Newport News-Williamsburg Airport(IATA: PHF, ICAO: KPHF, FAALID: PHF) is in Newport News, Virginia, United States, and serves the Hampton Roads area along with Norfolk International Airport in Norfolk. The airport is owned and operated by the Peninsula Airport Commission, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia. PHF covers 1,800 acres (728 ha).[1]
In 2019, the airport handled 431,077 passengers, while in 2023 it handled 144,966 passengers.[2] The loss of dominant air carrier AirTran in 2012 and competition from low-cost airlines at Richmond International Airport and Norfolk International Airport has led to a drop of more than 85% in the annual number of passengers at PHF since 2011.
View of terminal building
History
In 1946, Virginia's General Assembly passed legislation creating the Peninsula Airport Commission (PAC) to determine a location for and establish a new airport for the cities of Newport News and Hampton. An agreement was reached with the US War Asset Administration in 1947 to transfer 924 acres (3.7km2) of the former Camp Patrick Henry, a World War II US Army base, to the PAC as the site for the new airport. A Nike missile air defense base, known as N-85, still exists on the property, though abandoned since the mid-1960s.
The airport was originally named Patrick Henry Airport, its code PHF representing Patrick Henry Field. The first runway was 2–20, a 3,500-foot (1,100m) runway, followed by 6–24 (later redesignated as 7–25). Airline service began in November 1949 on Piedmont Airlines and Capital Airlines.
In 1951 the passenger terminal was damaged by a fire. An upgraded traffic control tower was built and Runway 6–24 was extended to 5,000 feet (1,500m) in 1952; a new passenger terminal opened in 1955.
When the United States Congressderegulated the airlines in 1978, many airlines serving Patrick Henry Airport consolidated their southeast Virginia services at other airports, and Patrick Henry International Airport lost most of its jet service. National pulled out in 1978. In late 1978, Piedmont was operating Boeing 737-200 jets nonstop to New York JFK Airport, one stop Boeing 737-200 jets to New York LaGuardia Airport via Norfolk, and also nonstop NAMC YS-11 turboprops to Washington National Airport but was no longer serving the airport by the fall of 1979.[5][6]Allegheny Commuter had replaced Allegheny jet service by this same time in 1979 with code sharing flights then being operated with small commuter Beechcraft and Short 330 turboprop aircraft.[6] Also by the fall of 1979, United was the only airline operating mainline jet service into the airport with Boeing 727-200 and Boeing 737-200 flights nonstop from Chicago O'Hare Airport, Washington DC National Airport, Baltimore and nearby Norfolk;[6] however, United then ceased serving the airport with mainline jets in 1981. United Express operated code sharing flights on behalf of United from the late 1980s through the 1990s with British AerospaceBAe Jetstream 31 and Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprops with nonstop service from the United hub located at Washington DC Dulles Airport.[7][8][9][10] The airport led the nation in air service decline after deregulation and was facing severe financial difficulty.[11]
The turnaround began with the hiring of Charles J. Blankenship as executive director in 1984.[12] Blankenship implemented a strategic plan of developing a business park named Patrick Henry Commerce Center[13] and a marketing campaign to attract air carriers.[14] By 1985 the airport had the distinction of being America's fastest-growing airport. That success was repeated in 1986.[15]
On December 19, 1980, the Daily Press reported a committee authorized by the PAC recommended that the airport change its name to "Newport News/Williamsburg International" to then-Executive Director Michael White. This change would not take place until ten years later. At the time, the Commission members represented the cities of Newport News, Hampton, and Williamsburg, as well as James City County and York County. Since 2010, the Commission consists of six commissioners who are appointed by the cities of Hampton (2) and Newport News (4).
The PAC renamed the facility Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in September 1990. A new terminal opened in late 1992.
Until the 1990s, part of the original terminal building was named the Flight Services Building and was home to the local office of the National Weather Service (NWS). Weather reports and emergency alerts were broadcast on radio stations and weather frequencies during severe weather directly from the NWS office located at the airport.
When the original control tower was shut down in July 2007 with the opening of the 147ft (45m) tall new tower, it had been the oldest operating control tower on the east coast, in continuous service for 55 years.
Expansion (2005–2012)
The airport launched an expansion effort in the early 21st century. A new air traffic control tower was completed in July 2007, replacing the 1951 tower. A new three-level parking garage opened in June 2007. In 2009, more parking lots were completed to handle increased rental car fleets; parking capacity was estimated at 3,000 vehicles.
As of 2011[update], the airport was the third fastest-growing airport in the United States and the 118th largest airport. The year 2010 was its best ever, with about 1.063 million passengers. The passenger count was down slightly in 2011, with about 1.059 million passengers.[19]
Frontier Airlines began nonstop service from Newport News in 2010 as the airport was finishing a $23 million renovation. Initial service included four direct flights a week to Denver with 128-seat Airbus A318s, replaced within weeks with larger Airbus A319 jets.[20][21]
Beginning May 13, 2011, Frontier flights were operated with 162-seat Airbus A320s; as of September 12, 2011, Frontier was operating seasonal service. On February 4, 2012, PAC announced that Frontier would resume year-round flights operating daily effective May 22 through Labor Day that year. After Labor Day, Frontier planned to operate six days per week. However, on January 6, 2015, Frontier Airlines withdrew all services from Newport News.[22]
Allegiant Airlines also began jet service to the airport with flights to Orlando Sanford Airport but then ceased serving the airport by 2012.
Concourse A opened in May 2010 as the airport's second concourse. Concourse A is designed with a full-service customs facility for larger jets. A local contractor donated $50,000 worth of labor and materials to expand the airport's USO office in 2010, doubling it in size to better serve military personnel.
Elite Airways announced intention to begin service with flights from PHF to Myrtle Beach, SC in 2018, but scrapped the plans due to doubts and concerns about airport operations following the failure of a reincarnation of People Express Airlines (2010s) (which was based in Newport News and attempted to operate a small hub at the airport with Boeing 737-400 jets) and multiple investigations into the airport as well as a perceived lack of passenger demand.[23]
On March 9, 2012, PHF's longtime largest airline AirTran Airways ceased operations at the airport due to their merger with Southwest Airlines (which was already serving nearby Norfolk International Airport). Passenger count declined in 2012 after the departure of AirTran, with layoffs at the airport announced in May 2012 including police officers, all police dispatchers and other staff.
The airport is home to three Fixed-Base operators: Rick Aviation, Atlantic Aviation and Orion Air Group, which are now Tempus Jets. In January 2013, Mid Atlantic Aviation was also located at the airport, as well as Epix Aviation. Rick and Atlantic provide flight instruction schools, and jet fuel services to private and commercial airplanes. Atlantic Aviation handles international chartered flights. Rick Aviation continues to operate inside the original passenger terminal, sharing space with Denbigh High School's Aviation Academy (serving over 350 high school students). As Orion Air Group opened a new world headquarters 40,000-square-foot (3,700m2) facility which will employ 100 people; they are already planning an additional 70,000-square-foot (6,500m2) expansion. Additionally, in 2011 Tidewater Flight Center opened a second location at the airport, providing flight instruction from the original terminal building. Also sharing the original terminal building is a local squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, which maintains several CAP airplanes at the airport.
Newport News–Williamsburg is the first airport in the nation to undergo a sustainability project, to incorporate green technology in every facet of operations.[citation needed]
In January 2014, Concourse A began to add a Federal Inspection Station and fully implement a U.S. Customs processing facility. In 2020, additional administrative staff members were laid off from positions due to declining revenue and impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Delta suspended its thrice daily service to Atlanta. Delta has announced no plans to restore the flights.[24]
In July 2022, Avelo Airlines announced new service from the airport. The airline began flights to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale in October 2022.[25] However, in February 2023, Avelo Airlines announced it would be ending its service at the airport starting April 16, 2023, leaving American Airlines as the sole carrier servicing the airport.[26] The decline in service and passenger volume created a challenging financial environment for the airport. Between 2022 and 2023, the airport reported $4.2 million in financial losses, with public funding required to keep it financially solvent. A June 2024 report recommended a transition away from commercial air service and reorienting efforts to attracting advanced aerospace research and development facilities.[27]
The airport is served by various taxi companies, including Orange, American, Yellow, Best, and All City.
Bus
Hampton Roads Transit directly serves the airport with regional bus service at two bus stops; the airport is on HRT Route 116 and is the only Hampton Roads airport with direct bus service. Shuttle and limousine companies also service the airport through pre-arranged appointments. Four car rental agencies can be found at the airport: National, Enterprise, Avis and Budget.[30]
On March 26, 2007, a Learjet 36 suffered engine damage after debris was sucked into the engines. The plane attempted to stop but overran the runway and crashed into a field. Both occupants were uninjured.[31]
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