5 Oldest Airports in the US

Just because an aircraft takes off (or lands in) from a certain stretch of land, one cannot deem the area an ‘airport’. After all, aircraft are capable of landing on a highway too. During an emergency, a Piper PA-28 landed on a New York City interstate highway, reported the BBC. Various nations have flight test centers, where newly developed aircraft – whether it be civil or military – are tested but such expanses aren’t dubbed to be airports either. According to Ernest J. Gentle’s Aviation and Space Dictionary, an airport is defined as:

“An area of land or water that is used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, and includes its buildings and facilities, if any. The term airport is normally used to describe U.S. civil facilities whereas airfield is a U.S. military facility. Aerodrome is an international term.” 

If an aircraft devoid of passengers takes off and lands from one field and lands on another then, the “field” cannot be termed “airport/ aerodrome/ airstrip”. If this were not the case, the first ever flight (conducted by the Wright Brothers) would have meant that Kill Devil Hills – the place in North Carolina where they took the first heavier-than-air machine to the skies – was the oldest airport. But this is not the case, despite their aircraft flying for 12 seconds above the sand dunes of Kitty Hawk.

Though on 14 May 1908, Wright brothers made history again with the world’s first two passenger airplane flights, Kill Devil Hills is still not considered as the oldest airport in the world. It’s dubbed as “Field of firsts”, or the First Flight Airport (FAA). The Field of Firsts was established in 1928 but the date of establishment of the oldest airport in the world is 1909.

In this article, we will take a look at the oldest airports in the US. Despite these being the oldest airports in the US (and one of them also being the oldest airport int he world), none of these airports fall in the list of the busiest airports in the world. 

5. Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)

Owner: The City of Chicago

Established in: 1927

Hub for: Southwest Airlines (operates 229 daily flights- more than any other U.S. airport that Southwest flies from.)

Notable operators 

• Porter Airlines
• North Country Sky
• Delta Air Lines
• Volaris Airlines

Airport type: Public

Airport property

Location: Chicago’s Southwest Side between 55th and 63rd Streets and Cicero and Central Avenues 

Area coverage: 640 acres (approximately)

Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is the second- largest airport in Chicago, consisting of 1 terminal with 3 concourses. There are 43 aircraft gates among which three gates serve as inbound international passengers. Midway became home to 15 scheduled airlines by 1950.

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) manages MDW. Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee has been managing this airport and also been serving in it over the course of 29 years by being in multiple positions. 

4 runways	Length (meter)	Width (meter)	Type	Condition	Light intensity
13R/31L	1,176	18	Concrete	Excellent	Medium
13C/31C	1,988	46	Concrete	Good	medium
4R/22L	1,964	46	Asphalt /concrete/grooved	Excellent	High
4L/22R	1,679	46	Asphalt	Good	Medium

How was the airport named?

The Chicago Midway Airport was renamed Midway in honor of the hard fought Battle of Midway in the Pacific during World War II.

Interesting facts related to Chicago Midway Airport:

• Chicago leadership and airline officials celebrated the completion of the Terminal Development Program in 2004.
• Midway recorded its highest passenger in the airport’s 85-year history in 2012. More than 19.5 million passengers were recorded at that time. In 2013 it served more than 20 million passengers.

Updates of Chicago Midway Airport:

The CDA held a grand opening for The Club MDW, the first-ever shared use passenger lounge in Midway’s 96-year history in 2024. There are 2 lounges at MDW, including The Club MDW and the USO Lounge. More than 51,000 people travel through Chicago Midway Airport on Sunday alone. So, Sunday is expected to be the busiest day at this airport.

4. Long Beach Airport (LGB)

Owner and operator: The City of Long Beach

Established in: 1924

Notable operators

• Southwest Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Skywest Airlines
• Mesa Airlines
• Delta Airlines

Airport type: Public

Airport property

Location: City of Long Beach, California

Area coverage: 1,166 acres

Long Beach Airport (LGB) has 11 gates with a single terminal. The intuitive layout makes the navigating operation easier in this airport and the presence of three baggage claim areas enhances the overall travel experience, making it easy for passengers to retrieve their luggage quickly. It offers service to 24 nonstop destinations around the nation.

Cynthia Guidry is the director of this airport. She was honored by The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMOTO) during the national organization’s 12th annual “Women Who Move the Nation” award ceremony in 2023. The honor was bestowed upon her for her efforts to leading the airport through COVID -19, alongside overseeing  “several major developments as part of LGB’s ongoing $110 million multi-year, Phase II – Terminal Area Improvement Program”

3Runways Type: Asphalt	Length (meter)	Width (meter)	Used by	Light intensity
12/30	3,048	61	Passenger Airlines and cargo services	High (Edge lighting)
8L/26R	1,887	46	Commercial and General Aviation (GA)	Medium
8R/26L	1,194	30	GA	High

How was the airport named?

Long Beach Airport is known as Daugherty Field. It is because former Army Air corps flight instructor Earl Daugherty started a 20- acre flight training field. Also, Daugherty was a plane builder and “the greatest stunt pilot” of his time.

Interesting facts related to Long Beach Airport:

• LGB is California’s Oldest Municipal Airport.
• The Douglas Aircraft company’s Long Beach manufacturing plant was the first to feature air conditioning in the US.
• Carl Rogers’ first transcontinental “Vin Fiz” flight landed on the beach in 1911.
• In 1928, for night use, Field lit was installed. LGB became the first illuminated airport in the country.
• In 1941, LGB was declared No. 1 airport in the country for total aircraft operations.
• In 1990, LGB was declared a historic landmark by the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission.
• In 2021, the leading industry group for airports, Airports Council International certified LGB with a level 2 rating in the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Program.
• The second phase of airport improvement began in 2020 which cost $110 million and two major parts were completed in 2022.
• LGB celebrated its 100th anniversary on Nov. 26, 2023.

Update of Long Beach Airport:

The Long Beach Airport’s newly renovated historic terminal building, which was first opened in1942, was officially open from July 27, 2024. LGB celebrated its 100th birthday with a new slogan: “America’s Coolest Airport!”, reported CBS News. 

3. Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport (MSP)

Owner: The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC)

Established in: 1920 (104 years ago)

Airport type: Joint Civil-military public international airport

Hub for: Delta Airlines (2nd largest hub)

Notable operator:

• Sun Country Airlines (hometown carrier)