Greater Rochester International Airport
Encyclopedia
Greater Rochester International Airport is a county-owned public-use airport
located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district
of Rochester
, a city in Monroe County
, New York
, United States
. It serves as the major airport of the metro area known as Greater Rochester (composed by the city of Rochester and the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Orleans and Wayne). The airport is owned and operated by Monroe County
.
On January 1, 1948 Monroe County took possession and control of the airport. The county made numerous improvements to the facility, including the construction of an instrumental runway measuring 5000 feet, an extension of the north-south runway from 2,670 ft to 5000 ft, and the building of administration facilities on Brooks Avenue
.
1953–1992 Terminal. A new red-brick, single-level passenger terminal was opened on Brooks Avenue in 1953. It was expanded substantially in 1963, and expanded again in 1978 and 1980. The building had only one floor, until a small second floor was added for administrative offices as part of the 1980 expansion. At this time the airport was called the "Rochester Monroe County Airport."
After the 1963 expansion gave it its final configuration, the terminal had ten gates in two concourses. A small three-gate concourse at the east end served American Airlines
, and a longer, angled concourse at the west end served Mohawk Airlines
(four gates on the east side) and United Airlines
(three gates on the west side).
Jet service was initiated at ROC in 1965 by American Airlines, who introduced the Boeing 727
. However, the airport's two longest runways, 10-28 (5500 feet) and 1-19 (5,000 feet) were of less than ideal length for jet aircraft. In 1967 Monroe County built the current longest runway, the NE-to-SW-angled 4-22. It was originally completed at 7,000 feet and extended in 1969 to its current length of 8,000 feet. 10-28 remains the airport's crosswind runway. Runway 7-25, currently 4000 feet long, is useful for propeller general aviation aircraft.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there was discussion of building a common Rochester-Buffalo airport in southeastern Niagara County, which would have taken over passenger traffic from Rochester-Monroe County and Greater Buffalo International airports. This airport was never built.
The terminal's first jetways were added to gates 1 and 3 by American in 1977. As part of the 1978 expansion, new lounge space was built for Allegheny Airlines
(successor to Mohawk) with three jetways. In about 1986 the airline (by then renamed USAir) added a fourth jetway. The 1980 expansion included two new lounge areas for United, each of which had one jetway. In 1987, Piedmont Airlines
, which had taken over the United lounge closest to the terminal, added a second jetway to it. In about 1985, USAir built an expansion to the end of the main concourse to house a USAir Club.
The large new low-fare carrier Peoplexpress Airlines
arrived at the airport in 1985. There was not room for them inside the terminal. A small ticket counter was built in office space in the northwest corner of the terminal, and a wooden peaked-roof shed was built on to house their outbound-baggage area, departure lounge, and baggage claim. No jetway was added. People's effect on fares was dramatic; ROC's enplanements increased 38% in 1985. When Continental Airlines
took People over in 1987, they moved operations into the main terminal and shared gate space with American. The shed was removed.
In the mid-1980s, Monroe County Legislator Van Buren N. Hansford, Sr. (R-Pittsford) introduced successful legislation to have the airport's name changed to "Greater Rochester International Airport."
1988–1992 Expansion Project: New Terminal. The terminal was outgrown by the mid 1980s, and debate began about expanding the airport. In 1985, the administration of Monroe County Executive Lucien A. Morin (R) proposed a complicated terminal expansion that would have had baggage claim carousels across the driveway in a separate building, which tugs would have reached by a tunnel, and passengers would have reached by second-floor bridge corridors.
The County got as far as building temporary parking lots to the west and closing the main parking lots to begin construction on a garage. However, in 1988 the new County Executive, Thomas R. Frey (D) and the County Legislature had doubts about the cost of the project, and it was abandoned without any construction having taken place.
In 1988, Monroe County approved a $109 million plan to replace the terminal with an entirely new two-level facility with a second-level approach road and parking garage. The new facilities were built in stages on the exact site, between 1989 and 1992. Ticketing and departures are on the second floor, and baggage claim is on the first floor. The County Legislature authorized the creation of a "Monroe County Airport Authority" to issue the bonds for the construction.
This terminal has two angled concourses, each with 11 gates. Current gate assignments are listed below. The eastern or B concourse opened in summer 1990. The eastern half of the main terminal opened in 1991. The western half of the main terminal, western or B concourse, and garage, all opened in 1992. A series of temporary prefabricated buildings were used to provide gate space and baggage claim space during the construction.
By the end of the 1980s, The New York Air National Guard
constructed a small hangar and office facility, and apron space, on the south side of the airport near the control tower. This facility has since been expanded.
2006-2010 Renovations and Additions. In 2006, Monroe County consolidated the separate security checkpoints at each concourse, to one central security checkpoint. Monroe County argued that this arrangement, although it would close the terminal's large concessions atrium and airfield views to nonpassengers, would be more efficient and save money. The county replaced the lost public airfield view with a new viewing area at the west end of the terminal.
In 2008, renovations were undertaken to replace floors, carpets, and seating in the concourses, move explosives-scanning equipment from the ticketing lobby to the outbound baggage room, and replace 't' shaped baggage claim carousels with 360-degree walkaround carousels which receive luggage from belts through the ceiling. By late 2009 these projects were completed.
In January 2009, the airport began work on an extension of the three-story parking garage to the west. By early 2010, that project was completed.
of 559 feet (170 m) above mean sea level. It has three runway
s:
All of the airports runways are equipped with a Category II Instrument Landing System
(ILS)
In 2008, the airport completed a project to put two service roads around the end of Runway 28, near Interstate 390, in tunnels. The ground was graded upwards beyond the end of the runway to cover the tunnels. Earlier in the decade, a 500-foot overrun area was added to the 10 end of this runway. An Engineered materials arrestor system
(EMAS) of about 200 feet was added to this extension. The EMAS consists of soft rubberized concrete into which an overrunning aircraft's wheels can sink, and the aircraft ostensibly be stopped safely before it veers onto the grass.
In 2011, the airports runway 10/28 was expanded to beable to handle the airports MD88, 717, and 737-300, 737-700 traffic.
Runway 4/22 is in dabate of an expansion to 9,500 feet.
, 34% air taxi
, 21% scheduled commercial
and 3% military
. At that time there were 94 aircraft based at this airport: 68% single-engine
, 17% multi-engine and 15% jet
.
A319 and A320
, Boeing
717
, 757
, and 737
, and McDonnell Douglas MD-88 aircraft. In terms of regional aircraft, scheduled service is operated using equipment such as the Canadair CRJ-100, CRJ-200, CRJ-700 and CRJ-900, and the Embraer ERJ-145 as well as the wider, mainline-like EMB-170 and EMB-190. There are also regional turboprops including the Beech 1900D and DeHavilland Dash 8-100, Dash 8-Q200, and Dash 8-Q400.
The largest plane ever to come to ROC is Air Force One, a Boeing 747-200, which brought President George W. Bush
on visits in 2005 and 2006. In 1995 Rochester hosted the Professional Golf Association Ryder Cup
, and the European team arrived on a British Airways Concorde
. The Concorde visited Rochester for the first time in the fall of 1986, chartered by AAA for a "Concorde to London, QE2 ocean liner the way back" trip.
The largest scheduled aircraft to serve ROC was the widebody (twin-aisle) McDonnell Douglas DC-10
, which seated 250-270 in two-class seating. American Airlines
operated the aircraft at ROC from 1972 until the fall of 1973, when the aircraft was withdrawn from ROC after the oil crisis. The July 1, 1973 AA timetable indicates that the aircraft was flown nonstop four times daily, from Rochester once each to Cleveland, New York-LaGuardia, Chicago, and Syracuse.
From 1973 to 1981, the largest regularly scheduled aircraft at ROC was the Boeing 707
, seating around 150 in two classes, operated by American Airlines. The aircraft left ROC after American Airlines CEO Robert Crandall retired the type from AA due to its fuel inefficiency. From 1981 until 2003, the Boeing 727-200, which seated about 150 in two classes, was typically the largest regularly scheduled passenger aircraft at ROC. It was operated by numerous carriers to ROC during that period. People Express 727s seated 186 in dense single-class configuration. Delta Air Lines
' retirement of the 727-200 (which it had operated from Rochester to Atlanta and Syracuse) in the spring of 2003, ended the type's career on scheduled passenger service at ROC.
Since 2003, the Airbus A320
, operated regularly by United Airlines
and JetBlue Airways
and occasionally by US Airways
, has typically been the airport's largest scheduled passenger aircraft. It seats about 150 in two classes. Some summers US Airways has operated the larger Airbus A321, which seats about 170 in two classes, on flights from Rochester to Philadelphia.
Since the summer of 2001, the largest scheduled aircraft at Rochester has been the widebody Airbus A300-600, operated by Federal Express several times daily to the carrier's main sorting hub in Memphis, TN. During the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, freight carriers such as Emery Worldwide and BAX Global flew Douglas DC-8
s, including the stretch DC-8-71 version, to ROC. In 2009, Airborne Express
operated widebody Boeing 767-200 cargo aircraft into Rochester. In addition, Capital Cargo International Airlines
operates a Boeing 727-200F most nights to Toledo Express Airport
.
During a six month period of every year, United Airlines
and Continental Airlines
operate boeing 757's into ROC
The New York Air National Guard occasionally flies 747-sized Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
aircraft into ROC.
Concourse) with gates A1-A11, and Concourse B (also known as Susan B. Anthony
Concourse) with gates B1,B2, B2A, B3-B10.
Current Airline Issues-
On November 30, 2011 United and Continental Airlines were officially merged into 1 airline. All of continental's regional affiliats are now officially under the United name
Airtran Airways has recently announced that they will be starting back up There flights to Ft. Meyers- start date unknown
Us Airways Express By Republic Airlines has announced seasonal service to Boston
Greater Rochester International Airport has a cargo terminal in the northwest corner of the airfield. The terminal is operated by USAirports. This terminal consists of three cargo buildings, two hangars, and USAirports' three-story headquarters administrative building. The company was founded in Rochester in the 1980s as Airport Systems and later changed its name to USAirports. The company operates cargo terminals at several airports in the United States.
This cargo terminal handles:
Federal Express operates its own cargo terminal on the southern border of the airport on Scottsville Road. It handles:
Airline Deregulation and the 1980s. After the industry was deregulated, American and United began to reduce service at Rochester, particularly on regional point-to-point flights, seeking greater profits elsewhere. Other airlines, many recently founded, entered the Rochester market in the 1980s as part of a huge expansion of the industry after Deregulation. Most of these carriers did not survive the tumultuous 1980s. Examples of carriers that that served Rochester in the 1980s but no longer serve the market include:
Late 80s through 1990s: Industry Consolidation, "Legacy Carrier" Dominance. Between 1986 and 1989 the airline industry consolidated through a series of mergers so that the industry was dominated by six "legacy" carriers; American, United, Delta, Northwest, Continental, and USAir. By the end of the decade Rochester was served by these carriers and their regional affiliates. These airlines with high "legacy" cost structures figured out by the mid-1990s that they had no reason to compete on price. Thus, by that time they kept fares high and enplanements stagnant at ROC. However, some new carriers did enter Rochester during the 1990s. Some carriers that served Rochester in that decade but did not last include:
2000s: Low-Fare Renaissance and Canada Service.. By the end of the 1990s, new, stronger low-cost carriers began to emerge, and by 2000 things began to change for Rochester. In 2000 the highly capitalized low-fare startup carrier JetBlue Airways
entered ROC with flights to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport
; JetBlue now offers nonstops to Orlando, Florida as well. In 2002 Atlanta-based low-fare powerhouse AirTran Airways
entered ROC with nonstops to Atlanta and Baltimore-Washington, and later to various points in Florida.
Rochester's enplanements picked up with these new low-fare entrants, who could hold their own against legacy carriers. Now (2010) the airport has a diversified, competitive grouping of airlines. Air Canada
, while not a low-fare carrier, entered Rochester with flights on regional affiliates to its main hub at Toronto. One carrier that served Rochester in this decade and withdrew is:
Northwest Airlines
effectively ceased to exist on January 1, 2010, when buyer Delta Air Lines
merged NW onto its operating certificate. This move made Delta the single largest carrier at ROC. As of November 2009, the market share of airlines at ROC was as follows:
Currently, the airlines serving Rochester serve the traffic flows listed below. American, United, and US Airways are discussed above. Nonstop flights, including non-hub flights, are listed in the table above.
crashed July 2, 1963, killing 7 people and injuring 36.
Air Canada
flight 7405 destined for Toronto Pearson International Airport
was called back over suspicion about a Sri Lankan couple carrying fake passports on July 19, 2006
An American Airlines
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 skidded off of Runway 22 during landing, onto snowy, muddy grass, during the winter of 1972/1973. The aircraft had to be towed out of the mud and was moved to the terminal.
Allegheny Airlines
Flight 453 crash-landed on July 9, 1978, while arriving from Boston Logan International Airport. The BAC-111 aircraft was carrying 77 people. According to the NTSB report, the flight landed on Runway 28 at too high a speed, but with sufficient performance capability to reject the landing. The pilots chose to continue the landing, the aircraft skidded off the end of the runway, and its landing gear were sheared off by a ditch. There were no fatalities. The aircraft was written off.
Delta Air Lines
Flight 1907, a Boeing MD-88 from Rochester to Atlanta on October 11, 2009 had to make a return to Rochester after take off from runway 22, due to an engine failure. 12 minutes later, the aircraft made a safe landing back on runway 22. Once the aircraft landed, the FAA made a statement that after take off, the aircraft hit a fleet of geese, which caused the engine failure. All 149 passengers and crew landed safely with no injuries.
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 three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, a city in Monroe County
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It serves as the major airport of the metro area known as Greater Rochester (composed by the city of Rochester and the counties of Monroe, Ontario, Livingston, Orleans and Wayne). The airport is owned and operated by Monroe County
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
.
History
Early History. The first developments of the Greater Rochester International Airport began in 1927, with the construction of Hangar No. 1 on a patch of land south of Rochester on Scottsville Road. At the time the airport was named Britton Field. This same year, the first scheduled passenger flights between New York City and Rochester were made. In 1928, the name of the field was changed to Rochester Municipal Airport and additional construction was completed, including improvements to the runways and drainage system, and the building of Hangar No. 2. As a result of the First and Second World Wars the airport saw a period of great expansion as passenger volume, frequency of scheduled flights, and civilian pilot training greatly increased. Also, a cadet flight training school, with nearly 1,000 students, was created.On January 1, 1948 Monroe County took possession and control of the airport. The county made numerous improvements to the facility, including the construction of an instrumental runway measuring 5000 feet, an extension of the north-south runway from 2,670 ft to 5000 ft, and the building of administration facilities on Brooks Avenue
New York State Route 204
New York State Route 204 is an east–west state highway located just southeast of Rochester in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at exit 6 on Interstate 490 in Gates. Its eastern terminus is at the Rochester city line just east of...
.
1953–1992 Terminal. A new red-brick, single-level passenger terminal was opened on Brooks Avenue in 1953. It was expanded substantially in 1963, and expanded again in 1978 and 1980. The building had only one floor, until a small second floor was added for administrative offices as part of the 1980 expansion. At this time the airport was called the "Rochester Monroe County Airport."
After the 1963 expansion gave it its final configuration, the terminal had ten gates in two concourses. A small three-gate concourse at the east end served American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
, and a longer, angled concourse at the west end served Mohawk Airlines
Mohawk Airlines
Mohawk Airlines was an airline that operated in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, primarily the states of New York and Pennsylvania from the mid-1940s until its acquisition by Allegheny Airlines in 1972...
(four gates on the east side) and United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
(three gates on the west side).
Jet service was initiated at ROC in 1965 by American Airlines, who introduced the Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
. However, the airport's two longest runways, 10-28 (5500 feet) and 1-19 (5,000 feet) were of less than ideal length for jet aircraft. In 1967 Monroe County built the current longest runway, the NE-to-SW-angled 4-22. It was originally completed at 7,000 feet and extended in 1969 to its current length of 8,000 feet. 10-28 remains the airport's crosswind runway. Runway 7-25, currently 4000 feet long, is useful for propeller general aviation aircraft.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there was discussion of building a common Rochester-Buffalo airport in southeastern Niagara County, which would have taken over passenger traffic from Rochester-Monroe County and Greater Buffalo International airports. This airport was never built.
The terminal's first jetways were added to gates 1 and 3 by American in 1977. As part of the 1978 expansion, new lounge space was built for Allegheny Airlines
Allegheny Airlines
Allegheny Airlines was an airline operating out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, from 1952 to 1979. It was a forerunner of today’s US Airways. Its headquarters were located on the grounds of Washington National Airport in Arlington County, Virginia....
(successor to Mohawk) with three jetways. In about 1986 the airline (by then renamed USAir) added a fourth jetway. The 1980 expansion included two new lounge areas for United, each of which had one jetway. In 1987, Piedmont Airlines
Piedmont Airlines
Piedmont Airlines is an American regional airline operating for US Airways Express. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the US Airways Group, headquartered in unincorporated Wicomico County, Maryland, near the city of Salisbury, it conducts flight operations using De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft...
, which had taken over the United lounge closest to the terminal, added a second jetway to it. In about 1985, USAir built an expansion to the end of the main concourse to house a USAir Club.
The large new low-fare carrier Peoplexpress Airlines
Peoplexpress Airlines
People Express Airlines, stylized as PEOPLExpress, also known as People Express Travel, was a U.S. no-frills airline that operated from 1981 to 1987, when it merged into Continental Airlines...
arrived at the airport in 1985. There was not room for them inside the terminal. A small ticket counter was built in office space in the northwest corner of the terminal, and a wooden peaked-roof shed was built on to house their outbound-baggage area, departure lounge, and baggage claim. No jetway was added. People's effect on fares was dramatic; ROC's enplanements increased 38% in 1985. When Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
took People over in 1987, they moved operations into the main terminal and shared gate space with American. The shed was removed.
In the mid-1980s, Monroe County Legislator Van Buren N. Hansford, Sr. (R-Pittsford) introduced successful legislation to have the airport's name changed to "Greater Rochester International Airport."
1988–1992 Expansion Project: New Terminal. The terminal was outgrown by the mid 1980s, and debate began about expanding the airport. In 1985, the administration of Monroe County Executive Lucien A. Morin (R) proposed a complicated terminal expansion that would have had baggage claim carousels across the driveway in a separate building, which tugs would have reached by a tunnel, and passengers would have reached by second-floor bridge corridors.
The County got as far as building temporary parking lots to the west and closing the main parking lots to begin construction on a garage. However, in 1988 the new County Executive, Thomas R. Frey (D) and the County Legislature had doubts about the cost of the project, and it was abandoned without any construction having taken place.
This terminal has two angled concourses, each with 11 gates. Current gate assignments are listed below. The eastern or B concourse opened in summer 1990. The eastern half of the main terminal opened in 1991. The western half of the main terminal, western or B concourse, and garage, all opened in 1992. A series of temporary prefabricated buildings were used to provide gate space and baggage claim space during the construction.
New York Air National Guard
The New York Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of New York. It is, along with the New York Army National Guard, an element of the New York National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission...
constructed a small hangar and office facility, and apron space, on the south side of the airport near the control tower. This facility has since been expanded.
2006-2010 Renovations and Additions. In 2006, Monroe County consolidated the separate security checkpoints at each concourse, to one central security checkpoint. Monroe County argued that this arrangement, although it would close the terminal's large concessions atrium and airfield views to nonpassengers, would be more efficient and save money. The county replaced the lost public airfield view with a new viewing area at the west end of the terminal.
In 2008, renovations were undertaken to replace floors, carpets, and seating in the concourses, move explosives-scanning equipment from the ticketing lobby to the outbound baggage room, and replace 't' shaped baggage claim carousels with 360-degree walkaround carousels which receive luggage from belts through the ceiling. By late 2009 these projects were completed.
Airfield
Greater Rochester International Airport covers an area of 1136 acres (459.7 ha) at an elevationElevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 559 feet (170 m) above mean sea level. It has three runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s:
- Runway 4/22: 8,001 x 140 ft. (2,439 x 43 m), Surface: Concrete
- Runway 7/25: 4,000 x 100 ft. (1,219 x 30 m), Surface: Asphalt
- Runway 10/28: 6,000 x 150 ft. (1,676 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
All of the airports runways are equipped with a Category II Instrument Landing System
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
(ILS)
In 2008, the airport completed a project to put two service roads around the end of Runway 28, near Interstate 390, in tunnels. The ground was graded upwards beyond the end of the runway to cover the tunnels. Earlier in the decade, a 500-foot overrun area was added to the 10 end of this runway. An Engineered materials arrestor system
Engineered Materials Arrestor System
An engineered materials arrestor system or engineered materials arresting system is a bed of engineered materials built at the end of a runway. Engineered materials are defined in FAA Advisory Circular No 150/5220-22A as "high energy absorbing materials of selected strength, which will reliably...
(EMAS) of about 200 feet was added to this extension. The EMAS consists of soft rubberized concrete into which an overrunning aircraft's wheels can sink, and the aircraft ostensibly be stopped safely before it veers onto the grass.
In 2011, the airports runway 10/28 was expanded to beable to handle the airports MD88, 717, and 737-300, 737-700 traffic.
Runway 4/22 is in dabate of an expansion to 9,500 feet.
Movements
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006, the airport had 137,601 aircraft operations, an average of 376 per day: 43% general aviationGeneral aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, 34% air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
, 21% scheduled commercial
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
and 3% military
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
. At that time there were 94 aircraft based at this airport: 68% single-engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
, 17% multi-engine and 15% jet
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
.
Plane sizes
Passenger service at Rochester is provided by a mixture of regional (fewer than about 100 seats) and narrowbody mainline (single-aisle with about 100 seats or larger) aircraft. The airport has scheduled mainline passenger service using AirbusAirbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
A319 and A320
Airbus A320
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
, Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
717
Boeing 717
The Boeing 717 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner, developed for the 100-seat market. The airliner was designed and marketed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95, a third-generation derivative of the DC-9. Capable of seating of up to 117 passengers, the 717 has maximum range of...
, 757
Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
, and 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
, and McDonnell Douglas MD-88 aircraft. In terms of regional aircraft, scheduled service is operated using equipment such as the Canadair CRJ-100, CRJ-200, CRJ-700 and CRJ-900, and the Embraer ERJ-145 as well as the wider, mainline-like EMB-170 and EMB-190. There are also regional turboprops including the Beech 1900D and DeHavilland Dash 8-100, Dash 8-Q200, and Dash 8-Q400.
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on visits in 2005 and 2006. In 1995 Rochester hosted the Professional Golf Association Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
, and the European team arrived on a British Airways Concorde
Concorde
Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde was a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner, a supersonic transport . It was a product of an Anglo-French government treaty, combining the manufacturing efforts of Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation...
. The Concorde visited Rochester for the first time in the fall of 1986, chartered by AAA for a "Concorde to London, QE2 ocean liner the way back" trip.
The largest scheduled aircraft to serve ROC was the widebody (twin-aisle) McDonnell Douglas DC-10
McDonnell Douglas DC-10
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a three-engine widebody jet airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The DC-10 has range for medium- to long-haul flights, capable of carrying a maximum 380 passengers. Its most distinguishing feature is the two turbofan engines mounted on underwing pylons and a...
, which seated 250-270 in two-class seating. American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
operated the aircraft at ROC from 1972 until the fall of 1973, when the aircraft was withdrawn from ROC after the oil crisis. The July 1, 1973 AA timetable indicates that the aircraft was flown nonstop four times daily, from Rochester once each to Cleveland, New York-LaGuardia, Chicago, and Syracuse.
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
, seating around 150 in two classes, operated by American Airlines. The aircraft left ROC after American Airlines CEO Robert Crandall retired the type from AA due to its fuel inefficiency. From 1981 until 2003, the Boeing 727-200, which seated about 150 in two classes, was typically the largest regularly scheduled passenger aircraft at ROC. It was operated by numerous carriers to ROC during that period. People Express 727s seated 186 in dense single-class configuration. Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
' retirement of the 727-200 (which it had operated from Rochester to Atlanta and Syracuse) in the spring of 2003, ended the type's career on scheduled passenger service at ROC.
Since 2003, the Airbus A320
Airbus A320
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
, operated regularly by United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
and JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens....
and occasionally by US Airways
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
, has typically been the airport's largest scheduled passenger aircraft. It seats about 150 in two classes. Some summers US Airways has operated the larger Airbus A321, which seats about 170 in two classes, on flights from Rochester to Philadelphia.
Douglas DC-8
The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
s, including the stretch DC-8-71 version, to ROC. In 2009, Airborne Express
Airborne Express
Airborne Express was an express delivery company and cargo airline. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, its hub was at Wilmington, Ohio.Airborne was founded as the Airborne Flower Traffic Association of California in 1946 to fly flowers from the state of Hawaii to US Mainland.Airborne Express...
operated widebody Boeing 767-200 cargo aircraft into Rochester. In addition, Capital Cargo International Airlines
Capital Cargo International Airlines
Capital Cargo International Airlines, Inc. is a cargo airline based in Orlando, Florida, USA. It provides on-demand and wet lease aircraft charter. Its main base is Orlando International Airport. It is owned by the Air Transport Services Group .- History :...
operates a Boeing 727-200F most nights to Toledo Express Airport
Toledo Express Airport
Toledo Express Airport is a passenger and cargo airport located 10 miles west of the city of Toledo in the extreme Western portion of Lucas County, Ohio, United States, near the border with Fulton County, in the townships of Swanton and Monclova. It is also a base for the Ohio Air National...
.
During a six month period of every year, United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
and Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
operate boeing 757's into ROC
The New York Air National Guard occasionally flies 747-sized Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
C-5 Galaxy
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...
aircraft into ROC.
Airlines and destinations
Greater Rochester International Airport consists of two passenger concourses: Concourse A (also called Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing...
Concourse) with gates A1-A11, and Concourse B (also known as Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony
Susan Brownell Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She was co-founder of the first Women's Temperance Movement with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as President...
Concourse) with gates B1,B2, B2A, B3-B10.
Current Airline Issues-
On November 30, 2011 United and Continental Airlines were officially merged into 1 airline. All of continental's regional affiliats are now officially under the United name
Airtran Airways has recently announced that they will be starting back up There flights to Ft. Meyers- start date unknown
Us Airways Express By Republic Airlines has announced seasonal service to Boston
Cargo
This cargo terminal handles:
- ABX AirABX AirABX Air, Inc., formerly Airborne Express, is a cargo airline headquartered at Wilmington Air Park in unincorporated Clinton County, Ohio, United States, near the City of Wilmington. ABX Air operates scheduled, ad hoc charter and ACMI freight services. It also provides flight support services and...
- Other non-FedEx cargo carriers.
Federal Express operates its own cargo terminal on the southern border of the airport on Scottsville Road. It handles:
- FedEx Express
- FedEx Feeder operated by Wiggins AirwaysWiggins AirwaysWiggins Airways is an American fixed base operator, cargo airline, and charter airline based at Manchester, New Hampshire and operating from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.-History:...
- FedEx Feeder operated by Wiggins Airways
General aviation
The airport has a number of flying clubs and a fixed base operator for general aviation flights.Service history
Early history. From the beginning of civil aviation until U.S. Airline Deregulation in 1978, Rochester mostly had passenger service from the following three "legacy" airlines or their predecessors:- American AirlinesAmerican AirlinesAmerican Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
. American served Rochester with its own aircraft until 2003, when it turned over all operations to its American EagleAmerican Eagle AirlinesAmerican Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
regional affiliate. American has historically served largely westbound traffic to the Midwest and West, and before Deregulation served some regional business destinations as well. AA's Eagle affiliate briefly served regional business centers such as New York and Boston, with connections to Europe and the Caribbean via its JFK hub, from about 1999-2001, but that service ended after 9/11. Before Deregulation, American was often Rochester's largest carrier.
- United AirlinesUnited AirlinesUnited Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
. United has served Rochester since 1961, when it bought Capitol Airlines which served Rochester at that time. United and its regional affiliates serve Rochester today. United historically has served westbound travel to the Midwest and West, as well as regional and southbound (Florida and mid-South) before Deregulation. UA also now offers connections from Rochester to Asia via its Chicago-O'Hare hub and to Europe via its Washington-Dulles hub.
- US AirwaysUS AirwaysUS Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
. US Airways was founded as All American Aviation CompanyAll American Aviation CompanyAll American Aviation Inc was an airline company founded by Dr. Lytle Schooler Adams in 1937. All American Aviation was originally a Patent Holding Company and it's sister company was Tri-State Aviation founded on the same date. Tri- State was the operating Company. Dr. Adams was the first...
, and was called Allegheny AirlinesAllegheny AirlinesAllegheny Airlines was an airline operating out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, from 1952 to 1979. It was a forerunner of today’s US Airways. Its headquarters were located on the grounds of Washington National Airport in Arlington County, Virginia....
until 1979 when they changed their name to USAir. The airline adopted its current name in 1997. Allegheny entered Rochester in 1972 when it bought Mohawk AirlinesMohawk AirlinesMohawk Airlines was an airline that operated in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, primarily the states of New York and Pennsylvania from the mid-1940s until its acquisition by Allegheny Airlines in 1972...
which then served Rochester. In 1986 USAir bought Piedmont AirlinesPiedmont AirlinesPiedmont Airlines is an American regional airline operating for US Airways Express. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the US Airways Group, headquartered in unincorporated Wicomico County, Maryland, near the city of Salisbury, it conducts flight operations using De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft...
which had been in Rochester since 1984, and merged Piedmont into itself in 1989. US Airways and its regional affiliates serve Rochester today. Historically the airline has served mostly regional traffic to business centers, with connections via hubs to the Midwest and, since the Piedmont acquisition, the South as well. US also offers connections to Europe via its Philadelphia hub. US's 2004 merger with Phoenix, AZ-based America West AirlinesAmerica West AirlinesAmerica West Airlines corporate offices were in Tempe, Arizona and the main hub was at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The airline became part of the US Airways Group after a merger in 2005....
had little effect on Rochester, as the airline does not fly to the Phoenix hub from Rochester. Currently, US Airways is the only airline to serve Boston directly.
Airline Deregulation and the 1980s. After the industry was deregulated, American and United began to reduce service at Rochester, particularly on regional point-to-point flights, seeking greater profits elsewhere. Other airlines, many recently founded, entered the Rochester market in the 1980s as part of a huge expansion of the industry after Deregulation. Most of these carriers did not survive the tumultuous 1980s. Examples of carriers that that served Rochester in the 1980s but no longer serve the market include:
- Air NorthAir NorthAir North Charter and Training Ltd., operating as Air North, Yukon's Airline is a Canadian airline based in Whitehorse, Yukon. It operates scheduled passenger, charter, cargo and ground handling services throughout the Yukon, with flights to the Northwest Territories, Alaska, British Columbia, and...
, a small commuter airline, started offering regional flights at Rochester about 1980; they became part of Brockway AirBrockway AirBrockway Air was a regional airline, which was formerly known as Air North and originally as Northern Airways.Headquartered in Burlington, VT the airline began operating in the late 1960s under a marketing relationship with Mohawk Airlines, replacing or supplementing Mohawk's service at small...
(see below) in 1984. - Altair AirlinesAltair AirlinesAltair Airlines was an airline based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was in service from 1967 to 1982.The airline was established in 1967 as a regional airline. In 1967, Altair's main shareholder was Tristram Colket and it had 587 employees. In May 1970, Altair Airlines was...
, a small regional carrier, opened a hub at Philadelphia shortly after Deregulation and operated Fokker F-28 jet aircraft. Around 1980–1982 they offered flights from Rochester to that hub, and went out of business about 1982. - Best AirlinesBest AirlinesBest Airlines was a small airline that flew to a miscellaneous and changing group of cities in the Mid-Atlantic United States in the mid-1980s. Their headquarters was in the Covington, Kentucky area which is near the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport...
, a small carrier that flew miscellaneous flights in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic on strikingly painted McDonnell Douglas DC-9McDonnell Douglas DC-9The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
-10's, served Rochester in the mid 1980s. - Brockway AirBrockway AirBrockway Air was a regional airline, which was formerly known as Air North and originally as Northern Airways.Headquartered in Burlington, VT the airline began operating in the late 1960s under a marketing relationship with Mohawk Airlines, replacing or supplementing Mohawk's service at small...
was a regional turboprop carrier that offered flights from Rochester to their hub at Greater Binghamton AirportGreater Binghamton AirportGreater Binghamton Airport is a medium-sized regional airport located in Maine, New York that serves the Southern Tier of New York, primarily Broome and Tioga counties....
(Edwin A. Link Field) in the mid 1980s. They later became a Piedmont AirlinesPiedmont AirlinesPiedmont Airlines is an American regional airline operating for US Airways Express. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the US Airways Group, headquartered in unincorporated Wicomico County, Maryland, near the city of Salisbury, it conducts flight operations using De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft...
affiliate carrier and then a TWATwaThe Twa are any of several hunting peoples of Africa who live interdependently with agricultural Bantu populations, and generally hold a socially subordinate position: They provide the farming population with game in exchange for agricultural products....
affiliate carrier. - City ExpressCity ExpressCity Express , also known as Air Atonabee Ltd., was an Ontario, Canada based airline that operated passenger service in eastern Canada,the northeastern United States and the center and eastern Mexico from 1971 to 1991.- Fleet :...
, a Canadian regional airline, briefly offered flights from Rochester to Toronto Island Airport in the late 1980s using Dash 7's. They were Rochester's first foreign carrier. Today, Air CanadaAir CanadaAir Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
's Air Georgian affiliate is the only foreign carrier serving Rochester.
- Eastern Air LinesEastern Air LinesEastern Air Lines was a major United States airline that existed from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida.-History:...
, which entered Rochester in 1979, shortly after Airline Deregulation. They operated flights to their Atlanta hub, to other regional and Florida points, and later to a Philadelphia hub. They mostly used DC-9's and Boeing 727Boeing 727The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
's at ROC. The then third-largest airline in the United States served Rochester until 1989, when it left the market during its decline before its 1991 shutdown. Eastern was immediately replaced in Rochester by its Atlanta hub competitor, Delta Air LinesDelta Air LinesDelta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
, which serves Rochester today.
- Empire Airlines (1976–1985) was a regional carrier founded in Utica, NY in the 1970s, which opened a hub at Syracuse Hancock International AirportSyracuse Hancock International AirportSyracuse Hancock International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located northeast of Syracuse, in Onondaga County, New York, off of Interstate 81 near Mattydale, New York. The main terminal complex is located at the eastern end of Colonel Eileen Collins Boulevard.-History:In 1927...
after Deregulation. Empire entered Rochester about 1980 and offered regional jet and turboprop flights in the Northeast. Piedmont bought Empire and merged them into itself in 1986. - Mall AirwaysMall AirwaysrightMall Airways was an American regional airline which operated throughout the northeastern United States and eastern Canada from 1973 to 1989. The carrier operated a mixed fleet of Beechcraft 1900, Piper Navajo Chieftains, Beech 99 Airliners, and also occasionally utilized a Beech King Air 90 as...
was a small regional airline which served Rochester in the 1980s. They offered regional flights on small turboprop aircraft, mostly to their hub at Albany International AirportAlbany International AirportAlbany International Airport is a public use airport located six nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Albany, in Albany County, New York, United States. It is owned by the Albany County Airport Authority....
. They briefly offered nonstop flights from Rochester to Montreal. - Midway AirlinesMidway AirlinesMidway Airlines was the name of two different, defunct airlines:*Midway Airlines , airline based in Chicago, Illinois and operating out of Chicago Midway International Airport between 1976 and 1991...
was founded in 1981 with a hub at Chicago Midway Airport. In the late 1980s they opened a hub at Philadelphia International AirportPhiladelphia International AirportPhiladelphia International Airport is a major airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley region and in Pennsylvania...
which replaced a hub at that airport shuttered by Eastern. Midway served Rochester with flights on DC-9 aircraft to Philadelphia from 1989 until near their liquidation in 1991.
- New York AirNew York AirNew York Air was a 1980s startup airline owned by Texas Air Corporation and based at LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, Queens, New York City.-History:...
, a low-cost airline founded after deregulation, entered Rochester in early 1985. They served Rochester with red-painted DC-9's, Boeing 737Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
's, and MD-80's to a hub at Newark International Airport and later Washington Dulles International AirportWashington Dulles International AirportWashington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
until their owner, Texas Air Corp., folded them into the company's Continental Airlines unit in 1987. - Pan American World AirwaysPan American World AirwaysPan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
' regional affiliate flew turboprop regional flights to Rochester from the mid 1980s until about the airline's 1991 shutdown. These were entirely flights to feed the airline's international flights at New York-JFK.
- Peoplexpress AirlinesPeoplexpress AirlinesPeople Express Airlines, stylized as PEOPLExpress, also known as People Express Travel, was a U.S. no-frills airline that operated from 1981 to 1987, when it merged into Continental Airlines...
, a large low-cost airline founded in 1981 with a hub at what is now called Newark Liberty International AirportNewark Liberty International AirportNewark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
, entered Rochester in February 1985. However, by a series of bad decisions they became financially unviable. They served Rochester until they were bought by Texas Air Corporation and folded into Texas Air's Continental AirlinesContinental AirlinesContinental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
unit in 1987. Continental's Continental ExpressContinental ExpressContinental Express is the operating brand name used by a number of independently owned regional airlines providing regional jet feeder service under agreement with Continental Airlines...
and Continental ConnectionContinental ConnectionContinental Connection is a brand name under which several commuter airline carriers and their holding companies operate services marketed exclusively by Continental Airlines...
affiliates serve Rochester today.
- Piedmont AirlinesPiedmont AirlinesPiedmont Airlines is an American regional airline operating for US Airways Express. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the US Airways Group, headquartered in unincorporated Wicomico County, Maryland, near the city of Salisbury, it conducts flight operations using De Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft...
was a pre-deregulation local service carrier based in North Carolina which expanded into the Northeast with a hub at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. They entered Rochester in the fall of 1984 with flights to Baltimore. They were bought by USAir in 1986 and were merged into USAir in 1989. - Republic Airlines (1979–1986) entered Rochester in the fall of 1984 and offered flights to its Detroit hub. Republic merged in 1987 with Northwest AirlinesNorthwest AirlinesNorthwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
, which served Rochester until it was bought by Delta Air LinesDelta Air LinesDelta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
in the fall of 2008 and merged into that airline in 2010. - Trans World AirlinesTrans World AirlinesTrans World Airlines was an American airline that existed from 1925 until it was bought out by and merged with American Airlines in 2001. It was a major domestic airline in the United States and the main U.S.-based competitor of Pan American World Airways on intercontinental routes from 1946...
' regional affiliate flew turboprop regional flights to Rochester in the late 1980s and into the 1990s. These were mostly feeder flights to the carrier's international flights at New York's John F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
, and flights to regional business centers.
Late 80s through 1990s: Industry Consolidation, "Legacy Carrier" Dominance. Between 1986 and 1989 the airline industry consolidated through a series of mergers so that the industry was dominated by six "legacy" carriers; American, United, Delta, Northwest, Continental, and USAir. By the end of the decade Rochester was served by these carriers and their regional affiliates. These airlines with high "legacy" cost structures figured out by the mid-1990s that they had no reason to compete on price. Thus, by that time they kept fares high and enplanements stagnant at ROC. However, some new carriers did enter Rochester during the 1990s. Some carriers that served Rochester in that decade but did not last include:
- America West AirlinesAmerica West AirlinesAmerica West Airlines corporate offices were in Tempe, Arizona and the main hub was at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The airline became part of the US Airways Group after a merger in 2005....
operated commuter flights on a regional affiliate's Dash 8 turboprop aircraft to its hub at Port Columbus International AirportPort Columbus International AirportPort Columbus International Airport , commonly shortened to Port Columbus, is a Class C international airport located east of downtown Columbus, Ohio, USA. It is managed by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which also oversees operations at Rickenbacker International Airport and Bolton Field...
in Ohio in 1993 and 1994. The Phoenix, AZ-based airline had opened the Columbus hub largely to allow an in-perimeter jump-off point to serve slot-restricted East Coast airports such as New York-LaGuardia and Washington National. The airline's attempt to do some feeder service at Columbus from regional airports did not last. - Eastwind AirlinesEastwind AirlinesEastwind Airlines was a start-up airline formed in mid-1995 and headquartered in Trenton, New Jersey, United States, and later in Greensboro, North Carolina. Jim McNally, a former Price Waterhouse analyst who had headed that firm's recovery teams when several other airlines sought management and...
was a small low-fare carrier that flew around the East Coast using Boeing 737Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
s in the late 1990s. In 1998 Eastwind offered flights from Rochester to Boston Logan International Airport and Washington Dulles International AirportWashington Dulles International AirportWashington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
. They flew too-large aircraft, with few opportunities for connections. Also, many Rochester businesspeople would not give up their employer-funded legacy-carrier frequent-flier miles during the flush late 1990s to support low fares. Eastwind lasted less than six months at Rochester. - Midway Airlines (1993-2003) was founded in the mid-1990s and operated a hub at Raleigh-Durham International AirportRaleigh-Durham International AirportRaleigh-Durham International Airport is a public international airport located 4.5 miles northeast of the town of Morrisville in suburban Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The airport covers and operates three runways, providing direct service to 40 domestic and international...
in North Carolina that "succeeded" American's recently shut-down hub at that airport. From about 1998 to shortly before their shutdown as a stand-alone carrier in August 2001, Midway II operated flights from Rochester to this hub with Canadair CRJ-200 regional jets. - Midwest AirlinesMidwest AirlinesMidwest Airlines was a U.S.-based airline and was also an operating brand of Republic Airways Holdings based in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. operating from Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport...
, a premium-service carrier with a hub at Milwaukee General Mitchell International AirportGeneral Mitchell International AirportGeneral Mitchell International Airport is a county-owned public airport located five miles south of the central business district of Milwaukee, a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States....
(and then called Midwest Express), served Rochester in the 1990s. These flights, operated by Midwest's Skyway AirlinesSkyway AirlinesSkyway Airlines is an American ramp and aircraft ground handling services and catering company based in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Until April 5, 2008, it operated as a regional airline under the business name Midwest Connect, feeding Midwest Airlines's hub at General Mitchell International Airport with...
subsidiary using small Beechcraft 1900Beechcraft 1900The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop airplane manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of the Raytheon Company . It was designed, and is primarily used, as a regional airliner...
turboprop aircraft, did not go to the Milwaukee hub but rather to Flint, MI Bishop International AirportBishop International AirportBishop International Airport is an airport located in the city of Flint, Michigan. The third busiest airport in Michigan, it surpassed competitor MBS International Airport in terms of airline operations in 2002. In 2007, 1,072,420 passengers used Bishop Airport, followed by a slight drop to...
. The flights were run under contract with General Motors' Delphi subsidiary to connect its plants in Rochester and Flint. The flights appeared in Midwest's timetable as bookable public flights, but most passengers were probably Delphi-related. ROC is as of 2009 the only Upstate New York airport ever to have had scheduled service in some form from Midwest. - "Mohawk Airlines II" was a small commuter carrier that flew among cities in New York and New England in the early 1990s, using small turboprop aircraft.
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens....
entered ROC with flights to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
; JetBlue now offers nonstops to Orlando, Florida as well. In 2002 Atlanta-based low-fare powerhouse AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of the Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida. AirTran operates over 650 daily flights , primarily in the eastern and midwestern United States...
entered ROC with nonstops to Atlanta and Baltimore-Washington, and later to various points in Florida.
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
, while not a low-fare carrier, entered Rochester with flights on regional affiliates to its main hub at Toronto. One carrier that served Rochester in this decade and withdrew is:
- Independence AirIndependence AirIndependence Air was a low-cost airline, owned by FLYi, Inc., headquartered in the Loudoun Gateway Corporate Center in Dulles, unincorporated Loudoun County, Virginia, United States that operated from 1989 until 2006. Its route network focused on the East Coast of the United States, but it also...
or "FLYiFLYiFLYi, Inc., previously known as Atlantic Coast Airlines Holdings, Inc., was a Delaware airline holding company based in the Dulles area of unincorporated Loudoun County, Virginia. Prior to filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, the company operated Independence Air.-History:Atlantic Coast Airlines...
", a regional airline formerly known as Atlantic Coast AirlinesAtlantic Coast AirlinesAtlantic Coast Airlines was an airline based in the United States owned by Atlantic Coast Holdings, Inc.. It operated as United Express for United Airlines and Delta Connection for Delta Air Lines. It was headquartered in the Dulles area of unincorporated Loudoun County, Virginia, United States....
that had been a United ExpressUnited ExpressUnited Express is a brand name under which eight regional airlines operate feeder flights for United Airlines. They primarily connect smaller cities with United's domestic hub airports and “focus cities,” although they offer some point-to-point service such as Sacramento to Eureka.As of Sept...
affiliate carrier at Washington Dulles International AirportWashington Dulles International AirportWashington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
. ACA reinvented itself as low-fare carrier FLYi in 2004 and ran their hub at Dulles. They operated up to eight dailies from Rochester to Dulles. However, their fleet of high-cost Canadair CRJ-200 regional jets was not sufficiently offset by their small fleet of efficient Airbus A319's to sustain their low fares. Also, United fought back unexpectedly hard at Dulles. Independence Air lasted from 2004 to 2006. They left Rochester shortly before their 2006 shutdown.
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
effectively ceased to exist on January 1, 2010, when buyer Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
merged NW onto its operating certificate. This move made Delta the single largest carrier at ROC. As of November 2009, the market share of airlines at ROC was as follows:
- Delta/ NW: 21%; AirTran: 20%; US Airways, 19%; JetBlue: 15%; United 14%; Continental: 8%; American 3%. (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Nov. 25, 2009) Air Canada has less than 1 percent.
Currently, the airlines serving Rochester serve the traffic flows listed below. American, United, and US Airways are discussed above. Nonstop flights, including non-hub flights, are listed in the table above.
- Air CanadaAir CanadaAir Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
offers connections throughout Canada, and to Asia, the Middle East, Australia, South America, the Caribbean and Europe, via its Toronto hub. - AirTran AirwaysAirTran AirwaysAirTran Airways, a subsidiary of the Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida. AirTran operates over 650 daily flights , primarily in the eastern and midwestern United States...
offers connections throughout the East and Midwest, and to the West Coast, via its Atlanta and Baltimore hubs. - Continental AirlinesContinental AirlinesContinental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
offers connections to Europe, Asia, the East, Midwest, and South, via its Newark hub, and to the Midwest, West, and South via its Cleveland hub. - Delta Air LinesDelta Air LinesDelta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
offers connections to the South, West, Europe, Caribbean, and Latin America via its Atlanta hub. Delta offers connections to the Midwest and West via its Detroit hub and rapidly decreasing Cincinnati hub. It also offers connections to many European cities via its New York-JFK hub. - JetBlue AirwaysJetBlue AirwaysJetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens....
offers connections to Florida, the East Coast, Caribbean, and West Coast via its New York-JFK hub.
Incidents
Mohawk Airlines Flight 121Mohawk Airlines Flight 121
Mohawk Airlines Flight 121 crashed during takeoff from Rochester-Monroe airport for Newark International Airport on July 2, 1963, killing 7 people and injuring 36....
crashed July 2, 1963, killing 7 people and injuring 36.
Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
flight 7405 destined for Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is an international airport serving Toronto, Ontario, Canada; its metropolitan area; and the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration that is home to 8.1 million people – approximately 25% of Canada's population...
was called back over suspicion about a Sri Lankan couple carrying fake passports on July 19, 2006
An American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 skidded off of Runway 22 during landing, onto snowy, muddy grass, during the winter of 1972/1973. The aircraft had to be towed out of the mud and was moved to the terminal.
Allegheny Airlines
Allegheny Airlines
Allegheny Airlines was an airline operating out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, from 1952 to 1979. It was a forerunner of today’s US Airways. Its headquarters were located on the grounds of Washington National Airport in Arlington County, Virginia....
Flight 453 crash-landed on July 9, 1978, while arriving from Boston Logan International Airport. The BAC-111 aircraft was carrying 77 people. According to the NTSB report, the flight landed on Runway 28 at too high a speed, but with sufficient performance capability to reject the landing. The pilots chose to continue the landing, the aircraft skidded off the end of the runway, and its landing gear were sheared off by a ditch. There were no fatalities. The aircraft was written off.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
Flight 1907, a Boeing MD-88 from Rochester to Atlanta on October 11, 2009 had to make a return to Rochester after take off from runway 22, due to an engine failure. 12 minutes later, the aircraft made a safe landing back on runway 22. Once the aircraft landed, the FAA made a statement that after take off, the aircraft hit a fleet of geese, which caused the engine failure. All 149 passengers and crew landed safely with no injuries.