Albert J. Ellis Airport

Albert J. Ellis Airport (IATA: OAJ, ICAO: KOAJ, FAA LID: OAJ) is a county-owned public-use airport in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States.[1] It is located in Richlands,[2] 10 nautical miles (19 km) northwest of the central business district of Jacksonville and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.[1] The airport has a single runway and three gates. Opening on February 15, 1971, the airport is used by general aviation, the military and two commercial airlines, American Eagle and Delta Connection.[3]

Albert J. Ellis Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerOnslow County
ServesJacksonville, North Carolina
Location264 Albert Ellis Airport Road
Richlands, North Carolina
Elevation AMSL94 ft / 29 m
Coordinates34°49′45″N 077°36′44″W / 34.82917°N 77.61222°W / 34.82917; -77.61222
Websitewww.flyoaj.com
Maps
FAA diagram as of January 2021
FAA diagram as of January 2021
OAJ is located in North Carolina
OAJ
OAJ
OAJ is located in the United States
OAJ
OAJ
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
5/23 7,100 2,164 Asphalt
Statistics
Aircraft operations (2020)29,544
Based aircraft (2020)26
Sources: FAA[1] and airport website[2][3]

American Eagle operates services to Charlotte. These services are operated by PSA Airlines, which operates CRJ-700s and CRJ-900s, and Piedmont Airlines, which operates ERJ-145s.[3]

On August 30, 2006, Delta Air Lines announced new service from the airport to Atlanta, Georgia, operated by Delta Connection carrier ExpressJet Airlines, starting on December 11, 2006. Delta began operating B-717 aircraft on the OAJ-ATL route on August 28, 2016. When ExpressJet closed, the service transferred to Endeavor Airlines.[3]

Facilities and aircraft

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Albert J. Ellis Airport covers an area of 775 acres (314 ha) at an elevation of 94 ft (29 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 5/23 with an asphalt surface measuring 7,100 by 150 ft (2,164 by 46 m).[1]

For the 12-month period ending May 31, 2020, the airport had 29,544 aircraft operations, an average of 81 per day: 35% military, 33% general aviation, 23% scheduled commercial and 9% air taxi. In December 2020, there were 26 aircraft based at this airport: 22 single-engine, 1 multi-engine and 3 helicopter.[1][4]

The airport is served by a fixed-base operator, Skyport Aviation, which offers fueling, maintenance, flight instruction and aircraft rentals from the new 10,000-ft2 executive terminal, which opened in 2015.

In 2013, the airport began construction on a two-story, 67,000 sq ft (6,200 m2) replacement passenger terminal building. The new terminal features passenger loading bridges, new concessions, expanded passenger areas and space for additional airlines. This is part of the airport's $50-million Terminal Area Redevelopment Program. The new terminal was topped off on June 10, 2014, and officially opened on August 19, 2015, National Aviation Day.[3]

On December 6, 2017, the airport began construction on its first air traffic control tower. The six-story-tall tower opened on November 1, 2018.[5][6]

The airport upgraded the lighting and signs on the runway and taxiways to LED in 2018/2019. A project to add a 900 ft (270 m) extension to the northeast end of the runway (lengthening the runway to 8,000 ft (2,400 m) total) is planned to begin in 2023, with construction beginning in 2025. Other projects to rehabilitate and expand airfield pavements are also planned to begin between 2023 and 2027.[7]

Passenger statistics

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Year Passengers
2020 212,444[8]
2019 332,270
2018 308,553
2017 313,940
2016 303,288
2015 302,608
2014 321,642
2013 344,710
2012 352,455
2011 344,467
2010 314,883
2009 249,563
2008 262,178
2007 242,817
2006 179,878
2005 191,194
2004 151,257
2003 87,814
2002 65,210
2001 62,454
2000 77,342

Top nonstop destinations

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Busiest domestic routes (November 2021 – October 2022) [9]
Rank City Passengers
1 Charlotte, North Carolina 88,000
2 Atlanta, Georgia 59,000

Airlines and destinations

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AirlinesDestinations
American Eagle Charlotte
Delta Air Lines Atlanta
Delta Connection Atlanta

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e FAA Airport Form 5010 for OAJ PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. effective December 3, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Albert J. Ellis Airport, official site
  3. ^ a b c d e OAJ Airport Director
  4. ^ FAA 5010 Record
  5. ^ Tew, Elizabeth. "Albert J. Ellis Airport breaks ground on new air traffic control tower". wcnt.com. Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  6. ^ "New airport tower to improve safety, efficiency".
  7. ^ "State Transportation Improvement Program".
  8. ^ Preliminary - Albert J. Ellis Airport Stats
  9. ^ "RITA | BTS | Transtats". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. January 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
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