Tulsa International Airport

Tulsa International Airport is a public airport located approximately 5 miles northeast of Downtown Tulsa in Tulsa County, Oklahoma. The airport serves as a hub for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, offering flights to various destinations across the United States, including Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and Denver International Airport. Additionally, the airport is also served by Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, providing connections to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, Orlando International Airport, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The airport is owned and operated by the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust and is a key economic driver for the Tulsa metropolitan area, generating revenue and creating jobs for Tulsa County and the surrounding regions, including Oklahoma City and Kansas City, Missouri.

● Overview

Tulsa International Airport is situated near the intersection of Highway 169 (Oklahoma) and Highway 11 (Oklahoma), making it easily accessible by car from Tulsa and surrounding cities, including Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Owasso, Oklahoma, and Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The airport's strategic location allows for convenient travel to nearby attractions, such as the Philbrook Museum of Art, Gilcrease Museum, and Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum, as well as major events like the Tulsa State Fair and Mayfest (Tulsa). The airport's proximity to The University of Tulsa and Oral Roberts University also makes it a popular destination for students and faculty traveling to and from Tulsa, with connections to Dallas Love Field, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport. Furthermore, the airport's location near the Arkansas River and Keystone Lake provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and tourism, with nearby cities like Guthrie, Oklahoma, Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Ponca City, Oklahoma offering a range of cultural and entertainment options.

● History

The airport was established in 1928 as a Municipal Airport, with the first terminal building opening in 1930, during the tenure of Tulsa Mayor George Watkins. The airport underwent significant expansion and modernization in the 1950s and 1960s, with the construction of a new terminal building and the addition of jet bridges and other amenities, under the guidance of Federal Aviation Administration and Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. During World War II, the airport served as a training base for the United States Army Air Forces, with B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bombers being stationed at the airport, and later, the airport played a key role in the Cold War, with the Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command operating from the airport. The airport has continued to evolve and expand over the years, with recent renovations and upgrades, including the addition of new security checkpoints and concourse areas, and the implementation of TSA Precheck and Global Entry programs, in partnership with Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

● Facilities

The airport features two concourses, Concourse A and Concourse B, with a total of 21 gates, offering a range of amenities and services, including free Wi-Fi, restaurants, and retail shops, such as Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, and Hudson News. The airport also has a variety of airline lounges, including the American Airlines Admirals Club and the Delta Air Lines Sky Club, providing travelers with a comfortable and convenient space to relax and work, with access to printing and scanning services and meeting rooms. Additionally, the airport offers a range of ground transportation options, including taxis, ride-hailing services, and rental cars from companies like Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, as well as parking facilities with over 5,000 spaces, including economy parking and valet parking, managed by SP+ and Park 'N Fly.

● Airlines_and_Destinations

The airport is served by several major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, which offer flights to destinations across the United States, such as New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Miami International Airport. Other airlines, such as Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, provide connections to popular leisure destinations, including Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, Orlando International Airport, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The airport also offers seasonal and charter flights to destinations like Cancun International Airport and Punta Cana International Airport, operated by Apple Vacations and Funjet Vacations, in partnership with Aeromexico and Sun Country Airlines.

● Statistics

In 2020, the airport handled over 2.5 million passengers, with an average of 6,800 passengers per day, according to data from the Airports Council International - North America and Federal Aviation Administration. The airport's busiest routes include flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and Denver International Airport, with over 100,000 passengers per month, based on data from Bureau of Transportation Statistics and Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust. The airport's cargo operations also play a significant role in the regional economy, with over 100 million pounds of cargo handled annually, including shipments from FedEx, UPS, and DHL, and partnerships with Tulsa Port of Catoosa and Kansas City Southern Railway.

● Ground_Transportation

The airport offers a range of ground transportation options, including taxis, ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, and rental cars from companies like Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The airport is also accessible by public transportation, with Tulsa Transit buses connecting the airport to Downtown Tulsa and other destinations, including Tulsa Union Depot and University of Tulsa. Additionally, the airport has a parking garage with over 5,000 spaces, as well as economy parking and valet parking options, managed by SP+ and Park 'N Fly, and partnerships with Tulsa Parking Authority and Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The airport's location near major highways, including Highway 169 (Oklahoma) and Highway 11 (Oklahoma), also makes it easily accessible by car from surrounding cities, including Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Owasso, Oklahoma, and Bartlesville, Oklahoma.