Gary/Chicago International Airport

Gary/Chicago International Airport
Name	Gary/Chicago International Airport
IATA	GYY
ICAO	KGYY
FAA	GYY
Owner	Gary Airport Authority
City-served	Gary, Indiana and Chicago metropolitan area
Location	Gary, Indiana
Elevation-f	591
Elevation-m	180
Coordinates	41, 36, 58, N...
Website	https://www.gyy.com

Gary/Chicago International Airport. It is a public-use airport located in the city of Gary, Indiana, within the Chicago metropolitan area. Owned by the Gary Airport Authority, the facility serves as a reliever airport for O'Hare and Midway International Airports. The airport has undergone significant expansion and modernization to accommodate increased commercial and cargo traffic.

History

The airport's origins trace back to 1929 when it was established as a municipal airfield. During World War II, the site was utilized for military training and aircraft production, contributing to the war effort alongside major industrial facilities like the nearby Gary Works. In the postwar era, it was known as **Gary Municipal Airport** and primarily served general aviation. A pivotal moment occurred in 1985 when the airport was renamed to reflect its regional role and attract commercial service. Major infrastructure projects, including a controversial and complex runway extension completed in 2015 that involved relocating a segment of the Norfolk Southern Railway, have been central to its development strategy to handle larger aircraft.

Facilities

The airport covers 668 acres at an elevation of 591 feet above mean sea level. It features two asphalt runways: the primary Runway 12/30, which was extended to 7,000 feet, and a secondary crosswind Runway 2/20 measuring 3,600 feet. The passenger terminal, renovated in 2011, includes facilities for Transportation Security Administration screening. The airfield is equipped with an Instrument Landing System and serves as a base for fixed-base operator services, corporate flight departments, and maintenance facilities. The airport property also hosts the Gary Jet Center and is adjacent to major transportation corridors like the Borman Expressway.

Airlines and destinations

The airport has historically seen intermittent scheduled passenger service. In recent years, the primary commercial carrier was **Allegiant Air**, which operated seasonal flights to destinations such as Orlando/Sanford and St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport. Other airlines that have served the airport include **Pan Am Clipper Connection** and **Southeast Airlines**. As of the latest data, scheduled commercial service is suspended, with the airport focusing on charter operations, general aviation, and cargo. The facility remains a potential hub for low-cost carriers seeking alternatives to congested Chicago airports.

Accidents and incidents

On July 11, 1951, a United States Air Force C-47 Skytrain crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all four crew members. A notable incident involving a commercial aircraft occurred on December 20, 1989, when a Pan Am Boeing 727 operating as **Pan Am Express** overran the runway during a snowstorm; there were no serious injuries, but the aircraft was substantially damaged. These events have contributed to ongoing discussions about airport safety and operational procedures in the region.

Statistics

For the 12-month period ending December 2023, the airport had approximately 30,000 aircraft operations, averaging 82 per day, with over 99% being general aviation and the remainder air taxi. It is not ranked among the top 150 airports in the United States for passenger enplanements. The airport maintains a modest but steady operational profile, with based aircraft consisting of a mix of single-engine and multi-engine planes, along with jets and helicopters. Cargo tonnage has fluctuated with the presence of freight operators.

Future developments

Airport authorities have long-term plans to attract more scheduled passenger and cargo airlines. A key focus is marketing the airport's available capacity and lower operating costs to carriers like **Allegiant Air**, **Frontier Airlines**, and **Spirit Airlines**. There are ongoing discussions with logistics companies, including **Amazon Air** and **FedEx Express**, to establish cargo distribution hubs. Infrastructure projects under consideration include further terminal modernization, additional aircraft parking aprons, and improved road access via the Interstate 90 corridor. These efforts are part of a broader economic development strategy for the Calumet Region supported by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

Category:Airports in Indiana Category:Buildings and structures in Gary, Indiana Category:Chicago metropolitan area