Roanoke Regional Airport

Roanoke Regional Airport
Name	Roanoke Regional Airport
Iata	ROA
Icao	KROA
Faa	ROA
Type	Public
Owner	City of Roanoke
City-served	Roanoke, Virginia
Location	Roanoke, Virginia, United States
Elevation-f	1,211
R1-number	6/24
R1-length-f	8,001
R1-surface	Asphalt
R2-number	16/34
R2-length-f	6,201
R2-surface	Asphalt

Roanoke Regional Airport

Roanoke Regional Airport serves the Roanoke Valley and the New River Valley in southwestern Virginia, providing scheduled passenger service, air cargo, general aviation, and fixed-base operations. Located near the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail, the airport functions as a regional transportation hub linking municipalities, universities, medical centers, and corporations across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States.

Overview

The airport is operated by the municipal authorities of Roanoke, Virginia and sits adjacent to Botetourt County, Virginia and Salem, Virginia. Its proximity to institutions such as Virginia Tech, Carilion Clinic, and Hollins University positions it as a gateway for academic, healthcare, and business travel. The field supports corporate aviation for firms including Advance Auto Parts, Volvo Trucks connections, and regional offices of General Dynamics, while serving tourists bound for attractions like The Greenbrier, Shenandoah National Park, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

History

Initial aviation activity in the Roanoke area traces to early airmail and barnstorming circuits that linked to cities such as Richmond, Virginia and Washington, D.C.. The current airport evolved through municipal planning during the interwar period and expansion during World War II to accommodate military training and civil aviation needs. Postwar commercial service connected Roanoke with legacy carriers including Eastern Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, and later with regional carriers like Piedmont Airlines (1948–1989), Allegheny Airlines, and US Airways Express. Terminal renovations and runway extensions in the late 20th and early 21st centuries were implemented to meet Federal Aviation Administration standards and to support aircraft types from Boeing 737 families, Airbus A320 families, and regional jets by manufacturers such as Bombardier Aerospace and Embraer.

Facilities and Infrastructure

The airport comprises multiple runways with instrument landing systems certified for operations under Federal Aviation Administration criteria and air traffic control services coordinated with Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport traffic flows. The passenger terminal includes ticketing, security checkpoints aligned with Transportation Security Administration protocols, baggage handling, concessions featuring regional vendors, and USO facilities for United Service Organizations support. Fixed-base operators provide services including Jet A and avgas fueling, hangarage for Cessna, Gulfstream Aerospace jets, maintenance by certified repair stations, and deicing operations meeting National Weather Service advisories for winter operations.

Airlines and Destinations

Scheduled service is offered by legacy and low-cost carriers and their regional partners, with typical routes connecting to hubs such as Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and Dulles International Airport. Airlines serving the field have included American Eagle (airline brand), Delta Connection, United Express, Alaska Airlines interline partners, and low-cost operators that have shifted service patterns in response to market forces influenced by carriers like Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways. Cargo operations have linked to logistics networks including FedEx Express and UPS Airlines.

Ground Transportation and Access

Surface access connects the airport to Interstate 81, Interstate 581, and U.S. Route 220, with regional transit provided by Valley Metro (Roanoke) and shuttle services to Roanoke Higher Education Center campuses and corporate centers. Rental car operations include national companies such as Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz, Avis Budget Group, and National Car Rental. Ground transportation planning coordinates with the Virginia Department of Transportation and regional planning commissions, and parking facilities accommodate short-term and long-term travelers headed to destinations like Mill Mountain, Taubman Museum of Art, and Salem Civic Center.

Statistics and Operations

Traffic statistics historically reflect enplanement levels influenced by regional demographics and employers including Carilion Clinic, Dominion Energy, Roanoke College, and manufacturing firms. The airport monitors operations data—aircraft movements, passenger throughput, cargo tonnage—consistent with reporting to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and compliance with Federal Aviation Administration airport certification metrics. Seasonal variations align with tourism to Blue Ridge Parkway, academic calendars at Radford University and Virginia Tech, and conventions at regional venues, while grant funding and capital projects have been pursued via Airport Improvement Program allocations.

Incidents and Safety Record

The airport's safety record includes routine incident investigations conducted in coordination with the National Transportation Safety Board when applicable, and operational safety programs that follow Federal Aviation Administration directives and guidance from the Aviation Safety Network. Notable historical incidents in the region involved aircraft types used by carriers such as Convair, Douglas DC-3, and various regional turboprops, with outcomes that influenced procedural changes, emergency response coordination with Roanoke City Fire-EMS, and interoperability with Blue Ridge Airport Authority planning and local hospitals including LewisGale Medical Center.

Category:Airports in Virginia