Airports in USA

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), also affectionately known as Sea-Tac Airport, is located in the southern King County of Washington, 12 miles (19km) south of Seattle. Serving more than 31.5 million passengers in 2010, it is the United States’ 18th busiest airport.

Sea-Tac Airport has a Main (central) Terminal and ticketing arena surrounded by concourses A-D, as well as a two satellite terminals called the North and South Satellites. An automatic people-mover transports passengers between the satellite terminals and the Main Terminal. Running alongside the ticketing concourse is the airport garage, which houses five parking areas and a ground transportation center. All gates may be accessed once past security.

With an extensive selection of art on display throughout the airport, in addition to a host of shops, restaurants, bars, bistros and fast-food outlets, Sea-Tac is both attractive and inviting. Moreover, its combination of efficient facilities and helpful staff make pesky tasks such as checking-in a breeze.

Flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport comes from a number of cities worldwide, including Toronto, Paris, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seoul, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Tokyo, New York, Honolulu and Beijing.

Located about 10 miles (16km) south-east of Fort Myers, Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) serves the greater Southwest Florida region, including Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Bonita Springs and Naples. More than 7.5 million passengers used it in 2010 and it is one of the busiest single runway airports in the US.

Comprising one Main Terminal and concourse B-D, with free Wi-Fi throughout, modern facilities and plenty of natural sunlight, Southwest Florida International is a compact yet state-of-the-art airport. Security checks and baggage claims are quick and efficient, amenities neat and tidy, and staff courteous and helpful. Moreover, the airport features a wide array of works by local artists, making it a pleasure to wander around while you wait for your flight.

With nonstop flights throughout North America, and services to Canada and Germany, as well as a number of national hubs including Atlanta, Chicago and New York, Southwest Florida International offers much in the way of convenience for both local and international travelers.

Kentucky’s second-busiest airport (after Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky), Louisville International Airport (SDF) is situated in the city of Louisville, in Jefferson County. The airport used to be called Standiford Field, but changed its name in 1995, hence its IATA code of SDF. Currently the airport is home to Worldport, the worldwide hub for UPS Airlines, which operates cargo planes both in the United States and internationally.

Louisville International serves more than 3 million passengers per year, with non-stop flights to major cities all over the US. The airport is home to 11 major airlines, including American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta, US Airways and Vision Airlines.

While the airport has only a modest selection of amenities and services, the Altitude: A Travelers’ Club is a premier lounge with bargain rates for day visitors. If you have a few hours to pass, check-in here for some comfort, peace and free high-speed Internet access. 

Tampa International (TPA) is a relatively small airport located in Hillsborough County, Florida, just 7 miles (11km) from Tampa’s city center. It’s a friendly and attractively designed airport with a great selection of amenities.

The airport has a unique design featuring one landside terminal where all the ticketing, check-ins, customs and security checks take place and then four airside satellite buildings that are connected to the main terminal via automated people movers. The landside building has a great range of food and drink options and each of the satellite terminals has a couple of shopping and eating options as well. There is also duty free, but only in the satellite terminals that handle international flights.

Tampa International Airport is a hub for Gulfstream International Airways. However, Southwest Airlines offers the most flights to Tampa International. There are also a number of non-stop services to various destinations across the United States as well as the UK, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

With its innovative design and friendly service, Tampa is a great airport to use when flying to Florida. From the air the airport almost resembles a wheel with four spokes, and on the ground it’s an easy airport to navigate.

T.F. Green Airport (PVD) is located six miles (10 km) south of Providence, in Rhode Island, USA. Established in 1931, the airport was named after Theodore Francis Green, Rhode Island’s former governor and senator. It was completely rebuilt in 1996 and in 2011 it handled almost 4 million passengers.

T.F. Green’s terminal comprises of two levels. Some areas are open to visitors while other areas, including some retail and dining venues, are limited to passengers only. Concessions are not plentiful, but they provide sufficient amusement for those waiting for flights.  

T.F. Green Airport is a no-frills airport. Amenities are generally modern and clean, queues short and staff friendly and efficient. It’s difficult to find fault with this charming little airport. 

Tucson International Airport (TUS) is the gateway to Arizona’s stark, beautiful, desert landscape. It is just six miles (10 km) from downtown Tucson and has good transport options to get passengers to and from the airport. There are fewer than 10 airlines offering flights to Tucson International Airport. Passengers can fly directly to Tucson from several cities across the United States, including Chicago, Houston, Seattle and Los Angeles.

The airport has a good number of restaurants as well as shopping opportunities ranging from golfing equipment to souvenirs and gifts. If none of those interests you, then the arts and culture program is sure to keep passengers entertained. A permanent exhibition and a number of temporary installations convey the culture and beauty of Arizona. Passenger feedback indicates that Tucson’s relatively small size means shorter queues and friendlier service than larger airfields.

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) handles close to 24 million passengers each year. This architecturally beautiful airport is situated 26 miles (42km) from downtown Washington DC and serves a metropolitan area that includes Washington, Baltimore and Northern Virginia.

Washington Dulles International Airport was named after John Foster Dulles who was a former US Secretary of State. The airport is well-connected to Washington and Virginia, and is also connected to more than 125 destinations around the world, making it a popular gateway to the eastern United States.

The airport has a range of shopping options including book shops, fashion, jewelry, gifts, gadgets and music. The duty-free shops at the Washington Dulles International Airport are well-stocked and the amenities are top-class.

The airport serves as a hub for United Airlines, however passengers can book flights to Washington Dulles International Airport on most major international and domestic airlines.

Westchester County Airport (HPN) is just three miles (5km) from White Plains in New York State. It is close to the New York-Connecticut border and just 33 miles (53km) from Manhattan.

Flights to Westchester County Airport are available from several cities across the United States. Some of the more popular routes are to Atlanta, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Chicago and Detroit. Interestingly, Westchester County Airport caters for a significant number of corporate planes.

Westchester County Airport has a great location, the staff are helpful and when there is only one flight arriving or departing the queues aren’t long and you get in and out quickly. However, if more than one plane is arriving or departing then the airport can get quite crowded. In short, it’s a great airport to use if you’re not planning to spend a great deal of time there, as the facilities are modest, with only a few shopping and dining options.

William P Hobby Airport (HOU) is just seven miles (11km) from downtown Houston and is affectionately known as Hobby Airport. It’s a great airport to use for passengers wanting to avoid the hustle and bustle of George Bush Intercontinental Airport, which also serves the Houston area. However, this smaller airport, named after a former Texas governor, is growing quickly and currently serves more than 8 million passengers each year.

As George Bush Intercontinental Airport handles all the international flights coming into Houston, most of the flights to William P Hobby Airport are domestic. Many well-known US carriers operate flights to Hobby Airport and some of the most popular routes connect it with Atlanta, LA, New York and Austin.

Hobby Airport’s small size confers certain advantages. Often the security process seems quicker and the service offered more personal. Hobby Airport has a number of shopping opportunities and a few dining options, but there isn’t a great deal of choice at the airport. Some passengers may find this refreshing, as they are not bombarded by advertising and exhortations to buy constantly.