Niagara Falls International Airport

Last updated

Niagara Falls International Airport
Nfia-logo.png
Niagara Falls International Airport-2011.jpg
Summary
Airport typePublic / military
Owner/Operator Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
LocationTown of Niagara, Town of Wheatfield, Niagara County, near Niagara Falls, New York
Elevation  AMSL 592 ft / 180 m
Coordinates 43°06′26″N078°56′46″W / 43.10722°N 78.94611°W / 43.10722; -78.94611
Website www.niagarafallsairport.com
Maps
KIAG Airport Diagram.svg
FAA airport diagram
Niagara Falls International Airport
Runways
Direction LengthSurface
ftm
06/245,1891,582 Asphalt
10L/28R9,8292,996Asphalt/concrete
10R/28L3,9731,211Asphalt
Statistics (2017)
Aircraft operations29,816
Passengers282,000
Aircraft operations data for 2011; Sources: Federal Aviation Administration, [1] NFTA Press Release, [2] Bureau of Transportation Statistics [3]

Niagara Falls International Airport( IATA : IAG, ICAO : KIAG, FAA LID : IAG) is located 4 mi (6.4 km) east of downtown Niagara Falls, in the Town of Niagara in Niagara County, New York, United States. [1] Owned and operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, the airport is a joint civil-military airfield and shares its runways with the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. A new terminal building opened in 2009. It is notable for serving vastly more Canadian passengers from over the nearby border than Americans.

Contents

History

Niagara Falls International Airport opened in 1928 as a municipal airport with four crushed-stone runways.

During World War II, Bell Aircraft established a large manufacturing plant next to the airport, where during the war it built over 10,000 P-39 Airacobras and P-63 Kingcobras. Bell employed over 28,000 at the plant. After the war, the plant was the development site of the Bell X-1 used by Chuck Yeager to break the sound barrier in 1947.

The United States Army Air Forces assumed jurisdiction of the airport during the war, with the 3522d Army Air Force Base Unit managing the airport and coordinating use of the airfield with Bell Aircraft. The airfield was improved with macadam runways, 4000x150 (N/S), 4000x150 (NE/SW), 4200x300 (E/W), 4000x150 (NW/SE), and added many taxiways and other improvements to handle large numbers of aircraft. Air Technical Service Command also operated an aircraft modification center at the airport where new aircraft were given various updates prior to their deployment to operational bases and overseas combat theaters.

Civilian aviation operations and jurisdiction of the airport was returned in early 1946, and a joint-use agreement was made with the United States Air Force for Air Force Reserve and New York Air National Guard use of a portion of the airport.

Today, the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is home to the Air Force Reserve Command's 914th Air Refueling Wing (914 ARW), flying the KC-135R Stratotanker. The wing is operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command (AMC). The main runway was extended to over 9,000 feet (2,743 m) in 1959 to handle larger military aircraft, and was extended again in 2003 to its current length of 9,829 feet (2,996 m). For all practical purposes, the facility is a small Air Force base.

In November 2013 Calspan Air Services became the fixed-base operator for the airport, including refueling, ramp assistance, deicing, transportation and maintenance services.

On August 4, 2014, an Air France Boeing 747-428 flight AF356 from Paris Charles-de-Gaulle was diverted into the airport instead of landing in Toronto due to the temporary closing of Toronto Pearson International Airport. Landing and take-off were on Runway 28R. [4] Niagara Falls gets a large number of Toronto's diversions due to its location and long runways.

Airlines

American Airlines served Niagara Falls until 1956. From 1982 to 1984, Air Niagara, a post-deregulation airline, flew to Newark Airport (EWR) and Kennedy Airport (JFK) with Boeing 727-100 jetliners. Empire Airlines also served the airport during the mid-1980's, flying to Syracuse, Long Island, Utica, Elmira, and Boston using both the Fokker F28 Fellowship jets and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner commuter propjetd. Kiwi International Air Lines briefly served the airport in 1998 with nonstop Boeing 727-200 jet service to Newark Airport (EWR). [5]

In March 2007, Direct Air initiated nonstop jet service to Myrtle Beach; Direct Air began jet flights to Palm Beach International Airport in November 2010. [6] Direct Air's flights to Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida, started in 2011. [7] All Direct Air service at Niagara Falls International Airport ended on March 12, 2012. [8] [9]

In September 2009, a new terminal complex was completed. [10]

Allegiant Airlines began jet service in December 2009. They currently serve Punta Gorda (FL), Orlando-Sanford, and St. Petersburg-Clearwater.

In December 2010, Vision Airlines began jet service on behalf of People Express Airlines (2010s) to Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport. According to a USA Today news article dated September 26, 2014, Vision Airlines d/b/a People Express no longer operates any scheduled passenger service. [11]

In January 2011, Spirit Airlines started jet flights from Niagara Falls International Airport. [12]

In the summer of 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Allegiant Airlines made the decision to cut the Savannah route. This should not have come as a shock seeing as from 2019 to 2020 this route only carried about 510 passengers.

In October 2020, Spirit Airlines suspended all of their flights from Niagara Falls International Airport. In March 2020, Spirit suspended their flights to Fort Lauderdale. In April, seasonal service to Myrtle Beach began for the season as scheduled. This service was downgraded from the usual Airbus A320, to an Airbus A319. On June 14, service to Myrtle Beach was suspended and service to Fort Lauderdale began again. On June 20, flights to Fort Lauderdale were being operated direct instead of via Plattsburgh. On June 30, flights to Fort Lauderdale were suspended again. Flights to Myrtle Beach resumed on July 6. August 31 marked the day that Spirit suspended all flights and said they would be pulling out of the airport entirely in October. Flights to Fort Lauderdale resumed again for the final time in September on the A320/A320neo. After nine years of service, the final Spirit Airlines flight to Niagara Falls was on October 6. Spirit has not released any plans to return in the future. However, Spirit still has Niagara Falls listed as a destination on their website. [13] [14]

Facilities

The airport is in Class D airspace and has a FAA control tower.

The airport covers 1,067 acres (432 ha) and has three paved runways: [1]

Passenger terminal

On September 2, 2009, Niagara Falls International Airport dedicated its new two-story terminal. With 69,430 square feet (6,450 m2), it has four gates (two jetways and two ground-loading gates), and has room for a Boeing 747 in size. [15] The exterior is designed to reflect Niagara Falls' water flow. Cost was an estimated $42.5 million, $31.5 million for the terminal and $11 million for runway apron and landside improvements. [16] [17]

The previous (old) terminal is now occupied by the Niagara Aerospace Museum, also known as the Ira G. Ross Aerospace Museum.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Allegiant Air [18] Orlando/Sanford, Punta Gorda (FL), St. Petersburg/Clearwater

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Quest Diagnostics Pittsburgh, Rochester

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from IAG
(January 2023 - December 2023) [19]
RankAirportPassengersCarriers
1 Punta Gorda, Florida 25,580Allegiant
2 St. Petersburg, Florida 18,010Allegiant
3 Orlando-Sanford, Florida 7,990Allegiant

Nearby airports

Source: AirNav

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rafael Hernández Airport</span> Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

Rafael Hernández International Airport is a joint civil-military airport located in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. It is named after the Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernández Marín. It is Puerto Rico's second largest international airport in terms of passenger movement. It is located in Porta del Sol tourist region, in Puerto Rico's west coast. It is also home to Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen and to the Caribbean Branch of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations. The airport has the longest runway in the Caribbean region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport</span> Second busiest airport serving the Miami metropolitan area, Florida, United States

Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport is a major public airport in Broward County, Florida, United States. It is one of three airports serving the Miami metropolitan area. The airport is off Interstate 595, Interstate 95, U.S. Route 1, Florida State Road A1A, and Florida State Road 5 bounded by the cities Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Dania Beach, 3 miles (5 km) southwest of downtown Fort Lauderdale and 21 miles (34 km) north of Miami.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Wayne International Airport</span> Airport in Fort Wayne, Indiana, US

Fort Wayne International Airport lies eight miles southwest of Fort Wayne, in Allen County, Indiana, United States. It is owned by the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport</span> Third busiest airport serving the Tampa Bay area, Florida, United States

St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport is a public/military airport in Pinellas County, Florida, United States, serving the Tampa Bay Area. It is right on the northeast municipal boundary of Pinellas Park, 9 miles (14 km) north of downtown St. Petersburg, 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Clearwater, and 17 miles (27 km) southwest of Tampa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Key West International Airport</span> International airport in Key West, Florida

Key West International Airport is an international airport located in the City of Key West in Monroe County, Florida, United States, 2 miles east of the main commercial center of Key West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melbourne Orlando International Airport</span> Airport in Florida, United States

Melbourne Orlando International Airport is a public airport 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northwest of downtown Melbourne, in Brevard County, Florida, United States, and 50 miles (80.5 km) southeast of Orlando, located on central Florida's Space Coast. The airport is reached by NASA Boulevard. It is governed by a seven-member board which is appointed by the Melbourne City Council and the private sector. The airport budget is part of the Melbourne municipal budget; the airport receives no local tax dollars. The projected expenses for 2010 were $14.1 million. The executive director of the airport is Greg Donovan, A.A.E.

Tallahassee International Airport Airport in Florida, U.S.

Tallahassee International Airport is a city-owned airport five miles southwest of downtown Tallahassee, in Leon County, Florida, United States. It serves the state capital of Florida, and its surrounding areas; it is one of the major airports in north Florida, the others being Pensacola, Northwest Florida Beaches, and Jacksonville. Despite its name, it does not service any international destinations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Niagara International Airport</span> Airport in New York, US

Buffalo Niagara International Airport is in Cheektowaga, New York, United States. The airport serves Buffalo, New York and Niagara Falls, New York United States, and the southern Golden Horseshoe region of Ontario, Canada. It is the third-busiest airport in the state of New York and the busiest inside of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area. It is about 11 miles (18 km) east of Downtown Buffalo and 60 miles (97 km) southeast of Toronto. The airport covers 1,000 acres (400 ha).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yeager Airport</span> Airport in Kanawha County, West Virginia

West Virginia International Yeager Airport is a public airport 3 miles (4.8 km) east of downtown Charleston, in unincorporated Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. It is owned by the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority. The airport hosts McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, home to eight C-130 Hercules aircraft of the West Virginia Air National Guard's 130th Airlift Wing, an Air Mobility Command (AMC)-gained unit of the West Virginia Air National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbia Metropolitan Airport</span> Airport in South Carolina, United States

Columbia Metropolitan Airport is the main commercial airport for Columbia and the Midlands region of South Carolina, United States. The airport is located in West Columbia, five miles (8.0 km) southwest of Columbia, in Lexington County. It is surrounded by the city of Cayce and the towns of Springdale, Pine Ridge, and South Congaree. The airport is a regional cargo hub for UPS Airlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billings Logan International Airport</span> Public airport in Billings, Montana, United States

Billings Logan International Airport is in the western United States, two miles northwest of downtown Billings, in Yellowstone County, Montana. It is the fourth largest airport in Montana, having been surpassed in recent years by Bozeman, Missoula, and Flathead County (Kalispell) in both number of gates as well as annual enplanements. Owned by the city of Billings, the airport is on top of the Rims, a 500-foot (150 m) cliff overlooking the downtown core, and covers 2,500 acres of land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shreveport Regional Airport</span> Airport in Shreveport, Louisiana

Shreveport Regional Airport is a public use airport in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States. It is owned by the City of Shreveport and located four nautical miles (7 km) southwest of its central business district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glacier Park International Airport</span> Airport in Montana, United States

Glacier Park International Airport is in Flathead County, Montana, United States, six miles northeast of Kalispell. The airport is owned and operated by the Flathead Municipal Airport Authority, a public agency created by the county in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln Airport (Nebraska)</span> Public airport and military airbase serving Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Lincoln Airport is a joint public/military airport five miles (8.0 km) northwest of downtown Lincoln, the state capital, in Lancaster County, Nebraska, United States. It is owned by the Lincoln Airport Authority and is the second-largest airport in Nebraska. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2023–2027 in which it is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility. It has four gates with jetways, to be, as of February 2022, expanded to six.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daytona Beach International Airport</span> Airport within Daytona Beach city limits

Daytona Beach International Airport is a county-owned airport located three miles (5 km) southwest of Daytona Beach, next to Daytona International Speedway, in Volusia County, Florida, United States. The airport has 3 runways, a six-gate domestic terminal, and an international terminal. Daytona Beach is the headquarters of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plattsburgh International Airport</span> Airport in Town of Plattsburgh, NY

Plattsburgh International Airport is a county public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) south of the central business district of the city of Plattsburgh, within the Town of Plattsburgh in Clinton County, New York, United States. About 85 percent of the airport's passengers in 2013 were Canadians, mostly from Montreal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manchester–Boston Regional Airport</span> Public airport in Manchester and Londonderry, New Hampshire, United States

Manchester–Boston Regional Airport, commonly referred to as Manchester Airport, is a public use airport 3 miles (5 km) south of the central business district of Manchester, New Hampshire, United States on the border of Hillsborough and Rockingham counties. It is owned by the City of Manchester, and is in the southern part of the city on the border with Londonderry, New Hampshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakeland Linder International Airport</span> Airport in Lakeland, Florida

Lakeland Linder International Airport is a public airport five miles southwest of Lakeland, in Polk County, Florida. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 categorized it as a national reliever facility for Tampa International Airport. The airport has a Class 1 Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 139 operating certificate allowing passenger airline flights.

Buffalo Airfield is a privately owned, public use airport located six nautical miles southeast of the central business district of Buffalo, in Erie County, New York, United States. It is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a reliever airport.

North Buffalo Suburban Airport is a privately owned, public use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) south of the central business district of Lockport, a city in Niagara County, New York, United States.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. 1 2 3 FAA Airport Form 5010 for IAG PDF , effective October 25, 2007
  2. ↑ NFTA. "Niagara Falls International Airport". www.niagarafallsairport.com.
  3. ↑ Niagara Falls International (IAG) at transtats.bts.gov, Retrieved April 24, 2015
  4. ↑ Air France Rider (August 27, 2014). "✈ Diverted Air France B747-428 Landing @ IAG Niagara Falls". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021 – via YouTube.
  5. ↑ http://www.departedflights.com, Spring/Summer 1998 Kiwi International Air Lines route map
  6. ↑ "Direct Air expands service in Falls". Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, New York). November 20, 2010.
  7. ↑ Chambliss, John (June 12, 2011). "New Airline Drawing Northern Interest to Lakeland". The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida).
  8. ↑ Heath, Dan (April 12, 2012). "Direct Air bankruptcy goes to Chapter 7". Plattsburgh Press-Republican. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Direct Air cancels Falls flights". Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, New York). March 12, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Additional airlines not in Niagara Falls International Airport's foreseeable future". Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, New York). August 27, 2017.
  11. ↑ [ dead link ]
  12. ↑ "Airport now has Vision: Third carrier company will soon be offering flights from the Falls to Florida". Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, New York). November 11, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Spirit Cutting Niagara Falls Flights – How else Can You Visit?". September 27, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Spirit to depart Falls airport; Prior ends 59-year run at Buffalo facility | Latest Headlines | buffalonews.com".
  15. ↑ Airport Specifications at niagarafallsairport.com
  16. ↑ Fink, James (August 28, 2009). "Takeoff set for new NF airport terminal". bizjournals.com.
  17. ↑ "IAG New Terminal". Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  18. ↑ "Route Map".
  19. ↑ "Niagara Falls, NY: Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. August 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.