| Nashville International Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: BNA – ICAO: KBNA
BNA
|
|||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner | MNAA | ||
| Operator | Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority | ||
| Location | Nashville, Tennessee | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 599 ft / 183 m | ||
| Website | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 2L/20R | 7,703 | 2,348 | Concrete |
| 2C/20C | 8,001 | 2,438 | Concrete |
| 2R/20L | 8,000 | 2,438 | Concrete |
| 13/31 | 11,030 | 3,362 | Concrete |
| Statistics (2009) | |||
| Aircraft operations | 190,993 | ||
| Based aircraft | 100 | ||
Nashville International Airport (IATA: BNA, ICAO: KBNA) is a joint civil-military airport in southeastern Nashville, Tennessee. It was established in 1937 as Berry Field, from which it derives it's IATA and ICAO airport codes;Berry Field, NAshville. It was referred to as Berry Field Nashville Airport wuntil 1988 when the name was changed to reflect plans for international flights with its new status as an American Airlines hub. American ceased hub operations at Nashville in the mid 1990s, with Southwest Airlines designating Nashville as a focus city and picking up most of American's market share shortly thereafter.
The airport has four runways, the longest of which is 11,030 feet (3,360 m) long, making it capable of handling traffic from any aircraft currently in use. The airport served nearly 9,160,000 passengers and over 87,000 LT (88,000,000 kg) of cargo in 2011, making it the 35th busiest airport in the United States. The terminal complex includes a 900,000-square-foot (84,000 m2) passenger terminal with 47 air carrier gates and up to 78 commuter parking positions. It contributes $3.74 billion in economic activity and $1.18 billion in wages and more than 39,700 jobs annually to the regional economy. The Airport serves a trade area of 79 counties in Middle Tennessee, southern Kentucky, and northern Alabama. The airport is served by MTA bus route 18, which provides express and local service between the airport and downtown Nashville.[1]
Berry Field Air National Guard Base is located at Nashville International Airport. The base is home to the 118th Airlift Wing, an Air National Guard unit operationally-gained by the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) flying the Lockheed C-130, as well as the headquarters of the Tennessee Air National Guard.
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In 1935, with both the city of Nashville and the nascent air transportation industry rapidly expanding, the need for a dedicated commercial airport was realized. A Citizens Committee was organized by mayor Hillary Howse to research a location for a new airport on the outskirts of the city. A plot of land 340 acres (1.4 km2) in size along Dixie Parkway (now Murfreesboro Road) composed of four adjoining farms was selected as the site, and construction began in 1936 as a Works Progress Administration project. The airport opened in June 1937 as Berry Field, named after Harry S. Berry, the Tennessee administrator for the Works Progress Administration. The new airport included a 4,000 feet (1,200 m) long concrete runway, a passenger terminal building, two hangars, and a flashing airport beacon. Within its first year of operation, Berry Field served 189,000 passengers.[2]
During World War II the airfield was requisitioned by the United States Army Air Force Air Transport Command as the headquarters for the 4th Ferrying Command for movement of new aircraft from the United States to overseas locations.[2] During this time, the Federal government expanded the airport to 1,500 acres (6.1 km2). At the end of the war, the airport was returned to the control of the city.[2]
Airline traffic began to increase in the postwar period, including in Nashville. The April 1957 OAG shows 50 weekday departures: 24 on American Airlines, 22 on Eastern Air Lines, two on Braniff International Airways and two on Ozark Air Lines. Even though the airport had been significantly enlarged through military construction during World War 2, the predecessor to the MNAA, the City Aviation Department, initiated a plan to expand and modernize the airport to meet growing needs for the Nashville and Middle Tennessee commercial market in 1958.[2]
In 1960, Nashville's inaugural scheduled jet service began, and in 1961 the planned expansion was finalized with the completion of a new, 145,000 square feet (13,500 m2) terminal facility off of Briley Parkway. In 1961, the increased passenger capacity was being well used, with 532,790 passengers and 6 airlines being served by the airport that year. This facility was the setting for several scenes in the 1975 Robert Altman film Nashville. In 1963, the single paved runway (now Runway 2L-20R) was extended by 600 feet (180 m), and an additional crosswind runway (13-31) was constructed to improve operations in varying weather conditions.[2]
By the 1970s, the airport was again in need of major expansion and modernization. With the city of Nashville continuing to expand, the facilities built in the 1960s were not large enough to handle increasing aircraft sizes and passenger loads. In 1973, the newly created Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority finalized a Master Plan to coordinate the long term growth of the airport along projected increases in needed passenger capacity. This plan included the building of a new terminal and a new parallel runway across Donelson Pike to handle increasing operations by reducing the time between consecutive takeoffs and landings.[2]
The current passenger facility on Donelson Pike opened in 1987, and was designed for a new American Airlines hub. A year later it was renamed Nashville International Airport/Berry Field to reflect its additional international service. While it is now rare to see the "Berry Field" portion used, the airport's IATA code is short for Berry Field NAshville. In 1989, the planned parallel runway (2R-20L) was completed and opened for use.[2]
Initially, American Airlines scheduled 135 flights daily to 60 cities; an international wing was built in Concourse A for flights to London. American's service peaked in 1992, after which flights were gradually scaled back, eventually resulting in the cessation of hub operations. Southwest Airlines quickly filled the void by seizing 47% of the Nashville market and making it a focus city. Today Nashville International Airport is served by 14 carriers with more than 375 average daily arriving and departing flights at 47 air carrier gates. Nashville International has direct air service to 90 markets.[3]
| Fiscal Year | Passengers (thousands) |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 9,160 |
| 2010 | 8,800 |
| 2009 | 8,705 |
| 2008 | 9,218 |
| 2007 | 9,698 |
| 2006 | 9,480 |
| 2005 | 9,072 |
| 2004 | 8,521 |
| 2003 | 7,817 |
| 2002 | 7,615 |
In 2002, Embraer Aircraft Maintenance Services (EAMS) selected Nashville as the location for its Regional Airline Support Facility. This facility was built on the site of the demolished 1961 terminal building.[5]
In October 2006, the Nashville Metropolitan Airport Authority initiated an extensive renovation of the terminal building. Phase one of the project involved updating and expanding food and vending services, improving flight information systems, and the construction of a new consolidated security checkpoint for all terminals. Phase one was completed in 2009. Phase two of the project involved the expansion of the ticketing and check-in areas, the construction and renovation of bathrooms, and the renovation of the baggage claim areas. Completion of the second phase of the renovation project is scheduled for 2011.[6] In addition to the terminal renovation and expansion, the renovations included expanding parking and a new rental car facility. The new rental car facility, which opened in November 2011, expands the airport's rental car capacity by almost 60% and frees up additional short term parking. The new facility includes a large public artwork installation by artist Ned Kahn.[7] The renovated terminal was named the Robert C. H. Mathews Jr. Terminal in honor of a MNAA board chair in 2011.[2]
In addition to passenger amenities in the terminal and parking areas, the renovations included various improvements to the airport's infrastructure. The largest project was the complete demolition and rebuilding of Runway 2L-20R, one of the airport's original runways, which was completed in August 2010. In addition to the rebuilding of Runway 2L-20R, Runway 2C-20C was closed from September through December 2010 for pavement and concrete rehabilitation. BNA's 91 acres (0.37 km2) of tarmac were also rehabilitated during this project after being funded entirely by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allotments.[8]
BNA is home to an aviation themed art project and gallery entitled "Arts at the Airport". The award-winning Arts at the Airport program reviews and presents works by local, regional, and national artists for the enjoyment and enrichment of Nashville International Airport's passengers and visitors. In addition to visual art, Arts at the Airport includes various live music exhibitions, showcasing Nashville's musical heritage. Arts at the Airport is supported by the MNAA and the Tennessee Arts Commission (TAC), and is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.[9]
Nashville International Airport has 47 gates in four major concourses (of which three are currently in use) located in the the Robert C. H. Mathews Jr. Terminal.[8] Some essential air service commuter flights operate out of a secondary minor terminal run by fixed-base operator Atlantic Aviation.[10]
Concourse A was originally constructed to service American Airlines international flights between Nashville and London. Concourse A has 8 gates, of which 5 are currently occupied.[11] It is now utilized by Frontier Airlines and United Airlines and their respective express subsidiaries and is the smallest concourse in use.[12]
Concourse B is the second largest concourse in BNA with 13 gates, of which 9 are currently occupied.[11] It is utilized by Delta Airlines and US Airways and their respective subsidiaries for domestic flights.[12]
Concourse C is the largest concourse at BNA, featuring a large shopping and dining area and the highest number of gates of any concourse. Concourse C has 24 gates, all of which are currently occupied, although 6 of these gates are inactive.[13] It was originally constructed to be the main concourse for American Airlines during BNA's tenure as a hub, which continues to maintain a large presence in the concourse. It is now mainly utilized by Southwest Airlines for their focus city operations in Nashville, as well as Air Canada, American Airlines and American Eagle.[12]
This concourse, currently closed by the Metro Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA), was constructed as a ground level commuter terminal for American Eagle with 15 ground level commuter aircraft parking spots and gate facilities.[13] All American Eagle flights operated out of Concourse D until, as a cost cutting measure after 9/11, all American Eagle flights were moved to Concourse C to share gates with American Airlines. For a short period of time, Concourse D was used by Corporate Airlines to operate its own regional flights until it became an American Connection and Continental Connection regional affiliate.[14] Currently, the MNAA has no plans to reopen Concourse D. Concourse D is currently occupied by the Transportation Security Administration.[15]
Fixed Base Operator Atlantic Aviation operates a separate terminal from the main commercial terminal that is used mainly for general aviation and charter service. Due to its inability to secure a position at the main terminal and low number of scheduled flights, Tennessee Skies operates scheduled commercial Essential Air Service flights to Jackson Tennessee from this terminal.[10]
Nashville International Airport hosts two airline lounges, a Delta Air Lines Sky Club and an American Airlines Admirals Club. The Sky Club is located adjacent to gate B3, in the same concourse as all of Delta's gates.[16] The Admirals Club is located above gate C12, in the same concourse as most of American's gates. The facility, which was closed after September 11, 2001, reopened on July 11, 2007.[17]
| Airlines | Destinations | Concourse |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Express operated by Jazz Air | Toronto-Pearson | C |
| American Airlines | Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles Seasonal: Miami |
C |
| American Eagle | Boston, Chicago-O'Hare, Miami, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Washington-National | C |
| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta, Detroit Seasonal: Cancún, Salt Lake City |
B |
| Delta Connection operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines | Atlanta, Detroit, Memphis | B |
| Delta Connection operated by Comair | Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, New York-LaGuardia | B |
| Delta Connection operated by Compass Airlines | New York-LaGuardia | B |
| Delta Connection operated by Mesaba Airlines | Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK | B |
| Delta Connection operated by Pinnacle Airlines | Atlanta, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul | B |
| Delta Connection operated by Shuttle America | New York-LaGuardia | B |
| Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines | Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake City | B |
| Frontier Airlines | Denver | A |
| Frontier Express operated by Chautauqua Airlines | Kansas City, Milwaukee | A |
| SeaPort Airlines | Jackson (TN) [begins January 22][18] | Atlantic Aviation Terminal |
| Southwest Airlines | Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham (AL), Charleston (SC), Chicago-Midway, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Denver, Detroit, El Paso, Fort Lauderdale, Greenville-Spartanburg, Houston-Hobby, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Norfolk, Orlando, Panama City (FL), Philadelphia, Phoenix, Raleigh/Durham, San Antonio, San Diego, St. Louis, Tampa Seasonal: Fort Myers [begins January 8, 2012],[19] Oakland, Seattle/Tacoma |
C |
| United Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines | Chicago-O'Hare, Cleveland, Houston-Intercontinental, Newark, Washington-Dulles | A |
| United Express operated by Mesa Airlines | Chicago-O'Hare, Washington-Dulles | A |
| United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines | Chicago-O'Hare, Denver | A |
| United Express operated by Trans States Airlines | Chicago-O'Hare, Washington-Dulles | A |
| US Airways | Charlotte | B |
| US Airways Express operated by Air Wisconsin | Philadelphia, Washington-National | B |
| US Airways Express operated by Mesa Airlines | Charlotte | B |
| US Airways Express operated by Republic Airlines and PSA Airlines | Charlotte, Philadelphia, Washington-National | B |
| TennesseeSkies operated by Pacific Wings | Jackson (TN) | Atlantic Aviation Terminal |
| Rank | City | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta, GA | 300,000 | Delta |
| 2 | Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | 272,000 | American |
| 3 | Denver, CO | 257,000 | Frontier, Southwest, United |
| 4 | Chicago, IL (Midway) | 227,000 | Southwest |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | 215,000 | US Airways |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | 203,000 | Southwest |
| 7 | Detroit, MI | 201,000 | Delta, Southwest |
| 8 | Chicago, IL (O'Hare) | 167,000 | American, United |
| 9 | Orlando, FL | 150,000 | Southwest |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | 140,000 | Southwest, US Airways |
Air cargo integrators, charter cargo airlines and air express companies operate daily from the Nashville Air Cargo all-cargo complex. The complex, located across the airfield from the airport's passenger facility, is within five minutes of Interstate 40. It provides taxiway access to Nashville International's three parallel runways and crosswind international runway. The airport has seen considerable growth in its cargo offerings in recent years with the addition of a 70,000 sq ft (7,000 m2) FedEx facility at BNA. China Airlines ceased operations at Nashville on July 31, 2009. For September 2010-2011, BNA had 87,000,000 lb (39,463,000 kg) of cargo pass through its facilities.[20]
Airlines with cargo operations at Nashville International Airport are: