McGhee Tyson Airport

For the military use of this facility, see McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base. For the radio station formerly known as KTYS, see KTCK-FM.

McGhee Tyson Airport
McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base
View of terminal building
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerMetropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority
ServesKnoxville, Tennessee
LocationAlcoa, Tennessee, U.S.
Opened1937
Operating base forAllegiant Air
Elevation AMSL986 ft / 301 m
Coordinates35°48′40″N 083°59′38″W / 35.81111°N 83.99389°W / 35.81111; -83.99389
Websiteflyknoxville.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram as of May 2023
FAA airport diagram as of May 2023
Map
Interactive map of McGhee Tyson Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
05L/23R 10,000 3,048 Asphalt
05R/23L 9,000 2,743 Asphalt
Statistics (2025)
Passengers3,630,410 Increase8.70%
Aircraft operations113,849
Total freight (lbs.)61,875,096
Sources: McGhee Tyson Airport[1][2]

McGhee Tyson Airport (IATA: TYS[3], ICAO: KTYS, FAA LID: TYS) is a public/military airport 12 miles (19 km) south of Knoxville,[4] in Alcoa, Tennessee. It is named for United States Navy pilot Charles McGhee Tyson, who was killed in World War I.[5]

Owned by the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, it is served by several major airlines and employs about 2,700 people.[6] It is a 30-minute drive to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.[7] The airport is the home of McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, an air base for the 134th Air Refueling Wing (134 ARW) of the Tennessee Air National Guard.

History

On August 1, 1930, the original McGhee Tyson airport opened, named for Charles McGhee Tyson. It was built on 60 acres (24 ha) in West Knoxville where West High School is now located. In 1935, the city purchased 351 acres (142 ha) in Blount County for the current airport. On July 29, 1937, an American Airlines Stinson Trimotor (about 10 seats) touched down, the first airline flight; before that, American's Stinsons landed at Island Airport on Dickinson Island east of town. The 1938 directory shows a 3,100-foot (940 m) N–S runway and a 4,200-foot (1,300 m) NE-SW runway at McGhee Tyson;[8] the 1939 directory shows 4,000 feet (1,200 m) N–S and 5,000 feet (1,500 m) NE-SW. The city built a control tower in 1941.

The development of TYS helped the City of Alcoa diversify its economy and gain its economic independence from what is today Arconic Inc. (formerly Alcoa Inc.), the world's third largest producer of aluminum.[9] Alcoa Inc. built one of its production plants in Alcoa because of the proximity of dams along the Little Tennessee River which were a hydroelectric energy source for the production of aluminum.[9]

In 1951, the United States Air Force built several facilities on the field and 7,500-foot (2,300 m) runway 5L. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) added an Instrument landing system to runways 5L and 23R in 1959. In 1961, with financing by the Tennessee Air National Guard, runway 5L was extended to 9,000 feet (2,700 m). The first scheduled airline jets were Delta DC-9s in December 1965.

In 1968, McGhee Tyson built a new air cargo facility; a new passenger terminal opened in 1974, a few years after runway 18/36 closed. Four years later, the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (MKAA) was established. In 1990, runway 5R/23L was rebuilt to 9,000 feet (2,700 m). In 1992, the airport authority built a new 21-acre cargo facility on the north side of the airport for Federal Express, UPS and Airborne Express. Buildings were designed to meet the carriers' needs; 90% of the air cargo operations are UPS and Federal Express. Cost of the project was estimated at $9.3 million.

In 2000, improvements to the passenger terminal were finished at a cost of $70 million, including two new concourses, 12 new gates, ticket counters, and a Ruby Tuesday restaurant. In 2002 an aircraft maintenance facility was built for Northwest Airlines, serving as their primary CRJ MRO facility.[10] The now-defunct ExpressJet Airlines built a heavy-maintenance hangar near the air cargo facilities for its fleet. In June 2009, a new food court was completed, featuring Starbucks, Quiznos, Cinnabon, and Zia locations.[11] The Zia location was replaced in April 2013 with an Uno Express Pizza.[12][non-primary source needed]

In November 2016, the agency that operates McGhee Tyson received a $27.9 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to complete the next phase of a multi-year runway expansion, the most expensive project the airport ever has undertaken.[13] The north runway, 5L/23R, is being lengthened to 10,000 feet (3,000 m). During the work, 3,000 feet (910 m) of that runway were demolished while 6,000 feet (1,800 m) remained open for small planes. Airliners still land on Runway 5R/23L, which will remain 9,000 feet (2,700 m) long.[14]

On December 17, 2021, the rebuilt 10,000-foot runway 5L/23R reopened.

In 2024, TYS Airport set an all-time record with 3.3 million passengers traveling through the airport, a 17.8% increase over 2023.[15]

Facilities

McGhee Tyson Airport covers 2,250 acres (9.1 km2) at an elevation of 986 feet (301 m). It has two parallel runways: 5L/23R is 10,000 by 150 feet (3,048 x 46 m) concrete and 5R/23L is 9,000 by 150 feet (2,743 x 46 m) asphalt.[4][16][17]

The fixed-base operator (FBO) at TYS is Signature Aviation, the parent company of Signature Flight Support. In July 2022 Signature Aviation announced the acquisition of the TAC Air division of TAC (Truman Arnold Companies) and the FBO was rebranded to join the Signature network.

Originally, Tac Air first moved into TYS on April 1, 2005, when it purchased Knox-Air, which had operated in TYS since 1974. Then a month later, on May 5, 2005, TAC Air purchased the only remaining FBO, Cherokee Aviation, which had been in operation since 1954. TAC Air combined these two FBOs under their own name, and they were the sole supplier of aviation fuel for commercial, corporate and general aviation aircraft as well as leased hangar space at the airport.

TYS is home to a maintenance base for Endeavor Air, crew base for Allegiant Air, and delivery, maintenance and training centers for Cirrus Aircraft.

Terminal

McGhee Tyson Airport has two levels. The top level is accessed via the curbside drop off and the parking garage. The top level has ticket counters, security, gates, restaurants and shops. It is designed with a Smoky Mountain theme, complete with faux waterfalls and wood carvings of bears. The bottom level is used for car rental counters, three baggage claims, airline offices, and airport offices.

Airbus A320 in Gate 2 at Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport

There are 12 gates. On a regular day Gates 2 & 4 are used by Allegiant Air, Gate 6 is a common use gate, Gates 8, 10, & 12 are used by American, Gates 1, 3 & 5 are used by Delta, and Gates 7, 9, & 11 are used by United. Gate assignments can be subject to change.

In July 2023, the airport announced the planning of a six-gate expansion to the terminal, with a target completion date of 2028, to meet the growing needs of the region.[18]

In January 2024, airport officials announced they would be closing part of the airport's long-term parking lot to begin a project to build a new six story garage that would add 3,500 parking spots.[19]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

General source[20]

AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Allegiant Air Austin, Denver, Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Gulf Shores, Houston–Hobby, Jacksonville (FL), Key West, Las Vegas, Newark, Orlando, Orlando/Sanford, Philadelphia (begins May 21, 2026), Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Punta Gorda (FL), Sarasota, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Washington–Dulles
Seasonal: Boston,[21] Chicago–Midway		[21][22][23]

[24] [25][26]

American Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth
Seasonal: Charlotte, Miami
American Eagle Charlotte, Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Philadelphia, Washington–National
Avelo Airlines Seasonal: New Haven[27]
Delta Air Lines Atlanta
Delta Connection Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–LaGuardia
Frontier Airlines Denver [28]
Southwest Airlines Baltimore, Dallas–Love, Nashville, Orlando[29]
Seasonal: Austin (begins October 3, 2026),[30] Denver (begins April 9, 2026),[31] Tampa (begins June 6, 2026)[32]		[33]
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare
Seasonal: Denver
United Express Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Washington–Dulles
Seasonal: Denver

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from TYS (October 2024 – September 2025)[34]
Rank Airport Passengers Airline
1 Georgia (U.S. state) Atlanta, Georgia 280,000 Delta
2 Texas Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 199,000 American
3 North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina 156,000 American
4 Illinois Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 154,000 American, United
5 Colorado Denver, Colorado 96,000 Allegiant, Frontier, United
6 Michigan Detroit, Michigan 95,000 Delta
7 New York (state) New York–LaGuardia, New York 84,000 Delta
8 Florida Fort Lauderdale, Florida 73,000 Allegiant
9 Florida St. Petersburg, Florida 73,000 Allegiant
10 Texas Houston–Intercontinental, Texas 67,000 United

Airline market share

Largest Airlines at TYS
(December 2024 – November 2025)[35]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 Allegiant Air 984,000 27.71%
3 American Airlines 435,000 12.25%
2 Endeavor Air 420,000 11.83%
4 Delta Air Lines 388,000 10.91%
5 PSA Airlines 333,000 9.37%
- Other 985,000 27.94%

Annual traffic

TYS Airport Annual Passengers and Data 2017–Present[36]
Year Passengers Operations Total Freight (lbs.)
2017 1,988,626 105,605 82,950,774(a)
2018 2,221,137 115,786 81,377,317(a)
2019 2,572,822 123,664 95,026,344
2020 1,161,447 92,406 84,151,936
2021 1,995,197 99,080 89,230,552
2022 2,495,737 102,702 79,334,045
2023 2,835,773 104,459 76,552,366
2024 3,339,757 108,402 69,762,953
2025 3,630,410 113,849 61,875,096

Note:(a) Includes mail in final 2017 and 2018 total freight data.

Accidents and incidents

  • On August 6, 1962, American Airlines Flight 414, a Lockheed L-188A Electra attempting to land at TYS in high winds associated with a thunderstorm veered off the right side of runway 04L and struck the raised edge of a taxiway that was under construction, causing the right hand main gear to separate. There were no fatalities and only one minor injury among the 67 passengers and 5 crew, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and written off.[37]
  • On March 12, 1992, a USAir Express Jetstream 31 crashed on landing after the pilot failed to lower the landing gear. There were no passengers aboard, but the two crew members were killed.[38]

References

  1. ^ "TYS Airport Statistics for 2025" (PDF). flyknoxville.com. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  2. ^ "TYS Airport Stats 2018–2024". flyknoxville.com. 5 January 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  3. ^ "IATA Airport Code Search (TYS: Knoxville / McGhee Tyson)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  4. ^ a b FAA Airport Form 5010 for TYS PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. effective February 19, 2026.
  5. ^ "History of the Airport". McGhee Tyson Airport. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008.
  6. ^ "About McGhee Tyson Airport". Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority. Archived from the original on 2012-12-15.
  7. ^ City of Alcoa, official website
  8. ^ Descriptions of airports and landing fields in the United States. Airway bulletin; no. 2. United States Government Printing Office. 1938.
  9. ^ a b City of Alcoa. "Welcome to the City of Alcoa / City of Alcoa – City of Alcoa". cityofalcoa-tn.gov.
  10. ^ "Investor Relations – Corporate Profile". Pinnacle Airlines Corp.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ Marcum, Ed (June 6, 2009). "Airport's food court opens". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  12. ^ "Uno Express Pizza Opens". April 12, 2013 – via Facebook.
  13. ^ "McGhee Tyson Airport lands $27.9 million federal grant". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  14. ^ "Longer runway aims for longer reach". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  15. ^ "McGhee Tyson Airport Sets All-Time Passenger Record In 2024". flyknoxville.com. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  16. ^ "TYS airport data at skyvector.com". skyvector.com. FAA data effective February 19, 2026.
  17. ^ Gaines, Jim (January 1, 2017). "Longer runway aims for longer reach". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  18. ^ "McGhee Tyson Airport expands as Knoxville region grows". 22 July 2023.
  19. ^ Jordan, Avery (2024-02-02). "McGhee Tyson Airport to close portion of parking lot to prepare for parking garage expansion project". www.wvlt.tv. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  20. ^ "Nonstop Flights from McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)". FlyKnoxville. Retrieved 2026-03-01.
  21. ^ a b "Allegiant Air offering new flights from Knoxville to Boston, Houston, Chicago & more". 14 January 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Allegiant Airlines adds three new destinations from McGhee Tyson Airport". WBIR. November 19, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  23. ^ "Allegiant Announces Five New Routes with One-Way Fares as Low as $39*". Street Insider. May 21, 2025.
  24. ^ "Allegiant will begin flying out of Orlando International Airport next year". ClickOrlando. November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  25. ^ "Allegiant Adds 30 New Nonstop Routes, Entering Four New Markets". FOX 40. 18 November 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  26. ^ "Allegiant Announces Nine New Nonstop Routes to Premier Spring Break Destinations with Fares as Low as $39* | Allegiant Travel Company".[dead link]
  27. ^ "Avelo announces 4 new destinations from New Haven, including Atlanta". New Haven Register. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  28. ^ "Frontier". USA Today.
  29. ^ "Southwest Airlines is coming to McGhee Tyson Airport". Knox News. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  30. ^ "Southwest to launch four new nonstop routes from Austin in October". KNAX Austin. February 20, 2026. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  31. ^ "Southwest Airlines adds another nonstop route to its upcoming Knoxville lineup. See where". Knox News.
  32. ^ "Southwest adds another nonstop flight from Knoxville in 2026. (Think 'beach'!)". Knox News. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  33. ^ "Southwest Airlines – Flight Schedules". Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  34. ^ "Knoxville, TN: McGhee Tyson (TYS)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  35. ^ "Knoxville, TN: McGhee Tyson (TYS)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Retrieved 2026-03-02.
  36. ^ "TYS Airport Passengers and Operations 2017-Present". flyknoxville.com. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  37. ^ Accident description for N6102A at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on April 26, 2023.
  38. ^ Accident description for N165PC at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on April 26, 2023.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McGhee-Tyson_Airport