Airports in South West USA

As the main gateway to Hawaii, Honolulu International Airport (HNL) is one of the busiest airports in the United States, with 21 million travelers passing through it each year. The airport is busy with old-fashioned terminal buildings that haven't changed much since they were built in the 1960s.

There are three terminals at Honolulu Airport, and as the airport is not as well-signed as it could be, transferring between them can be very confusing. The Commuter Terminal and the Interisland Terminal serve smaller regional airlines. The Interisland Terminal also sees some flights to and from the US mainland and Hawaiian Airlines' international flights. The Overseas Terminal, also called the International Terminal, serves all other international arrivals and departures.

The city of Honolulu, about five miles (8km) from the airport, has more than 1 million inhabitants and is as bustling as any major city. Although you might want to go further afield for that remote-island holiday, it's a warm and hospitable first experience of Hawaii.

John Wayne Airport (SNA) is located in Orange County in California, 14 miles (23 km) from Disneyland Resort. It was the first airport in the United States to be named after an entertainer – the film star John Wayne.

The airport has one main terminal, the Thomas F Riley Terminal, which houses both Terminal A and Terminal B. With two airline lounges, a fair amount of shopping opportunities and a range of food and drink options to suit all wallets, John Wayne Airport is a comfortable airport to use when traveling to California. 

A number of airlines operate at John Wayne Airport. Some of the popular destinations served from the airport are Atlanta, Houston, Newark, Oakland and Honolulu. Terminal B’s concourse is currently under construction, but passengers using the airport will find that the airport offers convenience and a welcoming attitude.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is located 16 miles (26km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles. As the sixth-busiest airport in the world, it’s hardly surprising that LAX serves as a primary gateway to this region of the United States. Flights to Los Angeles International Airport arrive daily from major international hubs across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.

Los Angeles International has nine terminal buildings and on average it serves approximately 60 million passengers per year, and handles more than 600,000 aircraft take-offs and landings. Currently there is a project underway to build an additional terminal building west from the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The terminal will have ten gates, and is expected to be completed in 2012.

As this is a busy mega-airport, queues can be long and chaotic. The best thing to do would be to give yourself plenty of time to get all of the hassles of checking in and clearing customs over with, and then relax at one of the restaurants or pubs and get a nice big meal and a refreshing drink. Then, if you still have some time to spare, you could do a little gift shopping for that special someone.

Located five miles (8km) south of Las Vegas’s central business district, McCarran International Airport (LAS) is the largest airport serving the notorious Sin City, handling a whopping 40 million passengers each year.

Flights to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport come from all over the world. However, the most popular routes are short domestic flights from US cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Phoenix, Chicago and Salt Lake City.

The facilities at McCarran are good, and staff members are friendly and efficient. The newer – and smaller - Terminal 2 has less to occupy your time and fewer places to sit, which can get annoying at peak times. Other than that there are few complaints to be made about the airport, so relax and try your luck at the slots while you wait for your flight.

Oakland International Airport (OAK) is 4.6 miles (7.4km) from the city center of Oakland, California, and one of three airports serving the San Francisco Bay area.

Although not as popular with tourists as nearby San Francisco or San Juan, oak tree-lined Oakland has an interesting and diverse mix of cultures, with more than 100 languages spoken throughout its suburbs.

Popular with low-cost carriers, the airport saw a boom at the end of the last decade and is currently undergoing a much needed multi-million dollar upgrade to its two terminals. There are flights to Oakland International Airport mainly from destinations across the US. The busiest routes are those to major Californian cities as well as Phoenix, Las Vegas, Seattle, Salt Lake City and Portland. Terminal 2 is used exclusively by Southwest Airlines, with Terminal 1 used by all other carriers.

At just 2.3 miles (3.7km) east of downtown Ontario, Ontario International Airport (ONT) is a small but well-equipped alternative to Los Angeles Airport and John Wayne Airport for passengers flying to California.

The number of flights to Ontario International Airport has been declining steadily in recent years (there were 4.8 million passengers in 2010, but the terminals are built to handle twice that) - some say due to the lack of direct flights to major destinations, in comparison with other airports nearby. However, those who use the airport agree that it is a convenient alternative, well connected to nearby air fields and towns, easy to get in and out of, clean and with good basic facilities.

Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) is two miles (3km) from downtown Palm Springs. This outdoor airport has an open terminal with grass and gardens. The airport serves roughly 1.5 million passengers each year and is connected directly and indirectly to more than 500 destinations across the United States and around the world.

The airport has a fair selection of shopping opportunities and food and drink facilities. It is also relatively well connected with Palm Springs and the surrounding areas. There are loads of taxis serving the airport and a number of buses. There is also an Amtrak Station nearby in Palm Springs.

Passengers keen to visit Palm Springs can book flights to Palm Springs International Airport on a number of airlines including American Airlines, Continental and Delta. Non-stop flights to Palm Springs International Airport can be booked from Washington, Chicago, Denver, LA and Las Vegas as well as many other cities across North America.

With its open plan terminal and great location close to downtown Palm Springs, this airport is a great choice for people wanting to visit the region for a vacation in the sun or for business. The sunny weather in Palm Springs does have its disadvantages though as flights to Palm Springs are generally less frequent during the hot and dry summer months.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is 3 miles (4.8km) from downtown Phoenix, and is the biggest and busiest airport in Arizona. It's a hub for both US Airways and Southwest Airlines, which offer flights to Phoenix Sky Harbor International from a large number of airports across the US and Mexico.

Phoenix itself is a sprawling metropolitan area in the Sonoran Desert, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. It has a number of sports attractions, museums, golf courses and even an aquarium.

If you're heading into town, consider hiring a car – although the Metro line is fairly user-friendly, the city is very car-centered and you'll probably find it easier to have your own wheels.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is located three miles (6km) southeast of central Reno. The airport is the second-busiest in Nevada because it’s so close to the vacation and ski resort of Lake Tahoe.

The facilities are limited but sufficient, with enough food and shopping to entertain passengers. There are slot machines in the terminal if you want to try your luck, but in Reno-Tahoe you aren’t tripping over them like in Las Vegas McCarran Airport. The airport rarely feels crowded, and is a pleasant introduction to the beautiful mountains of the resort area.

Flights to Reno-Tahoe International Airport are mostly regional, coming from destinations like Seattle, Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, San Francisco and Phoenix.