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Tucson International Airport

Coordinates:32°06′58″N110°56′28″W/ 32.11611°N 110.94111°W/32.11611; -110.94111
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Tucson International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Tucson
OperatorTucson Airport Authority
ServesTucson, Arizona
ElevationAMSL2,643 ft / 806 m
Coordinates32°06′58″N110°56′28″W/ 32.11611°N 110.94111°W/32.11611; -110.94111
Websiteflytucson
Maps
FAA diagram (June 2009)
FAAdiagram (June 2009)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
12/30 10,996 3,352 Asphalt
4/22 7,000 2,134 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Aircraft operations150,309
Total passengers3,751,557
Source:Federal Aviation Administration[1]
Statistics: Tucson Airport Authority[2][3]

Tucson International Airport(IATA:TUS,ICAO:KTUS,FAALID:TUS) is a civil-military airport owned by the City of Tucson 8 miles (7.0 nmi; 13 km) south of downtownTucson,inPima County,Arizona,United States.[1]It is the second busiest airport in Arizona, afterPhoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

TheNational Plan of Integrated Airport Systemsfor 2011–2015categorizedit as aprimary commercial serviceairport since it has over 10,000 passenger boardings per year.[4]Federal Aviation Administrationrecords say the airport had 1,779,679 enplanements in 2011, a decrease from 1,844,228 in 2010.[5]

Tucson International is operated on a long-term lease by the Tucson Airport Authority, which also operatesRyan Airfield,a general aviation airport. Public transportation to the airport isSun Tranbus routes No. 11 and No. 25.

History

[edit]

In 1919, Tucson opened the first municipally owned airport in the United States. In 1928 commercial flights began with Standard Airlines (laterAmerican Airlines); regularairmailservice began in 1930. The 1936 airport directory shows Tucson Municipal at32°11′N110°55′W/ 32.183°N 110.917°W/32.183; -110.917(Tucson Municipal Airport (1936))"just north of the railroad" (since removed) referring to the site that was then being used as the city's airport southeast of the intersection of S. Park Avenue and E. 36th Street.

DuringWorld War IIthe airfield was used by theUnited States Army Air ForcesAir Technical Service Command.A contract flying school was operated by the USAAF West Coast Training Center from July 25, 1942, until September 1944.

In 1948, theTucson Airport Authoritywas created as anon-profit corporationto operate the airport and oversee policy decisions. The nine member board is elected by a group of up to 115 volunteer residents fromPima County, Arizona.The airport was moved to its current location south of Valencia Road and operated on the west ramp out of three hangars vacated by World War II military manufacturing companies. A new control tower was constructed in 1958 to replace the original WWII wooden framed version.

The Tucson Airport Authority was also involved in bringing theHughes Missile Plant,now known asAir Force Plant 44and operated byRaytheon,to Tucson. TAA sold the land to the Hughes Aircraft Co., for the construction of the plant.[6]

In March 1956, the Civil Aeronautics Board approved routes out of Tucson forTrans World Airlines(TWA), over opposition from American Airlines, but flights did not begin until December of that year.[7]

In April 1957, airlines scheduled 21 departures a day: 15 American, 4 TWA, and 2Frontier.The first jet flights wereAmerican AirlinesBoeing 707sandBoeing 720saround September 1960. American began flying wide-bodyMcDonnell Douglas DC-10sfrom Tucson nonstop toDallas/Ft. Worth[8]and toChicagoviaPhoenixbeginning in fall 1971 and continuing through the 1970s.[9]In 1981,Eastern Airlineswas operating directAirbus A300wide-body service toAtlantavia an en-route stop in Phoenix.[10]In the late 1980s American was flyingBoeing 767-200snonstop to Dallas/Ft. Worth.[11]The DC-10, A300, and 767 were the largest airliners ever to serve Tucson on scheduled passenger flights.

On November 15, 1963, a new terminal designed by Terry Atkinson opened with an international inspection station. TheTucson International Airport[12][13]name was legitimate:Aeronaves de Mexicohad begunDouglas DC-6service toHermosilloand beyond in 1961. In the mid-1970s successor airlineAeromexicoflewMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-30snonstop to Hermosillo and on toCiudad Obregon,Culiacan,GuadalajaraandMexico City.[14]Bonanza Air Linesbegan DC-9 jet service to Mexico in the late 1960s with flights toMazatlan,La PazandPuerto Vallarta,[15]and successor airlinesAir WestandHughes Airwestflew DC-9s from Tucson to Mexico with their service being extended to Guadalajara, Mazatlan, La Paz and Puerto Vallarta.[16][17] By late 1989, three Mexican air carriers were serving the airport:Aero Californiawith nonstopDouglas DC-9-10jet service from Los Cabos,Aeromexicowith nonstopMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-30jet service from bothGuaymasand Hermosillo, andAviacion del Noroestewith nonstopFokker F27turboprop service from Hermosillo.[18]

The terminal underwent minor remodeling during the 1960s and 1970s, and its interior was featured in the 1974 filmDeath WishstarringCharles Bronson.

From the early 1970s to the early 1980sCochise Airlineswas based in Tucson. This commuter airline operatedCessna 402s,Convair 440s,de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin OttersandSwearingen Metroliners.Cochise scheduled passenger flights to cities in Arizona and southern California.

A remodeling in 1985 doubled the size of the terminal from 150,000 to 300,000 sq ft and rebuilt the concourse into separate, two-level structures with jet bridges.[19]

In 1987 the airport lengthened the primary runway a half-mile to the southeast for noise abatement reasons and installed arresting barriers for military planes.[20]

A Concourse Renovation Project was finished in 2005—the last phase of a remodeling begun in 2000 that added 82,000 sq ft (7,600 m2) to ticketing and baggage claim designed byHNTB.[21]On March 19, 2008, the previous East and West concourses and gates were renumbered with the East Concourse becoming Concourse A: Gates A1–A9, and the West Concourse becoming Concourse B: Gates B1–B11.

In 2019, the Tucson Airport became the third facility in Arizona with anATP Flight Schooltraining center.[22]

In January 2014, the Tucson Airport Authority board approved a no-cost, 20-year property lease with the Federal Aviation Administration for a property on which to build a new federally-funded control tower to replace the 1950s vintage tower currently in use. The new tower is located on the south side of the airport, near Aero Park Blvd.

On April 6, 2016, the Tucson Airport Authority announced the Terminal Optimization Program (TOP). The program (campaign name,A Brighter TUS) includes a variety of terminal improvements, including relocation and improved capacity at the Security Screening Checkpoints, enhanced concession and revenue opportunities, upgrade of building systems, and maximizing use of space. Renovation began in June 2016 and was completed in November 2017.[23]

Effective November 30, 2023, the airport closed runway 11R/29L permanently and began construction of a new south parallel runway and center taxiway. The project will take about 2 years to complete and open sometime in 2026. Runway 11L/29R was renumbered 12/30 and the crosswind runway 3/21 was renumbered 4/22. When completed, the new parallel runway will be designated 12R/30L and 12/30 will be designated 12L/30R.[24]

Military use

[edit]

Tucson International Airport hostsMorris Air National Guard Base,known as Tucson Air National Guard Base prior to November 2018, a 92-acre (37 ha) complex on the northwest corner of the airport that is home to the162nd Wing(162 WG), anAir Education and Training Command(AETC)-gained unit of theArizona Air National Guard.Military use of Tucson Airport began in 1956, when theArizona Air National Guardactivated the152d Fighter Interceptor Squadron,anAir Defense Command(ADC)-gained unit, which operated Korean War vintageF-86A Sabres.At that time the "base" consisted of an old adobe farmhouse and a dirt-floor hangar with enough space for three aircraft. During its history at TUS, the wing has operated theF-86 Sabre,F-100 Super Sabre,F-102 Delta Dagger,A-7 Corsair IIandGeneral Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falconaircraft.

Today the 162nd Wing is the largestAir National Guardfighter unit in the United States, and operates over 70 F-16C/D/E/F aircraft in three squadrons. The wing's F-16s augment the active Air Force's56th Fighter Wing(56 FW) atLuke AFB,Arizona as a Formal Training Unit (FTU) for training Regular Air Force,Air Force Reserve Command,Air National GuardandNATOand allies' F-16 pilots.

The wing also hosts theAir National Guard/Air Force Reserve Command(ANG AFRC)Command Test Center(AATC) as a tenant unit, which conducts operational testing on behalf of the Air Reserve Component. The 162 WG also hosts "Snowbird" operations during the winter months for Air Force,Air Force Reserve Command,andAir National GuardF-16 andFairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt IIunits from northern tier bases in the continental United States, as well asCanadian ForcesandRoyal Air Forceflying units.[25][26]

Not counting students or transient flight crews, the installation employs over 1,700 personnel, over 1,100 of whom are full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) and Air Reserve Technician (ART) personnel, and the remainder traditional part-time Air National Guardsmen. Although an AETC organization, the 162nd also maintains an F-16 Alert Detachment forU.S. Northern Command/NORADandAFNORTHat nearbyDavis-Monthan AFBin support ofOperation Noble Eagle.

Facilities

[edit]
Baggage claim area; Belt 5 is used by Southwest Airlines exclusively.
Rental car complex (north to south end)

The airport covers 7,938acres(3,212ha) at an elevation of 2,643ft(806m). It has two asphaltrunways:[1][27]

  • Runway 12/30: 10,996 ft × 150 ft (3,352 m × 46 m), withILS
  • Runway 4/22: 7,000 ft × 150 ft (2,134 m × 46 m)
  • Runway 11R/29L: 8,408 ft × 75 ft (2,563 m × 23 m) (closed permanently)

In the year ending December 31, 2022, the airport had 142,389 operations, average 390 per day: 45%general aviation,23% airline, 13%air taxi,and 19% military. 416 aircraft were then based at the airport: 160 single-engine, 14 multi-engine, 161 jet, 73 military, and 8 helicopters.[1]

Terminal

[edit]

Tucson International Airport has one terminal. It contains three concourses: Concourse A has nine gates, A1 through A9, Concourse B has eleven gates, B1 through B11. Concourse C is in a separate building west of the main terminal and has one gate, C1. There are three levels inside the main terminal. The ground level is designated for baggage claim and passenger pick-up. The upper level includes airline ticketing, concessions, airline gates and TSA. The third level is designated for meetings and conference rooms and also includes the Tucson Airport Authority offices. Currently, Tucson International Airport offers daily nonstop airline service to 23 destination airports across the U.S. and Canada.[28]Additionally, there are one-stop connections to more than 400 destinations around the world. Tucson International Airport's terminal is similar to that of the terminal ofSeattle–Tacoma International Airport,with both in the shape of a wide X.

Both concourses inside the main terminal offer food, beverage, and shopping, and free wireless internet and charging stations.[29]

Airlines and destinations

[edit]

Passenger

[edit]
AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Alaska AirlinesSeattle/Tacoma
Seasonal:Orange County,[30]Portland (OR),Sacramento(begins January 6, 2025)[31]		[32]
American AirlinesChicago–O'Hare,Dallas/Fort Worth,Phoenix–Sky Harbor[33]
American EagleLos Angeles,Phoenix–Sky Harbor[33]
Delta Air LinesAtlanta
Seasonal:Minneapolis/St. Paul,Seattle/Tacoma		[34]
Delta ConnectionLos Angeles,Salt Lake City
Seasonal:Seattle/Tacoma		[34]
Southwest AirlinesChicago–Midway,Dallas–Love,[35]Denver,Houston–Hobby,Las Vegas,Los Angeles,Sacramento(begins March 8, 2025),[36]San Diego[37]
Sun Country AirlinesSeasonal:Minneapolis/St. Paul[38]
United AirlinesSeasonal:Chicago–O'Hare,Denver,Houston–Intercontinental[39]
United ExpressDenver,Houston–Intercontinental,San Francisco
Seasonal:Chicago–O'Hare		[39]

Cargo

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
AmeriflightNogales,Phoenix–Sky Harbor
DHL AviationCincinnati,Los Angeles
FedEx ExpressMemphis
Freight Runners ExpressFargo

Statistics

[edit]

Top destinations

[edit]
Busiest domestic routes from TUS (April 2023 – March 2024)[40]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 TexasDallas/Fort Worth, Texas 368,000 American
2 ColoradoDenver, Colorado 273,000 Southwest, United
3 ArizonaPhoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona 221,000 American
4 CaliforniaLos Angeles, California 181,000 American, Delta, Southwest
5 NevadaLas Vegas, Nevada 146,000 Southwest
6 Georgia (U.S. state)Atlanta, Georgia 139,000 Delta
7 Washington (state)Seattle/Tacoma, Washington 121,000 Alaska, Delta
8 IllinoisChicago–O'Hare, Illinois 109,000 American, United
9 UtahSalt Lake City, Utah 76,000 Delta
10 TexasHouston–Intercontinental, Texas 66,000 United

Airline market share

[edit]
Largest airlines at TUS
(April 2023 – March 2024)[40]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 American Airlines 1,016,000 27.24%
2 Southwest Airlines 975,000 26.13%
3 Skywest Airlines 827,000 22.16%
4 Delta Air Lines 364,000 9.76%
5 United Airlines 260,000 6.96%
Others 289,000 7.76%

Annual traffic

[edit]
Traffic by fiscal year at TUS, 2008-present[41]
Fiscal year Passenger volume Change over previous year Aircraft operations Freight (lbs)
2008 4,395,205
2009 3,669,924 Decrease016.50%
2010 3,709,178 Increase01.07%
2011 3,676,894 Decrease00.87%
2012 3,649,783 Decrease00.74% 145,164 71,431,830
2013 3,308,620 Decrease09.35% 138,263 68,359,820
2014 3,239,849 Decrease02.08% 139,420 64,796,533
2015 3,181,901 Decrease01.79% 141,422 66,184,562
2016 3,228,389 Increase01.46% 139,555 61,837,690
2017 3,413,451 Increase05.73% 132,867 57,718,854
2018 3,551,159 Increase04.03% 133,764 64,975,135
2019 3,783,535 Increase06.54% 130,076 64,655,515
2020 2,283,777 Decrease039.63% 123,783 65,266,408
2021 2,257,581 Decrease01.14% 130,076 64,655,515
2022 3,317,494 Increase046.95% 137,373 67,089,271
2023 3,751,557 Increase013.08% 150,309 61,929,774

Accidents and incidents

[edit]
  • On June 3, 1977,Continental AirlinesFlight 63, aBoeing 727-224 Advanced, struck powerlines and two utility poles after takeoff due to awindshearencounter. The aircraft returned safely to TUS with no injuries to passengers or crew. The plane was substantially damaged but was repaired and placed back into service.[42]
  • On December 30, 1989, anAmerica WestBoeing 737-204 (Flight 450, Registration N198AW) was en route to the Tucson International Airport when a fire in the wheel well burned through hydraulic cabling. During landing braking was ineffective and the aircraft overran the end of the runway. After colliding with a concrete structure the plane came to a stop. The aircraft was written off.[43][44]
  • On January 23, 2017, a Beechcraft 300 crashed near a parking structure shortly after takeoff, killing the two people on board.[45]

References

[edit]
  1. ^abcdFAA Airport Form 5010 for TUSPDF
  2. ^Tucson Airport Authority. effective September 4, 2014.
  3. ^"Statistics".Tucson Airport Authority. January 2019.RetrievedFebruary 13,2023.
  4. ^ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A"(PDF,2.03 MB).faa.gov.Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010.
  5. ^ "Enplanements for CY 2011"(PDF, 1.7 MB).faa.gov.Federal Aviation Administration. October 9, 2012.
  6. ^David Leighton,The History of the Hughes Missile Plant In Tucson, 1947–1960,Private Publication, 2015 (Pg.4)
  7. ^David Leighton,The History of the Hughes Missile Plant In Tucson, 1947–1960,Private Publication, 2015 (Pgs.24 & 27)
  8. ^http:// departedflights,December 1, 1974 American timetable
  9. ^http:// departedflights,January 20, 1979 American timetable
  10. ^"Eastern Air Lines May 1, 1981 Route Map".
  11. ^http:// departedflights,December 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide
  12. ^"Nov. 16: Today in Arizona History".Arizona Daily Star.November 16, 2011.RetrievedJuly 3,2012.
  13. ^"List of The Most Common Types of Scholarships"(PDF).mapptucson.org.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 24, 2012.RetrievedJuly 3,2012.
  14. ^February 1, 1976 Official Airline Guide
  15. ^http:// timetableimages,April 28, 1968 Bonanza timetable
  16. ^http:// timetableimages,July 1, 1968 Air West timetable
  17. ^http:// departedflights,July 1, 1972 Hughes Airwest timetable
  18. ^"TUS89intro".
  19. ^"History of Tucson Airport Authority"(PDF).Tucson Airport Authority. 2014. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on May 24, 2014.RetrievedMay 12,2015.
  20. ^"Tucson airport runway work expected to cut down noise".Arizona Daily Star.February 11, 1987. p. C10.RetrievedApril 14,2020.
  21. ^"HNTB – Tucson Airport Expansion".Archived fromthe originalon July 1, 2012.RetrievedJune 2,2012.
  22. ^Rico, Gabriela (December 31, 2019)."Tucson Real Estate: New flight school lands at Tucson airport".Arizona Daily Star.RetrievedSeptember 22,2023.
  23. ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on May 19, 2016.RetrievedMay 25,2016.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^"TUS Long-Term Airfield Changes".faa.gov.RetrievedDecember 1,2023.
  25. ^"AATC > Home".aatc.ang.af.mil.
  26. ^"162nd Wing > Home".162wing.ang.af.mil.
  27. ^"TUS airport data at skyvector".skyvector.RetrievedAugust 18,2022.
  28. ^"Airlines and Flights".TIA.
  29. ^"Travel Services".TIA.
  30. ^"Alaska Airlines Schedules Orange County – Tucson Dec 2023 Launch".Aeroroutes.RetrievedMay 12,2023.
  31. ^"Alaska Airlines expands winter travel options with 18 exciting new sun and ski routes".Alaska Airlines News & Stories.July 10, 2024.RetrievedJuly 10,2024.
  32. ^Airlines, Alaska."Flight Timetable".Alaska Airlines.RetrievedJanuary 29,2017.
  33. ^ab"Flight schedules and notifications".RetrievedJune 5,2024.
  34. ^ab"Flight Schedules".RetrievedJune 5,2024.
  35. ^"Southwest Airlines Sep – Nov 2023 Domestic Network Additions – 14JUN23".Aeroroutes.RetrievedJune 14,2023.
  36. ^Salerno, Michael (August 22, 2024)."Southwest Airlines' newest Arizona nonstop: How to get the best fare".The Arizona Republic.RetrievedAugust 22,2024.
  37. ^"Check Flight Schedules".RetrievedJanuary 7,2017.
  38. ^"Sun Country Airlines".Archived fromthe originalon October 14, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 7,2017.
  39. ^ab"Timetable".Archived fromthe originalon January 28, 2017.RetrievedJune 5,2024.
  40. ^ab"RITA – BTS – Transtats".transtats.bts.gov.RetrievedMay 26,2024.
  41. ^"Statistics".Tucson Airport Authority.RetrievedFebruary 13,2023.
  42. ^Accident description for N32725at theAviation Safety Network.Retrieved on February 14, 2023.
  43. ^"LAX90FA061".National Transportation Safety Board.December 30, 1989.
  44. ^Harro Ranter (December 30, 1989)."ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-204 N198AW Tucson International Airport, AZ (TUS)".
  45. ^"2 killed when plane taking off crashes at Tucson airport".Arizona Daily Star.January 23, 2017.
Other sources
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related toTucson International Airport.
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