
Runway 14/32 is the primary runway, used by all the airlines and most of the business flights. 3,000 feet will likely be added to Runway 14/32 to allow larger aircraft (Moultan, 2012). Runway 18/36 does not intersect Runway 14/32 so controllers can use both runways if needed. The departure end of Runway 18 is about 1/3 of the way down Runway 14/32, so traffic on final for Runway 36 must be cautious of traffic using Runway 14/32. Class D airports are airports that are less congested but they still have a control tower. This Class D airport has a simple layout and taxiways extend the full length of each runway (Foreflight, 2012). Both runways are asphalt and are in “Good Condition” (Foreflight, 2012). The terminal is easy for all traffic to reach from either runway, but aircraft on runway 14/32 have to cross runway 18/36 to reach the Fixed-Base Operator (FBO). The runways form a V. The terminal, tower, cargo facility, border patrol, and the U.S. Customs apron are all centrally located on the field, easy to access from either runway (Foreflight, 2012). On the west side of Runway 18/36, there are multiple hangars, the fixed based operator, and the fire station (Foreflight, 2012). In case of an accident on Runway 14/32, fire and rescue personnel would have to cross Runway 18/36, one possible issue of the layout at MFE.
Facilities
The airport has one terminal with six gates. In early 2006, Gate 5 opened on the main concourse due to the arrival of Delta Connection.
In 2008, a terminal capacity study assessed the future needs of the airport and possible terminal expansion to include eight gates, a larger ticketing/office area, and a TSA security area queue. Paid parking at the airport began on November 15, 2007, with the economy, long-term and short-term lots. A revised terminal expansion project with one additional gate, larger passenger waiting areas, expansion of the TSA screening areas, and other facility modifications began in March 2012.[5]
In the year ending October 31, 2018, the airport had 56,613 aircraft operations, an average of 155 per day: 62% general aviation, 17% military, 15% commercial airline and 6% air taxi. In December 2019, 105 aircraft were based at this airport: 49 single-engine, 21 multi-engine, 17 jet, 11 helicopter and 7 military.[1]
Expansion
Waiting area at the main terminal
In March 2012, the airport underwent expansion, completed in 2014.[6] Funding was from grants combined from the FAA and the TSA.[7]
The following are planned:
Addition of 52,000 square feet
Adding space for new explosives screening unit, bringing the total to three
Expanding the terminal and adding space for another gate
Sterilizer and steam generator (required for some international flights)
Replacement of HVAC central plant equipment
"The project includes construction of a one-story building addition of about 7,400 square feet at the west end of the terminal building for a checked baggage screening facility and expanded outbound baggage handling system; renovation of about 11,200 square feet at the east end of the terminal building for public lobby improvements, expanded passenger security screening checkpoint, tenant office improvements, and concessions. It includes a two-story addition of about 33,000 square feet at the south end of the terminal building for aircraft boarding gates with passenger boarding bridges, passenger holdrooms, public lobbies, restrooms, concessions, airline operations, and mechanical and electrical equipment rooms; renovation of about 5,000 square feet at the south end of the terminal building for aircraft boarding gate and passenger holdroom improvements. It includes the replacement of HVAC central plant equipment and refurbishment of five existing passenger boarding bridges. Work includes replacement of portions of the aircraft apron as required for building construction, underground utilities work, and apron drainage, and pavement marking and striping for aircraft positions and service vehicle lanes.[8]
Ground Transportation
Metro McAllen route 4 picks up at Bicentennial and Wichita at the front of the airport, towards stops in downtown McAllen, including McAllen Central Station.[9]
MFE is the busiest airline airport in the Rio Grande Valley.[18] The airport is also served by two of the three global alliances, Star Alliance and Oneworld. MFE lost its only international flight in September 2007 – a daily Continental Express flight to Mexico City. Mexican air carrier Aeromar operated nonstop service from the airport to the capital of Mexico. After less than one year, it was announced that MFE would lose its only non-stop flight to Los Angeles (LAX), operated by Delta Connection partner ExpressJet Airlines, at the end of 2007; however, Allegiant Air currently flies a seasonal nonstop McAllen to LAX with several flights a week. In December 2007, it was announced that Delta Connection would pull out of McAllen on January 6, 2008, ending its two flights a day from MFE to Atlanta, operated by Delta Connection partner Atlantic Southeast Airlines. In March 2009, Delta, through its wholly owned subsidiary Northwest Airlines, began flying MFE to Memphis on Northwest Airlink partner Pinnacle Airlines. Northwest Airlines had previously flown MFE to its Memphis hub starting in 2004. Following the completion of the merger of Northwest into Delta in 2010, the Memphis hub was eventually shut down although Delta continues to serve MEM.
On September 7, 2010, Delta Connection partner Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) resumed service to MFE essentially taking over the non-stop MFE–MEM route from Pinnacle Airlines. On May 1, 2011, Delta Connection partner ASA began non-stop service from MFE to ATL and ended service from MFE to MEM (flights from MFE to ATL were then operated by ExpressJet following the merger of this regional airline with Atlantic Southeast). This route was discontinued on May 1, 2012.
Trans-Texas Airways (TTa) and successor Texas International Airlines (TI) served the airport for over 32 years and was the only air carrier to do so for many years. In 1949, Trans-Texas 21-seat Douglas DC-3s flew Brownsville - Harlingen - McAllen - Laredo - Carrizo Springs/Crystal City - Eagle Pass - Uvalde - San Antonio - Beeville - Victoria - Houston and back;[19] TTa also flew direct to El Paso. In 1963, Trans-Texas flights to McAllen were all Convair 240s flying direct to Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas Love Field, Fort Worth (via now closed Greater Southwest International Airport), Houston, Laredo, Longview, TX, San Antonio, Shreveport, Tyler, TX and Victoria;[20] In 1968 Convair 600s were on all TTa flights from the airport.[21] Jets arrived in 1969; in 1970 Texas International Douglas DC-9-10s flew non-stop to Houston Intercontinental Airport and Corpus Christi and direct to Dallas Love Field. In July 1970 TI was flying McAllen - Harlingen - Houston Intercontinental Airport - Dallas Love Field - Midland/Odessa - Roswell, NM - Albuquerque - Los Angeles, and Convair 600s flew non-stop to Houston and direct to Austin and San Antonio.[22] In 1978, Texas International was all-jet with Douglas DC-9-10s and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s nonstop to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH) and San Antonio and direct to Albuquerque, Austin, Denver, Lafayette, LA, Lubbock and New Orleans.[23] In 1980, TI flew nonstop DC-9s to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas Love Field, and Houston Intercontinental Airport.[24]
International air service
On January 11, 2012, Mexican air carrier Aeromar announced it would commence non-stop service to Mexico City beginning in mid-March. Aeromar was the only airline offering international non-stop service from the airport, flying ATR 42 or ATR 72 turboprops on its Mexico City route. On March 18, 2021, Aeromar announced twice a week, non-stop service to Monterrey initiating April 22, 2021. On February 15, 2023, Aeromar ceased all operations.[25]
Trans-Texas Airways (TTa) began flights to Mexico from the airport in 1967; in 1968, TTa had ten non-stop Convair 600s a week to Monterrey and direct six days a week to Tampico and Veracruz via Harlingen.[26] In 1969, Trans-Texas changed its name to Texas International Airlines and, in 1970, was flying daily Douglas DC-9-10s nonstop to Monterrey with a routing of Dallas Love Field (DAL) - Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) - Harlingen - McAllen - Monterrey.[27] In 1974, Texas International DC-9s were flying nonstop to Mexico City via a routing of Dallas/Fort Worth - Houston Intercontinental - Corpus Christi - McAllen - Mexico City but no longer flew non-stop to Monterrey.[28] In 1975, Texas International was flying non-stop DC-9s from the airport to both Tampico and Veracruz twice a week with these flights continuing on to Mexico City and then non-stop from Mexico City back to McAllen.[29] By the late 1970s, Texas International was no longer flying from the airport to Mexico although the airline was continuing to fly DC-9s non-stop to both Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth.[23]
In 1982 Texas International merged into Continental Airlines and service to Mexico resumed. Texas International initially operated as an independent air carrier; the June 1, 1982 Continental (CO) / Texas International (TI) joint timetable lists non-stop DC-9s twice a day from the airport to Mexico City and non-stop DC-9s four times a week to Guadalajara.[30] By the end of 1983 Continental had pulled out of the airport.[31] Continental returned to McAllen in the mid-1980s with nonstop DC-9s to Houston Intercontinental, and nonstop MD-80s to Mexico City by the mid 1990s.[32][33] In the mid-2000s Continental had turned over its Mexico City flight to regional codesharing partner Continental Express operated by ExpressJet, flying a daily Embraer ERJ-145 to MEX.[34] This service ended later.
In 1982, Austin-based Emerald Air (United States) operated Pan Am Express service in Texas via an agreement with Pan Am and flew two Douglas DC-9-10 flights a day to Houston Intercontinental Airport and San Antonio.[38] By 1984, Emerald Air was serving McAllen independently with up to eleven departures a day, all DC-9s. Emerald was flying non-stop to Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston Intercontinental, San Antonio and Corpus Christi, and one-stop to Austin.[39] This airline went out of business in 1985.
Muse Air and successor TranStar Airlines served McAllen in the mid 1980s. In 1985, Houston-based Muse Air was operating up to five departures a day non-stop to its hub at Houston Hobby Airport with McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50s, all continuing direct to Dallas Love Field.[40] Muse Air was acquired by Southwest Airlines which changed the Muse Air name to TranStar, and continued independently with nonstop DC-9-50s to Houston Hobby and one-stop to Dallas Love Field.[41] TranStar went out of business in 1987.
American Airlines began serving the airport about January 1991. In 1991, American had three daily McDonnell Douglas MD-80s to its Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) hub and, by 1995, was flying four daily Fokker 100s to DFW.[42] In 2007, American had up to four nonstop MD80s a day to Dallas/Fort Worth.[34] AA had one-stop MD-80s to Atlanta, El Paso, Oakland, and Raleigh/Durham. American and regional affiliate American Eagle continue to serve the airport.
McAllen was served by Austin-based Conquest Airlines from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s; in 1989, it flew Beechcraft 1900Cs nonstop to San Antonio.[45] By 1994, Conquest was flying nonstop to Austin, Laredo and San Antonio and one-stop to Tyler, TX, all on Metroliners.[35]
Amenities
The McAllen Miller International Airport's food and beverage options include a Coffee Zone both pre- and post-security and the Comfort Zone bar post-security.[46] In addition, the McAllen Airport offers complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the terminal. Post-security, the airport has a Classic Shoe Shine booth whose prices can be found on the airport's website. For shopping amenities, the airport has the Explore McAllen store post-security. In October 2010, a CNBC News Store was completed pre-security.
The airport has on-site and off-site rental car companies as well.
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