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Tucson International Airport

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

Tucson International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Tucson
OperatorTucson Airport Authority
ServesTucson, Arizona
Elevation AMSL2,643 ft / 806 m
Coordinates32°06′58″N 110°56′28″W / 32.11611°N 110.94111°W / 32.11611; -110.94111
Websitewww.flytucson.com
Maps
FAA diagram (June 2009)
FAA diagram (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]

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a primary commercial service airport since it has over 10,000 passenger boardings per year.[4] Federal Aviation Administration records 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 operates Ryan Airfield, a general aviation airport. Public transportation to the airport is Sun Tran bus routes No. 11 and No. 25.

History

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In 1919, Tucson opened the first municipally owned airport in the United States. In 1928 commercial flights began with Standard Airlines (later American Airlines); regular airmail service began in 1930. The 1936 airport directory shows Tucson Municipal at 32°11′N 110°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.

During World War II the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces Air 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, the Tucson Airport Authority was created as a non-profit corporation to operate the airport and oversee policy decisions. The nine member board is elected by a group of up to 115 volunteer residents from Pima 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 the Hughes Missile Plant, now known as Air Force Plant 44 and operated by Raytheon, 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 for Trans 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 2 Frontier. The first jet flights were American Airlines Boeing 707s and Boeing 720s around September 1960. American began flying wide-body McDonnell Douglas DC-10s from Tucson nonstop to Dallas/Ft. Worth[8] and to Chicago via Phoenix beginning in fall 1971 and continuing through the 1970s.[9] In 1981, Eastern Airlines was operating direct Airbus A300 wide-body service to Atlanta via an en-route stop in Phoenix.[10] In the late 1980s American was flying Boeing 767-200s nonstop 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. The Tucson International Airport[12][13] name was legitimate: Aeronaves de Mexico had begun Douglas DC-6 service to Hermosillo and beyond in 1961. In the mid-1970s successor airline Aeromexico flew McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s nonstop to Hermosillo and on to Ciudad Obregon, Culiacan, Guadalajara and Mexico City.[14] Bonanza Air Lines began DC-9 jet service to Mexico in the late 1960s with flights to Mazatlan, La Paz and Puerto Vallarta,[15] and successor airlines Air West and Hughes Airwest flew 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 California with nonstop Douglas DC-9-10 jet service from Los Cabos, Aeromexico with nonstop McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jet service from both Guaymas and Hermosillo, and Aviacion del Noroeste with nonstop Fokker F27 turboprop service from Hermosillo.[18]

The terminal underwent minor remodeling during the 1960s and 1970s, and its interior was featured in the 1974 film Death Wish starring Charles Bronson.

From the early 1970s to the early 1980s Cochise Airlines was based in Tucson. This commuter airline operated Cessna 402s, Convair 440s, de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters and Swearingen 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 by HNTB.[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 an ATP Flight School training 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

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Tucson International Airport hosts Morris 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 the 162nd Wing (162 WG), an Air Education and Training Command (AETC)-gained unit of the Arizona Air National Guard. Military use of Tucson Airport began in 1956, when the Arizona Air National Guard activated the 152d Fighter Interceptor Squadron, an Air Defense Command (ADC)-gained unit, which operated Korean War vintage F-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 the F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, F-102 Delta Dagger, A-7 Corsair II and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.

Today the 162nd Wing is the largest Air National Guard fighter 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's 56th Fighter Wing (56 FW) at Luke AFB, Arizona as a Formal Training Unit (FTU) for training Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, Air National Guard and NATO and allies' F-16 pilots.

The wing also hosts the Air 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, and Air National Guard F-16 and Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II units from northern tier bases in the continental United States, as well as Canadian Forces and Royal Air Force flying 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 for U.S. Northern Command / NORAD and AFNORTH at nearby Davis-Monthan AFB in support of Operation Noble Eagle.

Facilities

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

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

  • Runway 12/30: 10,996 ft × 150 ft (3,352 m × 46 m), with ILS
  • 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

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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 of Seattle–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

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Passenger

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

Cargo

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AirlinesDestinations
Ameriflight Nogales, Phoenix–Sky Harbor
DHL Aviation Cincinnati, Los Angeles
FedEx Express Memphis
Freight Runners Express Fargo

Statistics

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Top destinations

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Busiest domestic routes from TUS (August 2023 – July 2024)[40]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1   Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 364,000 American
2   Denver, Colorado 277,000 Southwest, United
3   Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona 222,000 American
4   Los Angeles, California 174,000 American, Delta, Southwest
5   Las Vegas, Nevada 152,000 Southwest
6   Atlanta, Georgia 135,000 Delta
7   Seattle/Tacoma, Washington 124,000 Alaska, Delta
8   Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 112,000 American, United
9   Salt Lake City, Utah 74,000 Delta
10   Houston–Intercontinental, Texas 69,000 United

Airline market share

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Largest airlines at TUS
(August 2023 - July 2024)[40]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 Southwest Airlines 996,000 26.43%
2 American Airlines 953,000 25.31%
3 Skywest Airlines 881,000 23.39%
4 Delta Air Lines 350,000 9.30%
5 United Airlines 255,000 6.77%
6 Others 331,000 8.79%

Annual traffic

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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  016.50%
2010 3,709,178  01.07%
2011 3,676,894  00.87%
2012 3,649,783  00.74% 145,164 71,431,830
2013 3,308,620  09.35% 138,263 68,359,820
2014 3,239,849  02.08% 139,420 64,796,533
2015 3,181,901  01.79% 141,422 66,184,562
2016 3,228,389  01.46% 139,555 61,837,690
2017 3,413,451  05.73% 132,867 57,718,854
2018 3,551,159  04.03% 133,764 64,975,135
2019 3,783,535  06.54% 130,076 64,655,515
2020 2,283,777  039.63% 123,783 65,266,408
2021 2,257,581  01.14% 130,076 64,655,515
2022 3,317,494  046.95% 137,373 67,089,271
2023 3,751,557  013.08% 150,309 61,929,774

Accidents and incidents

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  • On June 3, 1977, Continental Airlines Flight 63, a Boeing 727-224 Advanced, struck powerlines and two utility poles after takeoff due to a windshear encounter. 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, an America West Boeing 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

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  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for TUS PDF
  2. ^ Tucson Airport Authority. effective September 4, 2014.
  3. ^ "Statistics". Tucson Airport Authority. January 2019. Retrieved February 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://www.departedflights.com, December 1, 1974 American timetable
  9. ^ http://www.departedflights.com, January 20, 1979 American timetable
  10. ^ "Eastern Air Lines May 1, 1981 Route Map".
  11. ^ http://www.departedflights.com, December 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide
  12. ^ "Nov. 16: Today in Arizona History". Arizona Daily Star. November 16, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  13. ^ "List of The Most Common Types of Scholarships" (PDF). mapptucson.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 24, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  14. ^ February 1, 1976 Official Airline Guide
  15. ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, April 28, 1968 Bonanza timetable
  16. ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, July 1, 1968 Air West timetable
  17. ^ http://www.departedflights.com, July 1, 1972 Hughes Airwest timetable
  18. ^ "TUS89intro".
  19. ^ "History of Tucson Airport Authority" (PDF). Tucson Airport Authority. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 24, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  20. ^ "Tucson airport runway work expected to cut down noise". Arizona Daily Star. February 11, 1987. p. C10. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  21. ^ "HNTB – Tucson Airport Expansion". Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  22. ^ Rico, Gabriela (December 31, 2019). "Tucson Real Estate: New flight school lands at Tucson airport". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  23. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 19, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. ^ "TUS Long-Term Airfield Changes". faa.gov. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  25. ^ "AATC > Home". www.aatc.ang.af.mil.
  26. ^ "162nd Wing > Home". www.162wing.ang.af.mil.
  27. ^ "TUS airport data at skyvector.com". skyvector.com. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  28. ^ "Airlines and Flights". TIA.
  29. ^ "Travel Services". TIA.
  30. ^ "Alaska Airlines Schedules Orange County – Tucson Dec 2023 Launch". Aeroroutes. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  31. ^ "Alaska Airlines expands winter travel options with 18 exciting new sun and ski routes". Alaska Airlines News & Stories. July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  32. ^ Airlines, Alaska. "Flight Timetable". Alaska Airlines. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  33. ^ a b "Flight schedules and notifications". Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  34. ^ a b "Flight Schedules". Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  35. ^ "Southwest Airlines Sep – Nov 2023 Domestic Network Additions – 14JUN23". Aeroroutes. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  36. ^ Salerno, Michael (August 22, 2024). "Southwest Airlines' newest Arizona nonstop: How to get the best fare". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  37. ^ "Check Flight Schedules". Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  38. ^ "Sun Country Airlines". Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  39. ^ a b "Timetable". Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  40. ^ a b "RITA – BTS – Transtats". transtats.bts.gov. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  41. ^ "Statistics". Tucson Airport Authority. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  42. ^ Accident description for N32725 at the Aviation 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
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