Memphis International Airport is located nine miles from downtown Memphis. The airport is in the southeastern section of the city. According to the airport's website, the facility serves 10 million passengers each year, and it is the only airport in North American dubbed an aerotropolis, a term for an expansive geographic area where the entire economy is based around an airport. This region features a cluster of businesses, including a major Federal Express sorting center, associated with the airport. Airlines that fly into and out of Memphis International Airport include AirTran Airways, Contenental Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and U.S. Airways. The airport has several restaurants and diners serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to travelers while they await their flights. The original Memphis airport was constructed in 1929. A new terminal opened in 1963. It has 22 gates, which provided space for seven airlines to operate daily flights.
Memphis International Airport
2491 Winchester Road
Memphis, TN 38116
901-922-8000
Mscaa.com
The primary airport for the Nashville area, Nashville International features four concourses that serve 13 different airlines, including American Airlines, American Eagle, Continental Express, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and Air Canada. The North Concourses feature 13 different gates, and the South Concourses feature 25 gates. Some gates are inactive as the airport seeks to expand. In 2008, the airport authority spent more than $40 million to add new food and retail vendors at the 900,000-square-foot terminal. The airport has four runways and was ranked sixth in the nation by J.D. Power and Associates for customer satisfaction among airports of its size. The airport serves approximately 375 daily flights to 74 markets. The airport also provides approximately 40,000 jobs to the local community.
Nashville International Airport
One Terminal Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
615-275-1675
Nashintl.com
According to the airport's website, McGhee Tyson is the premier airport in East Tennessee. Managed by the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, McGhee Tyson handles commercial, air cargo, military aviation and general aviation traffic. Eight major airlines operate out of the airport. These airlines fly to 19 nonstop destinations in the United States. More than 120 flights leave the airport each day. The airport features two 9,000-square-foot runways. The airport is located 12 miles south of downtown Knoxville in the suburb Alcoa. The Tennessee Air National Guard operates some of its aviation out of the airport. The military flights largely are refueling missions. The airport was renovated and expanded in 2000 at a cost of $70 million. The work added two new concourses, with gates, ticket counters, elevators, administrative offices and restaurant and shopping vendors.
Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport
2055 Alcoa Highway
Alcoa, TN 37701
865-342-3000
Tys.org
