Roanoke Regional Airport
Encyclopedia
Roanoke Regional Airport , also known as Woodrum Field, is a public airport
located approximately 5 miles (8 km) north of downtown Roanoke
, Virginia
, United States. It has two runway
s and over 60 scheduled flights each day. The airport is governed by the five-member Roanoke Regional Airport Commission that includes representatives from both the city of Roanoke and Roanoke County
.
With a history stretching to the time following World War I, Roanoke Regional Airport has evolved from a pair of dirt runways and a single hangar to a fully equipped, modern airport serving multiple commercial airlines. Today the airport features a terminal building completed in 1989, a pair of asphalt runways, and a control tower completed in 2005 that serves the residents of the greater Roanoke Valley.
For 2007 Roanoke Regional saw 685,000 passengers with 71 percent on-time departures and 68 percent on-time arrivals. The top carriers into Roanoke for 2007 were Piedmont Airlines with 25.96 percent, Atlantic Southeast Airlines with 13.87 percent and Trans States Airlines with 12.98 percent of all passengers. The top destinations from Roanoke for 2007 included Charlotte
with 24.2 percent, Atlanta
with 18.7 percent and Chicago
with 14 percent of all travelers. As of February 2008, 1,379 daily seats were available for passengers traveling from Roanoke.
After World War I
, the idea of opening an airport to serve the Roanoke Valley
became more of a priority for local leaders. The original purpose of the facility was to provide for a landing strip, aircraft storage, as well as serving as a flight school for local residents. The original location of Roanoke's airport was 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the Roanoke city limits in Roanoke County
. The location for the airport was secured on July 1, 1929, when the city of Roanoke signed the lease on the land to operate the Roanoke Municipal Airport. The original facility featured a single 83 feet (25.3 m) x 100 feet (30.5 m) hangar and a pair of dirt runways, and the first commercial service commenced in 1933 when Ludington Airlines made Roanoke a stop on their New York to Nashville
route.
By 1934, American Airlines
began service to Roanoke, but they later moved their operations to Lynchburg
in 1937 due to the poor conditions in Roanoke. After American's withdrawal, city leaders determined a new facility needed to be constructed to replace the existing field. Originally privately operated, the city of Roanoke took control of the facility in 1937, after it purchased the original hangar, with Works Progress Administration
funds paying the costs of paving the runways. After the airport was declared a national defense project, federal funds became available to complete the facility, and on December 15, 1941, it was officially dedicated. The airport was named Woodrum Field in honor of Clifton A. Woodrum
, the congressional representative from Virginia's Sixth District
, and after it reopened, American Airlines reestablished service to Roanoke Municipal Airport.
Shortly after it departed from Asheville Regional Airport
in Asheville, North Carolina
, on July 19, 1967, Piedmont Airlines Flight 22
collided with a twin-engine Cessna 310 on approach to Asheville. At the time of the accident, the Piedmont Boeing 727
was en route to Roanoke. There were 82 fatalities and no survivors, making this the deadliest accident associated with Roanoke Regional Airport.
When facilities reached their maximum capacity, the need for upgrades became necessary for the airport to continue to grow. A proposal for runway expansion as well as facilities upgrades was developed in 1975, but was subsequently put on hold while a new regional airport was being studied to serve both Roanoke and all of Southwest Virginia. During this time airline deregulation
was put in place, and combined with the airport's aging facilities and the phasing out of turbo prop aircraft in favor of jet aircraft by the airlines, the airport's outdated infrastructure and deteriorating condition resulted in a decline of service to the airport. In order to allow for larger, jet aircraft to land, a runway expansion began in the early 1980s. With the runway extension underway, the airport officially changed its name from Roanoke Municipal Airport to Roanoke Regional Airport in 1983. The runway expansion project was completed in 1985.
Between 1984-1985, the city of Roanoke developed an Airport Master Plan calling for $43.8 million to be spent in the development of a new terminal building, in addition to other improvements throughout the site. With $15.4 million secured in state and local funding for its implementation, the remainder of the costs were covered by local authorities. From this need for funding, the idea for the creation of a Regional Airport Commission to oversee airport operations was proposed. Approved by the Virginia General Assembly
on February 18, 1986, and initiated on July 1, 1987, the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission consisted of five members, with three appointed from Roanoke City and two appointed from Roanoke County. The creation of the commission ended the city of Roanoke's role as the sole operator of the airport, which had stretched from 1934 through 1987.
Although Roanoke has never had international passenger service, in 2001, the Airport Commission was prepared to change the airport's name to Roanoke International Airport. This was the case as the U.S. Customs Service increased the radius covered by the inland port
in Dublin
to include Roanoke. This expansion allowed for the airport to add customs officials to accommodate both international travel and cargo to pass through Roanoke's facilities. However, the renaming did not occur as a result of the economic downturn in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks
. In 2007, the prospect of changing the airport's name was again mentioned as a possibility by the Airport Commission.
Local residents and businesses sometimes complain about the airport's limited number of non-stop flights and lack of low priced fares.
Airport officials estimate that around a third of airline tickets purchased by area residents are for travel from other airports. Competition includes Piedmont Triad International Airport
near Greensboro
, North Carolina
, as an alternate and others farther away which have service from Southwest Airlines
or international flights. However, aviation industry consultant Michael Boyd compared Roanoke's level of air service favorably to similarly sized cities.
In an effort to add more options for travelers in Roanoke, the airport added non-stop service to Orlando
in May 2006 and Tampa
in December 2006 with Allegiant Air
. This is largely seen as the product of an effort by local leaders to bring new and improved service to the airport through both existing and new carriers. Earlier attempts to lobby AirTran Airways
and the now defunct Independence Air
to serve the airport were unsuccessful.
In the time since the initial commercial service to Roanoke commenced in 1933, various airlines have offered non-stop service to and from Roanoke. Prior to airline deregulation, carriers such as Eastern Airlines provided service. However, the original Piedmont Airlines
has left the most lasting legacy on commercial aviation in Roanoke.
Piedmont service originally commenced on April 16, 1948, with only a pair of flights, which carried 42 passengers. In the 1970s, Piedmont established a regional hub
in Roanoke with 45 daily flights, that served 330,000 passengers by 1973. By 1982, Piedmont accounted for 89 percent of all passengers that traveled through Roanoke.
From Roanoke, Piedmont provided non-stop service to many cities including but not limited to: Atlanta
, Charlotte
, Chicago-O'Hare
, Greensboro
, Louisville
, Nashville
, Newark
, Pittsburgh
, Richmond
, and Washington-Reagan
. Piedmont continued to serve Roanoke through its merger with USAir, and the final Piedmont flights from Roanoke occurred on August 4, 1989.
During the period of Piedmont’s dominance, several regional airlines established service to Roanoke only to later pull out. Between October 29, 1978, and February 1979, Allegheny Airlines
provided non-stop service to Pittsburgh, Aeromech Airlines
briefly provided service to selected West Virginia destinations in the early 1980s, and Air Virginia provided service from the 1970s through the mid-1980s.
In the period following the Piedmont-USAir merger, Roanoke has seen various carriers enter and exit the local market. American Eagle
discontinued service to its Raleigh-Durham
hub in December 1994. In January 1996, Continental Express
offered daily flights to its Newark hub only to have the service discontinued on November 1, 1997. Other carriers still operating at Roanoke have decreased the number of destinations served from Roanoke since the early 1990s. U.S. Airways Express has eliminated non-stop service to Baltimore
, Charlottesville
, Dayton
, Pittsburgh and Washington-Reagan since 1990, Northwest Airlink
eliminated service to Newark in December 1992, and Delta eliminated service to Cincinnati
on Chautauqua Airlines
in September 2008.
The current terminal building was designed by the Charlotte
based architectural firm of Odell Associates and was built to serve as a replacement for the 1953 terminal, later demolished in 2005. Construction of the terminal commenced in 1987, and it opened in October 1989 at a final cost of $25 million. The Y-shaped building features a front of blue-tinted, reflecting glass with exposed white triangular tube steel trusses. The lobby interior includes an arched brick wall leading out into a central plaza and front courtyard at the main entrance. The terminal was constructed to handle passengers expected through the year 2010, with a design that allows for expansion when warranted. Outside the terminal is an abstract, steel sculpture by New York artist Albert Paley
entitled Aurora. Installed in October 1990, the sculpture is 21 feet (6.4 m) feet in height.
Landside facilities, or the facilities located outside the TSA
security checkpoint, include check-in, car rental, baggage claim and a taxi hire. The upper-level has a small cafe and newsstand. The upper-level Airside, or the facilities located inside the TSA security checkpoint, has seven gates (Gates 1-6 and 5A), and a small cafe area. Additionally, the entire terminal has been a free wi-fi
hotspot since April 2, 2003, when the service was initiated.
Designed for future expansion to accommodate additional aircraft, there has been talk of a terminal expansion, though official plans have yet to be announced. However, with the gate space being used to 100 percent capacity at peak times, there is very little capacity available for new flights unless they arrive and depart at off-peak times (10 AM-12 PM),(7 PM-10 PM).
Originally 5900 feet (1,798.3 m) in length, an expansion to lengthen Runway 6/24 was originally envisioned in the 1970s. However, expansion was delayed until the early 1980s while a proposed new regional airport serving Roanoke, Lynchburg
and Martinsville
, to be built in Bedford County
, was evaluated. Once the regional airport proposal was scrapped, the expansion was completed in 1985 and 900 feet (274.3 m) was added to its eastern end to allow for fully loaded jet aircraft to take off and land with a full load.
The expansion also resulted in the creation of a tunnel beneath Runway 06/24 along Virginia State Route 118
. Completed between 1983 and 1985, it is maintained by the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission. The most recent runway refurbishment was completed in 2002, in addition to the relocating one of the taxiways to prevent runway incursions.
Due to the size and layout of its runways, the airport has been rated among the top ten airports within a couple of hours of Andrews Air Force Base
for training pilots in the 89th Operations Group. This group is responsible for piloting Air Force One
as the Special Air Mission fleet for the President of the United States.
s serve the airport. The first tower was commissioned in March 1943, and the fourth was commissioned on June 6, 1952, and located atop the original terminal building. With the opening of the new terminal in 1989, a replacement tower became necessary in order to allow for the demolition of the original terminal building. Additionally, it would also provide controllers unobstructed views of the entire airport, which was not the case in the original structure.
Federal funding for a new tower fell through in both 1993 and 1997, but in 1999 the FAA announced they were restarting the Roanoke project, paving the way for its construction. The present tower is 197 feet (60 m) in height and has been operational since it was commissioned by the FAA on December 5, 2004. It was officially dedicated on May 16, 2005, in honor of former Roanoke air traffic manager John Hinkle.
Twenty-nine air traffic controllers work the Roanoke tower, and its radar also provides air-traffic services for Lynchburg
, Dublin
, Blacksburg
, Smith Mountain Lake
, New London
, Brookneal
and the Falwell Airport
in Lynchburg. The total airspace controlled by Roanoke stretches well over 200 miles (321.9 km) from the Mountain Empire
region to Farmville
.
Roanoke Regional features a large surface parking lot
, which is divided into long term (996 spaces) and short term (226 spaces) parking. An additional 598 parking spaces are available in an overflow lot across Aviation Drive during peak travel times. In service since 1990, a small parking shuttle bus operates every 10 to 15 minutes between 6 a.m. and midnight. Future improvements to the parking areas will result in the construction of a multi-level parking garage atop the site of the existing long term lot.
The airport is accessible from via Aviation Drive, which branches off Hershberger Road
just east of Exit 3E off I-581
leading to downtown Roanoke. The airport can also be accessed from Virginia State Route 118 by connecting with Municipal Drive just east of the terminal.
Major rental car companies serve the airport. Taxi and limousine service is provided by local companies.
The airport is also served by the Smart Way Bus
, with its stop located outside the eastern end of the terminal. Operating Monday through Saturday, the Smart Way serves both downtown Roanoke as well as Salem
, Christiansburg
, Blacksburg
and Virginia Tech. Although Valley Metro
does not directly serve the main terminal, Route 16 does make a scheduled stop just east of the main parking lot.
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 approximately 5 miles (8 km) north of downtown Roanoke
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States. It has two 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 and over 60 scheduled flights each day. The airport is governed by the five-member Roanoke Regional Airport Commission that includes representatives from both the city of Roanoke and Roanoke County
Roanoke County, Virginia
Roanoke County is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area and located within the Roanoke Region of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 85,778. As of 2010, the population was 92,376...
.
With a history stretching to the time following World War I, Roanoke Regional Airport has evolved from a pair of dirt runways and a single hangar to a fully equipped, modern airport serving multiple commercial airlines. Today the airport features a terminal building completed in 1989, a pair of asphalt runways, and a control tower completed in 2005 that serves the residents of the greater Roanoke Valley.
For 2007 Roanoke Regional saw 685,000 passengers with 71 percent on-time departures and 68 percent on-time arrivals. The top carriers into Roanoke for 2007 were Piedmont Airlines with 25.96 percent, Atlantic Southeast Airlines with 13.87 percent and Trans States Airlines with 12.98 percent of all passengers. The top destinations from Roanoke for 2007 included Charlotte
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a joint civil-military public international airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954 the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr...
with 24.2 percent, Atlanta
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport , known locally as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, and Hartsfield–Jackson, is located seven miles south of the central business district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
with 18.7 percent and Chicago
O'Hare International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
with 14 percent of all travelers. As of February 2008, 1,379 daily seats were available for passengers traveling from Roanoke.
History
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the idea of opening an airport to serve the Roanoke Valley
Roanoke Valley
The Roanoke Valley in southwest Virginia is an area adjacent to and including the Roanoke River between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian Plateau to the west...
became more of a priority for local leaders. The original purpose of the facility was to provide for a landing strip, aircraft storage, as well as serving as a flight school for local residents. The original location of Roanoke's airport was 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the Roanoke city limits in Roanoke County
Roanoke County, Virginia
Roanoke County is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area and located within the Roanoke Region of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 85,778. As of 2010, the population was 92,376...
. The location for the airport was secured on July 1, 1929, when the city of Roanoke signed the lease on the land to operate the Roanoke Municipal Airport. The original facility featured a single 83 feet (25.3 m) x 100 feet (30.5 m) hangar and a pair of dirt runways, and the first commercial service commenced in 1933 when Ludington Airlines made Roanoke a stop on their New York to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
route.
By 1934, 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...
began service to Roanoke, but they later moved their operations to Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
in 1937 due to the poor conditions in Roanoke. After American's withdrawal, city leaders determined a new facility needed to be constructed to replace the existing field. Originally privately operated, the city of Roanoke took control of the facility in 1937, after it purchased the original hangar, with Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
funds paying the costs of paving the runways. After the airport was declared a national defense project, federal funds became available to complete the facility, and on December 15, 1941, it was officially dedicated. The airport was named Woodrum Field in honor of Clifton A. Woodrum
Clifton A. Woodrum
Clifton Alexander Woodrum was a U.S. Representative from Virginia.Born in Roanoke, Virginia, Woodrum attended the public schools of his native city and the University College of Medicine , Richmond, Virginia.He became a registered pharmacist and engaged in his profession in Roanoke.He studied law at...
, the congressional representative from Virginia's Sixth District
Virginia's 6th congressional district
Virginia's sixth congressional district is a United States congressional district in the commonwealth of Virginia. It covers all or part of Shenandoah, Rockingham, Highland, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Rockbridge, Botetourt, Roanoke and Amherst Counties. The current representative is Bob Goodlatte...
, and after it reopened, American Airlines reestablished service to Roanoke Municipal Airport.
Asheville Regional Airport
Asheville Regional Airport is a Class C airport near Interstate 40 and Interstate 26 near the town of Fletcher, south of the city of Asheville, in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is owned by the city of Asheville...
in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
, on July 19, 1967, Piedmont Airlines Flight 22
Piedmont Airlines Flight 22
Piedmont Airlines Flight 22 was a Piedmont Airlines Boeing 727-22 on a scheduled airline flight in the United States from Asheville Regional Airport in Asheville, North Carolina to Roanoke Regional Airport in Roanoke, Virginia. Shortly after departure, the flight collided with a twin-engine Cessna...
collided with a twin-engine Cessna 310 on approach to Asheville. At the time of the accident, the Piedmont 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...
was en route to Roanoke. There were 82 fatalities and no survivors, making this the deadliest accident associated with Roanoke Regional Airport.
When facilities reached their maximum capacity, the need for upgrades became necessary for the airport to continue to grow. A proposal for runway expansion as well as facilities upgrades was developed in 1975, but was subsequently put on hold while a new regional airport was being studied to serve both Roanoke and all of Southwest Virginia. During this time airline deregulation
Airline deregulation
Airline deregulation is the process of removing entry and price restrictions on airlines affecting, in particular, the carriers permitted to serve specific routes. In the United States, the term usually applies to the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978...
was put in place, and combined with the airport's aging facilities and the phasing out of turbo prop aircraft in favor of jet aircraft by the airlines, the airport's outdated infrastructure and deteriorating condition resulted in a decline of service to the airport. In order to allow for larger, jet aircraft to land, a runway expansion began in the early 1980s. With the runway extension underway, the airport officially changed its name from Roanoke Municipal Airport to Roanoke Regional Airport in 1983. The runway expansion project was completed in 1985.
Between 1984-1985, the city of Roanoke developed an Airport Master Plan calling for $43.8 million to be spent in the development of a new terminal building, in addition to other improvements throughout the site. With $15.4 million secured in state and local funding for its implementation, the remainder of the costs were covered by local authorities. From this need for funding, the idea for the creation of a Regional Airport Commission to oversee airport operations was proposed. Approved by the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
on February 18, 1986, and initiated on July 1, 1987, the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission consisted of five members, with three appointed from Roanoke City and two appointed from Roanoke County. The creation of the commission ended the city of Roanoke's role as the sole operator of the airport, which had stretched from 1934 through 1987.
Inland port
The term inland port is used in two different but related ways to mean either a port on an inland waterway or an inland site carrying out some functions of a seaport.- As a port on an inland waterway :...
in Dublin
Dublin, Virginia
Dublin is a town in Pulaski County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,534 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area...
to include Roanoke. This expansion allowed for the airport to add customs officials to accommodate both international travel and cargo to pass through Roanoke's facilities. However, the renaming did not occur as a result of the economic downturn in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. In 2007, the prospect of changing the airport's name was again mentioned as a possibility by the Airport Commission.
Local residents and businesses sometimes complain about the airport's limited number of non-stop flights and lack of low priced fares.
Airport officials estimate that around a third of airline tickets purchased by area residents are for travel from other airports. Competition includes Piedmont Triad International Airport
Piedmont Triad International Airport
Piedmont Triad International Airport is an airport just west of Greensboro, serving Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem as well as the entire Piedmont Triad Region in North Carolina. The airport has 3 runways; the third opened January 27, 2010 for traffic. The airport is located just off...
near Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, as an alternate and others farther away which have service from Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
or international flights. However, aviation industry consultant Michael Boyd compared Roanoke's level of air service favorably to similarly sized cities.
In an effort to add more options for travelers in Roanoke, the airport added non-stop service to Orlando
Orlando Sanford International Airport
Orlando-Sanford International Airport is a public commercial air service airport in Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. It was originally constructed as a military installation known as Naval Air Station Sanford that was in operation as a Master Jet Base for carrier-based attack and reconnaissance...
in May 2006 and Tampa
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is a joint civil-military airport located in unincorporated Pinellas County, Florida, north of St. Petersburg, serving St...
in December 2006 with Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air is an American low-cost airline owned by Allegiant Travel Co. that operates scheduled and charter flights. Allegiant Travel Company is a publicly traded company with 1,300 employees and one billion USD market capitalization...
. This is largely seen as the product of an effort by local leaders to bring new and improved service to the airport through both existing and new carriers. Earlier attempts to lobby 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...
and the now defunct Independence Air
Independence Air
Independence 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...
to serve the airport were unsuccessful.
Previous airline service
Piedmont Airlines (1948-1989)
Piedmont Airlines was a major airline in the United States which operated from 1948 until its operations were merged into USAir in 1989. Its headquarters were located at One Piedmont Plaza in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a building which is now part of Wake Forest University.As of April 1989,...
has left the most lasting legacy on commercial aviation in Roanoke.
Piedmont service originally commenced on April 16, 1948, with only a pair of flights, which carried 42 passengers. In the 1970s, Piedmont established a regional hub
Airline hub
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations...
in Roanoke with 45 daily flights, that served 330,000 passengers by 1973. By 1982, Piedmont accounted for 89 percent of all passengers that traveled through Roanoke.
From Roanoke, Piedmont provided non-stop service to many cities including but not limited to: Atlanta
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport , known locally as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, and Hartsfield–Jackson, is located seven miles south of the central business district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
, Charlotte
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a joint civil-military public international airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954 the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr...
, Chicago-O'Hare
O'Hare International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
, Greensboro
Piedmont Triad International Airport
Piedmont Triad International Airport is an airport just west of Greensboro, serving Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem as well as the entire Piedmont Triad Region in North Carolina. The airport has 3 runways; the third opened January 27, 2010 for traffic. The airport is located just off...
, Louisville
Louisville International Airport
Louisville International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport centrally located in the city of Louisville in Jefferson County, Kentucky, USA. The airport covers 1,200 acres and has three runways. Its IATA airport code SDF is based on the airport's former name, Standiford Field...
, Nashville
Nashville International Airport
Nashville International Airport is a joint civil-military airport in southeastern Nashville, Tennessee. The IATA Airport Code BNA is derived from the early name of the facility—Berry Field, NAshville. Berry Field was the name of the airport until 1988, when the name was changed to reflect...
, Newark
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark 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...
, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
, Richmond
Richmond International Airport
- Accidents and incidents :*In 1996, Eastwind Airlines Flight 517 from Trenton experienced loss of rudder control while on approach to Richmond, however rudder control was regained shortly after and the aircraft landed normally. There was one minor injury....
, and Washington-Reagan
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport located south of downtown Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. It is the commercial airport nearest to Washington, D.C. For many decades, it was called Washington National Airport, but this airport was renamed in 1998 to...
. Piedmont continued to serve Roanoke through its merger with USAir, and the final Piedmont flights from Roanoke occurred on August 4, 1989.
During the period of Piedmont’s dominance, several regional airlines established service to Roanoke only to later pull out. Between October 29, 1978, and February 1979, 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....
provided non-stop service to Pittsburgh, Aeromech Airlines
Aeromech Airlines
Aeromech Airlines was founded in Clarksburg, West Virginia in 1951 as Aeromech. It was an air taxi operation. It changed its name to Aeromech in 1971, and then merged into Wright Airlines in 1983....
briefly provided service to selected West Virginia destinations in the early 1980s, and Air Virginia provided service from the 1970s through the mid-1980s.
In the period following the Piedmont-USAir merger, Roanoke has seen various carriers enter and exit the local market. American Eagle
American Eagle Airlines
American 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...
discontinued service to its Raleigh-Durham
Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Raleigh-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...
hub in December 1994. In January 1996, Continental Express
Continental Express
Continental 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...
offered daily flights to its Newark hub only to have the service discontinued on November 1, 1997. Other carriers still operating at Roanoke have decreased the number of destinations served from Roanoke since the early 1990s. U.S. Airways Express has eliminated non-stop service to Baltimore
Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is an international airport serving the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area in the United States. It is commonly called BWI, BWI Airport or BWI Marshall, BWI being an initialism for "Baltimore/Washington International" and the...
, Charlottesville
Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport
Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport is a public airport located 8 miles north of Charlottesville, in Albemarle County, Virginia, USA that has operated commercial flights since 1955. The airport serves the Charlottesville/Albemarle region and surrounding counties with 46 daily non-stop flights to...
, Dayton
Dayton International Airport
James M. Cox Dayton International Airport , also referred to as simply Dayton International Airport, is a public airport located nine miles north of the central business district of Dayton, a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. The airport is situated in Vandalia and it is owned and...
, Pittsburgh and Washington-Reagan since 1990, Northwest Airlink
Northeast Express Regional Airlines
Northeast Express Regional Airlines was a regional airline based in Manchester, New Hampshire. The airline was originally known as Valley Airlines, then they rebranded and became Northeast Express Regional Airlines and became a Northwest Airlines codeshare affiliate dba Northwest Airlink...
eliminated service to Newark in December 1992, and Delta eliminated service to Cincinnati
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport , sometimes called the Greater Cincinnati Airport is located in Hebron, unincorporated Boone County, Kentucky, United States and serves the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. Despite being located in Boone County, the airport operations are...
on Chautauqua Airlines
Chautauqua Airlines
Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. is a regional airline and a subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Based on 2009 published flight schedules, it operates scheduled passenger services on more than 700 flights daily to 98 airports in 31 states, Washington, D.C...
in September 2008.
Terminal
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
based architectural firm of Odell Associates and was built to serve as a replacement for the 1953 terminal, later demolished in 2005. Construction of the terminal commenced in 1987, and it opened in October 1989 at a final cost of $25 million. The Y-shaped building features a front of blue-tinted, reflecting glass with exposed white triangular tube steel trusses. The lobby interior includes an arched brick wall leading out into a central plaza and front courtyard at the main entrance. The terminal was constructed to handle passengers expected through the year 2010, with a design that allows for expansion when warranted. Outside the terminal is an abstract, steel sculpture by New York artist Albert Paley
Albert Paley
Albert Paley is a modernist American metal sculptor, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1944. He earned both a BFA and an MFA from the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. Paley initially worked as a goldsmith and moved to Rochester, New York in 1969 to teach at the Rochester Institute...
entitled Aurora. Installed in October 1990, the sculpture is 21 feet (6.4 m) feet in height.
Landside facilities, or the facilities located outside the TSA
Transportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States....
security checkpoint, include check-in, car rental, baggage claim and a taxi hire. The upper-level has a small cafe and newsstand. The upper-level Airside, or the facilities located inside the TSA security checkpoint, has seven gates (Gates 1-6 and 5A), and a small cafe area. Additionally, the entire terminal has been a free wi-fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
hotspot since April 2, 2003, when the service was initiated.
Designed for future expansion to accommodate additional aircraft, there has been talk of a terminal expansion, though official plans have yet to be announced. However, with the gate space being used to 100 percent capacity at peak times, there is very little capacity available for new flights unless they arrive and depart at off-peak times (10 AM-12 PM),(7 PM-10 PM).
Runways
Roanoke Regional Airport features a pair of runways originally completed in 1942. The largest runway is 6800 feet (2,072.6 m) x 150 feet (45.7 m) and the other runway is 5810 feet (1,770.9 m) x 150 feet (45.7 m) in total length.Originally 5900 feet (1,798.3 m) in length, an expansion to lengthen Runway 6/24 was originally envisioned in the 1970s. However, expansion was delayed until the early 1980s while a proposed new regional airport serving Roanoke, Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
and Martinsville
Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
, to be built in Bedford County
Bedford County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
, was evaluated. Once the regional airport proposal was scrapped, the expansion was completed in 1985 and 900 feet (274.3 m) was added to its eastern end to allow for fully loaded jet aircraft to take off and land with a full load.
The expansion also resulted in the creation of a tunnel beneath Runway 06/24 along Virginia State Route 118
Virginia State Route 118
Virginia State Route 118 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Airport Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 11 in Roanoke north to SR 117 in Hollins. SR 118 provides supplemental access to Roanoke Regional Airport, whose primary access road is Aviation Drive, which...
. Completed between 1983 and 1985, it is maintained by the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission. The most recent runway refurbishment was completed in 2002, in addition to the relocating one of the taxiways to prevent runway incursions.
Due to the size and layout of its runways, the airport has been rated among the top ten airports within a couple of hours of Andrews Air Force Base
Andrews Air Force Base
Joint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....
for training pilots in the 89th Operations Group. This group is responsible for piloting Air Force One
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft...
as the Special Air Mission fleet for the President of the United States.
Control tower
Throughout its history, Roanoke Regional Airport has had five separate control towerControl tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
s serve the airport. The first tower was commissioned in March 1943, and the fourth was commissioned on June 6, 1952, and located atop the original terminal building. With the opening of the new terminal in 1989, a replacement tower became necessary in order to allow for the demolition of the original terminal building. Additionally, it would also provide controllers unobstructed views of the entire airport, which was not the case in the original structure.
Federal funding for a new tower fell through in both 1993 and 1997, but in 1999 the FAA announced they were restarting the Roanoke project, paving the way for its construction. The present tower is 197 feet (60 m) in height and has been operational since it was commissioned by the FAA on December 5, 2004. It was officially dedicated on May 16, 2005, in honor of former Roanoke air traffic manager John Hinkle.
Twenty-nine air traffic controllers work the Roanoke tower, and its radar also provides air-traffic services for Lynchburg
Lynchburg Regional Airport
Lynchburg Regional Airport , also known as Preston Glenn Field, is a public airport located five miles southwest of the city of Lynchburg in Campbell County, Virginia, USA...
, Dublin
New River Valley Airport
New River Valley Airport is a public use airport located two nautical miles north of the central business district of Dublin, in Pulaski County, Virginia, United States. It is owned by the New River Valley Airport Commission....
, Blacksburg
Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport
Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport is a public airport located three miles south of the central business district of Blacksburg, a town in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States.- Facilities and aircraft :...
, Smith Mountain Lake
Smith Mountain Lake Airport
The Smith Mountain Lake Airport is a privately owned airport open to the public located southeast of Moneta, in Bedford County, Virginia, USA. The facility serves primarily general aviation for the areas around Smith Mountain Lake....
, New London
New London Airport (Virginia)
New London Airport is a public-use airport located six miles southwest of the central business district of Forest, a city in Bedford County, Virginia, United States. It is privately owned by Associated Wheels Inc....
, Brookneal
Brookneal/Campbell County Airport
The Brookneal/Campbell County Airport is a public airport located southeast of Brookneal, in Campbell County, Virginia, USA. Established in 1978 as a joint effort between Campbell County and the Town of Brookneal, the facility serves primarily general aviation....
and the Falwell Airport
Falwell Airport
The Falwell Airport is a private airport located southeast of downtown Lynchburg, Virginia, USA. Serving as the base for Falwell Aviation, the facility serves primarily general aviation....
in Lynchburg. The total airspace controlled by Roanoke stretches well over 200 miles (321.9 km) from the Mountain Empire
Wytheville, Virginia
Wytheville is a town in Wythe County, Virginia, United States. The population was 8,211 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Wythe County. The town is home to a Chautauqua Festival, held the third weekend in June every year since 1985...
region to Farmville
Farmville, Virginia
Farmville is a town in Prince Edward and Cumberland counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,845 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Prince Edward County....
.
Parking and ground transportation
Parking lot
A parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
, which is divided into long term (996 spaces) and short term (226 spaces) parking. An additional 598 parking spaces are available in an overflow lot across Aviation Drive during peak travel times. In service since 1990, a small parking shuttle bus operates every 10 to 15 minutes between 6 a.m. and midnight. Future improvements to the parking areas will result in the construction of a multi-level parking garage atop the site of the existing long term lot.
The airport is accessible from via Aviation Drive, which branches off Hershberger Road
Virginia State Route 101
Virginia State Route 101 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Hershberger Road, the state highway runs from SR 117 east to U.S. Route 11 within Roanoke...
just east of Exit 3E off I-581
Interstate 581
Interstate 581 is a spur off Interstate 81 into Roanoke, Virginia, United States, completely overlapping U.S. Route 220.-Route description:...
leading to downtown Roanoke. The airport can also be accessed from Virginia State Route 118 by connecting with Municipal Drive just east of the terminal.
Major rental car companies serve the airport. Taxi and limousine service is provided by local companies.
The airport is also served by the Smart Way Bus
Valley Metro (Roanoke)
Valley Metro, the operational name for the Greater Roanoke Transit Company, is a local government-owned urban-suburban bus line based in Roanoke, Virginia with First Transit providing the general and assistant general managers. The staff is employed by Southwest Virginia Transit Management Company...
, with its stop located outside the eastern end of the terminal. Operating Monday through Saturday, the Smart Way serves both downtown Roanoke as well as Salem
Salem, Virginia
Salem is an independent city in Virginia, USA, bordered by the city of Roanoke to the east but otherwise adjacent to Roanoke County. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,802 according to 2010 U.S. Census...
, Christiansburg
Christiansburg, Virginia
Christiansburg is a town in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States. The population was 21,041 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
, Blacksburg
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
and Virginia Tech. Although Valley Metro
Valley Metro (Roanoke)
Valley Metro, the operational name for the Greater Roanoke Transit Company, is a local government-owned urban-suburban bus line based in Roanoke, Virginia with First Transit providing the general and assistant general managers. The staff is employed by Southwest Virginia Transit Management Company...
does not directly serve the main terminal, Route 16 does make a scheduled stop just east of the main parking lot.
Airlines and destinations
Top Destinations
| Rank | City | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Charlotte, NCCharlotte/Douglas International Airport Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a joint civil-military public international airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954 the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr... |
92,000 | US Airways |
| 2 |  Atlanta, GAHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport , known locally as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, and Hartsfield–Jackson, is located seven miles south of the central business district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States... |
69,000 | Delta |
| 3 |  Chicago O’Hare, IL |
34,000 | United |
| 4 |  Washington-Dulles, VAWashington Dulles International Airport Washington 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... |
28,000 | United |
| 5 |  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 |
| 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.... |
24,000 | Delta |
| 7 |  Orlando-Sanford, FLOrlando Sanford International Airport Orlando-Sanford International Airport is a public commercial air service airport in Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. It was originally constructed as a military installation known as Naval Air Station Sanford that was in operation as a Master Jet Base for carrier-based attack and reconnaissance... |
16,000 | Allegiant |
| 8 |  New York-LaGuardia, NYLaGuardia 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... |
15,000 | US Airways |
| 9 | St. Petersburg, FL St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is a joint civil-military airport located in unincorporated Pinellas County, Florida, north of St. Petersburg, serving St... |
12,000 | Allegiant |
Aircraft
- Allegiant Air uses MD-82/83 jet aircraft seating 130-150 people.
- Delta Connection carriers use Canadair Regional JetsBombardier Canadair Regional JetThe Bombardier CRJ is a family of regional airliners manufactured by Bombardier:* CRJ100 - 50 seats* CRJ200 - 50 seats* CRJ700 - 70 seats* CRJ705 - 75 seats* CRJ900 - 90 seats* CRJ1000 - 100 seats...
(ASA and Pinnacle), which seat up to 50 passengers. - ExpressJet operates ERJ-145's to Roanoke
- United Express employs an all regional jet fleet at Roanoke Regional, the Embraer 145Embraer ERJ 145 familyThe Embraer ERJ 145 family is a series of regional jets produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. Family members include the ERJ 135 , ERJ 140 , and ERJ 145 , as well as the Legacy business jet and the R-99 family of military aircraft. The ERJ 145 is the largest of the group...
and Canadair Regional JetsBombardier Canadair Regional JetThe Bombardier CRJ is a family of regional airliners manufactured by Bombardier:* CRJ100 - 50 seats* CRJ200 - 50 seats* CRJ700 - 70 seats* CRJ705 - 75 seats* CRJ900 - 90 seats* CRJ1000 - 100 seats...
are the standard for flights to Chicago and Washington-Dulles. - US Airways Express contracts a number of regional carriers to fly into Roanoke. Their aircraft are as follows:
- Air Wisconsin--Canadair Regional Jets (50 seat medium range regional jets)
- Piedmont Airlines--DeHavilland Dash 8-100/300 (30-50 seat turboprop aircraft)
- PSA Airlines--Canadair Regional Jets (50-70 seat regional jet aircraft)
- FedexFedExFedEx Corporation , originally known as FDX Corporation, is a logistics services company, based in the United States with headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee...
operates 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...
cargo aircraft to ROA. - UPSUnited Parcel ServiceUnited Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
serves Roanoke with a Boeing 757Boeing 757The 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 an Airbus A300Airbus A300The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS...
.