Niagara Falls International Airport

Niagara Falls International Airport (IATA: IAG, ICAO: KIAG, FAA LID: IAG) is located 4 mi (6.4 km) east of downtown Niagara Falls, in the Town of Niagara in Niagara County, New York.[1] Owned and operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, the airport is a joint civil-military airfield and shares its runways with the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. A new terminal building opened in 2009. It is notable for serving vastly more Canadian passengers from over the nearby border than Americans.

For the larger airport serving the Buffalo–Niagara Falls area, see Buffalo Niagara International Airport. For the United States Air Force use of the airport, see Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

Niagara Falls International Airport
Niagara Falls International Airport – New York – March 28, 1995
Niagara Falls International Airport aerial view in 2011
Summary
Airport typePublic / Military
Owner/OperatorNiagara Frontier Transportation Authority
LocationTown of Niagara, Niagara County, near Niagara Falls, New York
Elevation AMSL592 ft / 180.4 m
Coordinates43°06′26″N 078°56′46″W
Websitewww.niagarafallsairport.com
Map
IAG
Location of airport in New York / United States
IAG
IAG (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
6/24 5,189 1,582 Asphalt
10L/28R 9,829 2,996 Asphalt/Concrete
10R/28L 3,973 1,211 Asphalt
Statistics (2017)
Aircraft operations29,816
Passengers282,000
Aircraft operations data for 2011; Sources: Federal Aviation Administration,[1] NFTA Press Release,[2] Bureau of Transportation Statistics[3]

History

Niagara Falls International Airport opened in 1928 as a municipal airport with four crushed-stone runways.

During World War II, Bell Aircraft established a large manufacturing plant next to the airport, where during the war it built over 10,000 P-39 Airacobras and P-63 Kingcobras. Bell employed over 28,000 at the plant. After the war, the plant was the development site of the Bell X-1 used by Chuck Yeager to break the sound barrier in 1947.

The United States Army Air Forces assumed jurisdiction of the airport during the war, with the 3522d Army Air Force Base Unit managing the airport and coordinating use of the airfield with Bell Aircraft. The airfield was improved with macadam runways, 4000x150(N/S), 4000x150(NE/SW), 4200x300(E/W), 4000x150(NW/SE), including many taxiways and other improvements to handle large numbers of aircraft. Air Technical Service Command also operated an Aircraft modification center at the airport where new aircraft were given various updates prior to their deployment to operational bases and overseas combat theaters.

Civilian aviation operations and jurisdiction of the airport was returned in early 1946, and a joint-use agreement was made with the United States Air Force for Air Force Reserve and New York Air National Guard use of a portion of the airport.

Today, the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is home to the Air Force Reserve Command's 914th Air Refueling Wing (914 ARW), flying the KC-135R Stratotanker. The wing is operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command (AMC). The main runway was extended to over 9,000 feet (2,743 m) in 1959 to handle larger military aircraft, and was extended again in 2003 to its current length of 9,829 feet (2,996 m). For all practical purposes, the facility is a small Air Force base.

In November 2013 Calspan Air Services became the fixed-base operator for the airport, including refueling, ramp assistance, deicing, transportation & maintenance services.

On August 4, 2014, an Air France Boeing 747-428 flight AF356 from Paris Charles-de-Gaulle was diverted from Toronto due to the temporary closing of Toronto Pearson International Airport. Landing and take-off was on Runway 28R.[4] Niagara Falls gets a large number of Toronto’s diversions due to its location and long runways.

Airlines

American Airlines served Niagara Falls until 1956. From 1980 to 1984, Air Niagara, a post-Deregulation airline flew to Newark Airport with Boeing 727-100 jetliners. Empire Airlines also served the airport during the mid-1980's, flying to Syracuse, Long Island, Utica, Elmira, and Boston using both the Fokker F28 Fellowship and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner. Kiwi International Air Lines briefly served the airport in 1998 with nonstop Boeing 727-200 jet service to Newark Airport (EWR).[5]

In March 2007, Direct Air began flying to Myrtle Beach; Direct Air began flights to Palm Beach International Airport in November 2010.[6] Direct Air's flights to Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Florida, started in 2011.[7] Direct Air's service at Niagara Falls International Airport ended on March 12, 2012.[8][9]

In September 2009, a new terminal complex was completed.[10]

Allegiant Airlines began service in December 2009,[11] and it serves Fort Myers/Punta Gorda, Orlando Sanford International Airport, St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport.

In December 2010, Vision Airlines began service to Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport. According to a USA Today news article dated September 26, 2014, Vision Airlines d/b/a People Express no longer operates any scheduled passenger service.[12]

In January 2011, Spirit Airlines started flights from Niagara Falls International Airport.[13] The airline currently flies to Fort Lauderdale.

Facilities

The airport is in Class D airspace and has a FAA control tower.

The airport covers 1,067 acres (432 ha) and has three paved runways:[1]

  • 6/24: 5,189 x 150 ft (1,582 x 46 m) Asphalt
  • 10L/28R: 9,829 x 150 ft (2,996 x 46 m) Asphalt/Concrete
  • 10R/28L: 3,973 x 75 ft (1,211 x 23 m) Asphalt

Passenger terminal

On September 2, 2009, Niagara Falls International Airport dedicated its new two-story terminal. With 69,430-square-foot (6,450 m2), it has four gates (two jetways and two ground-loading gates), and has room for a Boeing 747 in size.[14] The exterior is designed to reflect Niagara Falls' water flow. Cost was an estimated $42.5 million, $31.5 million for the terminal and $11 million for runway apron and landside improvements.[15][16]

The previous (old) terminal is now occupied by the Niagara Aerospace Museum, also known as the Ira G. Ross Aerospace Museum.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinations
Allegiant Air Orlando/Sanford, Punta Gorda (FL), Savannah, St. Petersburg/Clearwater
Spirit Airlines Fort Lauderdale (Via Plattsburgh) Seasonal: Myrtle Beach

Cargo
AirlinesDestinations
Quest Diagnostics Pittsburgh, Rochester

Statistics

In 2015, Niagara Falls International served 233,302 passengers, of which 118,154 were outbound passengers, an increase of 12.24% over 2014.[2] An estimated 80% of the passenger traffic at the airport comes from Canada.[17][18]

In the year ending May 31, 2011 the airport had 29,816 aircraft operations, average 82 per day: 65% general aviation, 26% military, 7% air taxi and 3% airline.[1][19]

The FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 classified Niagara Falls International as a reliever airport.[20]

Top destinations
Busiest domestic routes from IAG
(October 2016 – September 2017)[21]
Rank Airport Passengers Carriers
1 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 32,440 Allegiant, Spirit
2 Orlando, Florida 32,100 Spirit
3 Punta Gorda, Florida 25,320 Allegiant
4 Orlando-Sanford, Florida 20,270 Allegiant
5 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 19,160 Spirit
6 St. Petersburg, Florida 18,820 Allegiant

Nearby airports

Source: AirNav

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. FAA Airport Master Record for IAG (Form 5010 PDF), effective October 25, 2007
  2. NFTA. "Niagara Falls International Airport". www.niagarafallsairport.com.
  3. Niagara Falls International (IAG) at transtats.bts.gov, Retrieved April 24, 2015
  4. Air France Rider (August 27, 2014). "✈ Diverted Air France B747-428 Landing @ IAG Niagara Falls" – via YouTube.
  5. http://www.departedflights.com, Spring/Summer 1998 Kiwi International Air Lines route map
  6. "Direct Air expands service in Falls". Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, New York). November 20, 2010.
  7. Chambliss, John (June 12, 2011). "New Airline Drawing Northern Interest to Lakeland". The Ledger (Lakeland, Florida).
  8. Heath, Dan (April 12, 2012). "Direct Air bankruptcy goes to Chapter 7". Plattsburgh Press-Republican. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  9. "Direct Air cancels Falls flights". Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, New York). March 12, 2012.
  10. "Additional airlines not in Niagara Falls International Airport's foreseeable future". Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, New York). August 27, 2017.
  11. Deluca, Michele (September 20, 2011). "Falls airport gains new airline: Allegiant Airline to provide Florida flights out of Niagara Falls". Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, New York).
  12. https://www.usatoday.com/todayinthesky/2014/09/26/peoplexpress-grounds-fridays-flights/16260715/
  13. "Airport now has Vision: Third carrier company will soon be offering flights from the Falls to Florida". Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, New York). November 11, 2010.
  14. Airport Specifications at niagarafallsairport.com
  15. Fink, James (August 28, 2009). "Takeoff set for new NF airport terminal". bizjournals.com.
  16. "IAG New Terminal". Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  17. Fink, James. Gillibrand presses for pre-check for Canadian air travelers. Business First. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  18. Nicas, Jack (June 8, 2012). "Canadians Crowd U.S. Airports. Why? Taxes". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  19. KIAG at airnav.com
  20. "National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) – Airports". www.faa.gov.
  21. "Niagara Falls, NY: Niagara Falls International Airport (IAG)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. August 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
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