Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport

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Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport
IATA: PHF - ICAO: KPHF
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator The Peninsula Airport Commission
Serves Newport News, Virginia
Elevation AMSL 43 ft (13 m)
Coordinates 37°07′55″N, 76°29′35″W
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
7/25 8,003 2,439 Concrete
2/20 6,526 1,989 Concrete

Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (IATA: PHF, ICAO: KPHF) is an airport located 9 mi (14 km) northwest of Newport News, Virginia, and serves the entire Hampton Roads metropolitan area along with Norfolk International Airport in Norfolk. Newport News/Williamsburg International does not currently handle any international passenger flights, but does service a number of corporate international flights.

There are currently two runways (7-25 and 2-20). A third runway (7L-25R) is planned for completion in 2012.

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[edit] History

In 1946, the Virginia Legislature created the Peninsula Airport Commission (PAC) to determine a location for and establish a new commercial airport to serve the cities of Newport News, Hampton, and Warwick. An agreement was reached with the US War Asset Administration in 1947 to transfer 924 acres (3.7 km²) of the former Camp Patrick Henry, a World War II US Army base, to the PAC as the site for the new airport.

The airport was originally named Patrick Henry Airport. It was assigned the designator PHF, representing Patrick Henry Field. The first runway built was Runway 2-20, a 3500-foot runway, followed by Runway 6-24 (later redesignated as Runway 7-25). Commercial airline service began in November 1949. The airport was serviced by Piedmont Airlines and Capital Airlines.

In 1951, the original passenger terminal was damaged by a fire. An upgraded traffic control tower was constructed and began operation and Runway 6-24 was extended to 5,000 feet (1,500 m) for larger four-engine aircraft during 1952. A new passenger terminal was opened in 1955.

Between 1952 and the 1970, three other airlines United Airlines, National Airlines, and USAir extended service to the airport. Both runways were extended during this period to their current lengths of 6526 feet (1989 m) Runway 2-20, and 8003 feet (2439 m) Runway 7-25. The airport was renamed "Patrick Henry International Airport" in the mid 1970s. A US Customs facility was added to the passenger terminal building to allow international flights (both commercial and corporate) access to the airfield. The airport now consists of 1,800 acres, with most of it in the city of Newport News and part of runway 20 in York County.

When the United States Congress deregulated the airlines in 1978, many airlines serving Patrick Henry Airport consolidated their southeast Virginia services at other area airports. This resulted in Patrick Henry International Airport losing all jet services. By 1979 the airport only offered small commuter flights to very few destinations.

In 1985, USAir added large jet services from Pittsburgh and Washington, DC. These jet services were pulled in 1995 and the airline's US Airways Express division now serves Philadelphia and Charlotte from the airport. The PAC renamed the facility Newport News/ Williamsburg International Airport in September 1990. A new terminal was opened in late 1992. AirTran Airways started service from the airport to Atlanta in 1995, and now also flies to Boston, Fort Lauderdale, New York City, and Orlando. In May 2008, AirTran will discontinue service to Tampa and replace it with an additional route to LaGuardia NYC. Delta Connection began service from Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport to Atlanta in February, 2002, and has since had service until recently to Boston.

When the original control tower was shut down in July 2007 with the opening of the state of the art 147ft tall new tower, it had been the oldest operating control tower on the east coast with continuous service for 55 years.

[edit] Expansion

In light of steady growth at the airport (which breaks its own record for passenger enplanements almost every month), the airport has launched a massive expansion effort. Currently underway is the construction of two new parking lots, adding approximately 800 parking spaces, and a new air traffic control tower was completed in July 2007, to replace the current one built in 1951. A new three-level parking garage opened in June 2007, with two more garages planned. The current set of baggage claim carousels, numbering two, will be supplemented with an additional three by 2008. A second concourse will begin construction in the summer of 2008, with completion by 2009, which will have reserved space for Customs and FIS for international flights. Further plans call for an additional three concourses, a third runway of 10,000ft, a new General Aviation terminal, and extending the existing runways to 10,000ft. Additional taxiways are planned as well.

The airport has handled over one million passengers every year since 2005, with each succeeding year showing significant increases. The airport is considered the third-fastest growing airport in the United States.

Currently, rumors abound that the substantial expansions may coincide with the announcement of a new carrier to come to the airport - with some speculation going as far as direct UK-Newport News flights. This rumor, though hardly substantiated, has circulated in a number of circles within Hampton Roads, fueled by coming Jamestown 2007 festivities and the recent decision by UK industrial giant Wolseley plc to make Newport News their North American headquarters.

[edit] Airlines

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