Airports in South Central USA

Albuquerque International Sunport lives up to its name as a sunny and friendly airport providing easy access New Mexico’s Albuquerque city only three miles (5km) to the southeast and well served by public transport systems and taxis.

With only one terminal for all incoming and outgoing passengers, Albuquerque Sunport is easy to find your way around. It’s also well equipped to cater for all its customers and there are a number of gift shopping options and plenty of other amenities.

Using the airport is a relatively simple and stress-free experience. Boarding gates are within easy walking distance of the check-in and security gates. The Spanish-Pueblo architectural style of the airport gives passengers a relaxed and laid back New Mexican feeling – the perfect start or end to any journey.

Albuquerque International Sunport is a hub for Great Lakes Airlines and New Mexico Airlines. Visitors to New Mexico can book flights to Albuquerque International Sunport on a number of other airlines including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.

The major draw card for this airport is that it is not very busy, which, when compared with larger US airport, makes the security check relatively painless and there are seldom long queues for check-in. On the down-side, passengers should take note that food options inside the terminal are quite limited.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is located five miles (8km) southeast of the Central Business District of Austin, Texas.

The bright and breezy facility embodies Austin’s laid-back nature, from the architecture – clean, open and full of natural light – to the local, friendly atmosphere. Visitors are often surprised by the live music stage, which showcases Austin’s diverse music scene, in the middle of the terminal. There are often up to a dozen performances per week as part of the Music in the Air initiative.

The small size of the airport makes it very easy to navigate and visitors are always pleased to find the airport spotless and well-manned with friendly, approachable staff, making flights from and to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport a pleasure. With the amount on offer here, you barely need to leave the airport to get the full Austin experience.

Set on 7,100 acres of land in sunny Texas, El Paso International Airport (ELP) is a small, regional airport that sees three million visitors each year. At 3.7 miles (6km) from downtown El Paso and 12 miles (19km) north of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, the airport functions as a major gateway between the two countries.

The airport is functional and sees a lot of fairly localized travel, so don't expect too much by way of duty free shopping or international cuisine. The central terminal is small and logically laid out, with a decent mix of coffee shops and fast food joints to see you through.

El Paso itself is a large border community that sees much trade and commerce, so there are many flights to El Paso International Airport from cities around the US. The airport has a huge cargo section and is surrounded by several industrial parks.

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and dining and shopping options in this airport are no exception. With more than 50 retail and food options throughout the five terminals, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston has plenty to keep travelers busy.

The downside of this huge airport is that it can be very confusing for those passing through for the first time, and as a result of its size a fair amount of time needs to be allocated for getting to your gate – this can be a bit stressful if you have a tight connection. While quite efficient and not known for long delays, the airport maintains an almost cheesy 1970s facade – perhaps in line with the Dallas theme?

Flights to George Bush Intercontinental Airport are available from many major cities, including London, Amsterdam, Paris, Chicago, Toronto, Mexico City, Washington DC, Sao Paulo, Atlanta, Tokyo, and Moscow.

Kansas City International Airport (MCI) is situated 15 miles (24km) northwest of central Kansas City. It was originally called the Mid-Continent International Airport, hence its IATA code. Currently the airport serves more than 10 million passengers per year with non-stop flights to 49 destinations.

Flights to Kansas City International arrive from airports such as Denver, Washington, Boston, New York, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Atlanta and Florida. The airport has three terminals, although there is currently a plan to build a central, connecting terminal building by 2025.

Kansas City International has been rated consistently as one of the best airports in North America, so you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the level of efficiency during your time there. If, for some reason, you're stuck for a while, there are more than enough restaurants and stores to keep you busy, as well as free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal buildings.

The atmosphere is friendly in this bustling airport, and there’ll always be somebody ready to offer assistance should you need it.

Lambert-St Louis International Airport (STL), or Lamberts as it's affectionately known, is located 10 miles (17km) northwest of the city of St Louis, Missouri, and is in close proximity to connecting interstate highways. With four long runways and more than 12 million passengers per year, Lamberts is the state’s busiest airport; nonstop flights to Lambert-St Louis International Airport arrive from 88 domestic and international hubs.

Lambert-St Louis has a certain historical pedigree, too. It served as a balloon-launching base in the 19^th century and was later visited by the Wright Brothers on one of their early flights. In 1910, Theodore Roosevelt took a flight from here, becoming the first US President to fly, and a few years later the first experimental parachute jump took place over the airfield.

A new construction project – launched in spring 2011 – is set to improve passenger services, boost airport operations and offer good views of the establishment. Terminal 1 is already an architectural spectacle, with exciting LED lighting that may be viewed from the interior and exterior of the building, as well as new flooring, ticket counters, signs, security checkpoints and an atrium, all of which have resulted in a completely new and attractive look for Lambert-St Louis International Airport.

As the largest commercial airport serving the New Orleans and southeast Louisiana area, Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) welcomes around 8 million passengers each year. The airport is located 11.5 miles (19km) west of New Orleans, and is the second lowest-lying international airport in the world, sitting merely 4.5 feet (1.4m) above sea level.

Flights to Louis Armstrong International arrive daily from across the United States, with occasional flights arriving from Canada and South America. Some of the major airlines that operate at the airport include Continental Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines among a number of others.      

If you're spending some time at the airport, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the efficiency you'll encounter here. Queuing won't take up too much time, and staff are friendly and happy to help. There'll be enough to keep you occupied, although if you’re waiting in Concourse D, then you'll have to make do with limited refreshment options.

Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) is located six miles (8km) from downtown Oklahoma City. The airport is named for a popular comedian and cowboy from Oklahoma. In fact, travelers going to Oklahoma should be sure to pack their Stetson, or just have fun seeing how many cowboys you can spot while at the airport.

The airport has a limited selection of shops and restaurants and only one terminal with concourses branching off it. It serves nearly 3.5 million people each year. While this makes it Oklahoma’s busiest airport, it is not a high-traffic airport by North American standards.

Flights to Will Rogers World Airport can be booked on many popular US airlines. There are a number of cities across the US with flight connections to Oklahoma City; some of the busiest non-stop flights to Will Rogers World Airport come from Dallas, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Newark, Detroit and Salt Lake City.

Will Rogers World Airport offers a more personal feel to flying. Yes, there are still security checks and sometimes the queues can get long, but most of the time passengers will have an easy airport experience. Perhaps, naming airports after comedians makes them less stressful places or maybe it’s just the laid-back feel of Oklahoma.

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) serves an average of 8 million passengers per year and is located approximately 8 miles (13km) from downtown San Antonio, Texas. Flights to San Antonio International Airport come from a number of destinations, including Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Newark, Memphis, New York, Denver, Washington DC, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Charlotte, Baltimore, Denver, Orlando, Mexico City, Cancun, and Monterrey.

Recent building work has improved the handling capacity of the airport, as well as its accessibility. In 2010, Terminal 2 was closed and the newly built Terminal B was opened; the old terminal was then aptly named Terminal A and Terminal 2 was demolished in early 2011. A third terminal, Terminal C, is to be built by 2015. Furthermore, the construction of major roads – Interstate 410 and U.S. Highway 281 – has significantly improved transport flow and driving time to and from San Antonio International.    

Although fairly limited in terms of shopping and dining options, amenities are sufficient and service is warm and friendly, much like the charming city of San Antonio.