Akron-Canton Regional Airport
Encyclopedia
Akron-Canton Regional Airport is a commercial Class C
airport
located in the city of Green
, in southern Summit County, Ohio
(a very small portion of both runways extend into Stark County
,) roughly 10 miles (16.1 km) southeast of Akron
, 10 NM northwest of Canton
, and 10 NM northeast of Massillon
. The airport is jointly operated by Summit County
and Stark County
.
Money for the airport was initially allocated during World War II
for defense purposes, but the construction stalled over a controversy relating to whether public funding of airport construction would be appropriate. As a result, private funding was essential to the initial construction of the airport, particularly in purchasing the land. The airport was dedicated on October 13, 1946 as the Akron-Canton-Massillon Airport. The name was later changed to the Akron-Canton Regional Airport. The first passenger air service began in 1948 when American, United, Capital and Eastern airlines moved their service from the Akron Municipal Airport. A permanent terminal was built in 1955 and expanded in 1962.
The airport has two runways - 7,601, and 8,205 feet (2,317 and 2,501 m) long, both 150 feet (46 m) wide.
metropolitan area. The number of passengers who use the airport has grown every year since 1995 except 2001 (because of the September 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks which slowed air travel nationwide).
The airport markets itself as "A better way to go", noting the ease of the Akron-Canton Airport in comparison to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
some 40 miles (64.4 km) north. The airport essentially serves as a secondary "reliever" airport for Northeast Ohio. Although much of the growth is commercial, over 75% of traffic is general aviation, which is all but nonexistent at nearby Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport.
CAK doubled passenger ridership from 2000–2006, with new flights added by AirTran Airways and Frontier Airlines. CAK represents 20% of all air travel growth in the state of Ohio. Other airlines include Delta Connection, US Airways Express, and United Express.
The airport experienced its best year ever in 2008 when 1,469,196 customers traveled to and from CAK beating the old record set in 2006 by more than 30,000 people – a 2 percent increase. The record number is also a 5.6 percent increase from 2007 beating it by more than 77,000 customers.
Other projects includes expanding aircraft parking and general aviation area, replacing aircraft rescue and fire fighting maintenance facility, a new customs and border patrol facility, expand auto parking lots, a widened entrance road, expanded ticket wing and TSA screening area, expanded upper level concourse and the construction of Port Green Industrial Park, 213 acre (0.86198118 km²) will be developed into 10-12 business sites bringing up to 1,000 high paying jobs to northeast Ohio. Once completed, Akron-Canton will offer international flights in and out of the country.
It is also served regularly by one route from each of the region's two public transit providers, Akron Metro Regional Transit
route 110, and Canton-based Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) route 81.
The SARTA route provides service every hour for most of the day Monday through Friday, and serves both Canton and Akron via Interstate 77
, including transit centers in both downtown Canton and downtown Akron.
The Akron Metro route is a 5 times-per-day local route through Southern Summit County, but does also serve the downtown Akron Transit Center.
Class C airport
Class C is a class of airspace in the United States which follows International Civil Aviation Organization air space designation. Class C airspace areas are designed to improve aviation safety by reducing the risk of midair collisions in the terminal area and enhance the management of air traffic...
airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located in the city of Green
Green, Ohio
Green is a suburban city in Summit County, Ohio, United States. The population was 25,699 at the 2010 census. It is located almost exactly midway between the cities of Akron and Canton, although it is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, in southern Summit County, Ohio
Summit County, Ohio
Summit County is an urban county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 542,899. In the 2010 Census the population was 541,781. Its county seat is Akron...
(a very small portion of both runways extend into Stark County
Stark County, Ohio
Stark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 375,586. It is included in the Canton-Massillon, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area....
,) roughly 10 miles (16.1 km) southeast of Akron
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, 10 NM northwest of Canton
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, and 10 NM northeast of Massillon
Massillon, Ohio
Massillon is a city located in Stark County in the U.S. state of Ohio, approximately 8 miles to the west of Canton, Ohio, 20 miles south of Akron, Ohio, and 50 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio. The population was 32,149 at the 2010 census....
. The airport is jointly operated by Summit County
Summit County, Ohio
Summit County is an urban county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 542,899. In the 2010 Census the population was 541,781. Its county seat is Akron...
and Stark County
Stark County, Ohio
Stark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 375,586. It is included in the Canton-Massillon, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area....
.
Money for the airport was initially allocated during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
for defense purposes, but the construction stalled over a controversy relating to whether public funding of airport construction would be appropriate. As a result, private funding was essential to the initial construction of the airport, particularly in purchasing the land. The airport was dedicated on October 13, 1946 as the Akron-Canton-Massillon Airport. The name was later changed to the Akron-Canton Regional Airport. The first passenger air service began in 1948 when American, United, Capital and Eastern airlines moved their service from the Akron Municipal Airport. A permanent terminal was built in 1955 and expanded in 1962.
The airport has two runways - 7,601, and 8,205 feet (2,317 and 2,501 m) long, both 150 feet (46 m) wide.
Passenger growth
In 2005, 1.43 million passengers flew through Akron-Canton, three times the number ten years earlier. It is one of the fastest-growing airports in the Midwest, and attracts passengers from the Akron/Canton area and ClevelandCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
metropolitan area. The number of passengers who use the airport has grown every year since 1995 except 2001 (because of the September 11, 2001 terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
attacks which slowed air travel nationwide).
The airport markets itself as "A better way to go", noting the ease of the Akron-Canton Airport in comparison to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is a public airport located nine miles southwest of the central business district of Cleveland, a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The airport lies just within the city limits of Cleveland...
some 40 miles (64.4 km) north. The airport essentially serves as a secondary "reliever" airport for Northeast Ohio. Although much of the growth is commercial, over 75% of traffic is general aviation, which is all but nonexistent at nearby Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport.
CAK doubled passenger ridership from 2000–2006, with new flights added by AirTran Airways and Frontier Airlines. CAK represents 20% of all air travel growth in the state of Ohio. Other airlines include Delta Connection, US Airways Express, and United Express.
The airport experienced its best year ever in 2008 when 1,469,196 customers traveled to and from CAK beating the old record set in 2006 by more than 30,000 people – a 2 percent increase. The record number is also a 5.6 percent increase from 2007 beating it by more than 77,000 customers.
Current Expansion
The airport kicked off CAK 2018, its 10-year, $110-million Capital Improvement Plan in March 2008. The plan is the most ambitious capital improvement plan in Akron-Canton Airport’s history and calls for 10 projects in the next 10 years. One of those projects, a runway expansion, has already been completed. Runway 5/23 was extended from 7600 ft (2,316.5 m). to 8200 ft (2,499.4 m). The runways will allow aircraft to fly farther – non-stop to anywhere in the U.S. and throughout Mexico and Canada.Other projects includes expanding aircraft parking and general aviation area, replacing aircraft rescue and fire fighting maintenance facility, a new customs and border patrol facility, expand auto parking lots, a widened entrance road, expanded ticket wing and TSA screening area, expanded upper level concourse and the construction of Port Green Industrial Park, 213 acre (0.86198118 km²) will be developed into 10-12 business sites bringing up to 1,000 high paying jobs to northeast Ohio. Once completed, Akron-Canton will offer international flights in and out of the country.
Last Expansion
In 2006, the airport completed a major expansion and renovation of the terminal, including the addition of a new terminal wing off the main concourse. It brings the number of gates to 11 (from 9), and provides new baggage areas, a food court, and improved aesthetics. The new wing of the terminal opened to passengers in May, 2006 and is home to AirTran Airways and Frontier Airlines.Airlines and destinations
Top Destinations
| Rank | City | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Atlanta, GA |
241,000 | AirTran, Delta |
| 2 |  Charlotte, NC |
76,000 | US Airways |
| 3 |  Denver, CODenver International Airport Denver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel... |
76,000 | Frontier |
| 4 |  New York, NY (LaGuardia)LaGuardia Airport LaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally... |
74,000 | AirTran |
| 5 |  Orlando, FLOrlando International Airport Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport... |
53,000 | AirTran |
| 6 |  Detroit, MIDetroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport.... |
47,000 | Delta |
| 7 |  Boston, MA |
42,000 | AirTran |
| 8 | Tampa, FL Tampa International Airport Tampa International Airport is a major public airport located six nautical miles west of the central business district of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority... |
38,000 | AirTran |
| 9 |  Chicago, IL (O'Hare) |
37,000 | United |
| 10 |  Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia International Airport Philadelphia International Airport is a major airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley region and in Pennsylvania... |
25,000 | US Airways |
Ground transportation
Akron-Canton Airport is served by a number of taxicab and shuttle services.It is also served regularly by one route from each of the region's two public transit providers, Akron Metro Regional Transit
METRO RTA
METRO Regional Transit Authority , also known as Akron Metropolitan Regional Transit Authority, is the public transit agency serving Summit County, Ohio and the city of Akron...
route 110, and Canton-based Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) route 81.
The SARTA route provides service every hour for most of the day Monday through Friday, and serves both Canton and Akron via Interstate 77
Interstate 77
Interstate 77 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. It traverses diverse terrain, from the mountainous state of West Virginia to the rolling farmlands of North Carolina and Ohio. It largely supplants the old U.S...
, including transit centers in both downtown Canton and downtown Akron.
The Akron Metro route is a 5 times-per-day local route through Southern Summit County, but does also serve the downtown Akron Transit Center.