What's in a name? Airports across the US are often named after famous people, be they prominent figures in the city's history or those who have been pivotal in the airport's development. For example, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is named after two former mayors of the city of Atlanta - William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson. With more than 104 million passengers in 2023, the facility was the busiest airport in the country, and the world.
Several US airports are named after current or former presidents, honoring their contributions to the country. Simple Flying takes a look at some of the best-known and more obscure airports named after US presidents.
4 New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
The busiest international airport in the US
New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is one of the best-known examples of airports named after US presidents. The airport is the busiest international airport in the country, with services to destinations across the world. Its name is also renowned worldwide, representing one of the major international gateways to the US, and featuring regularly in popular culture.
The airport opened in July 1948, and was originally called New York International Airport. It was not until 1963 that the facility was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport, paying tribute to the 35th president of the US after his assassination on November 22nd, 1963.
American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have significant hubs at New York JFK, and the airport also attracts carriers from across the world, being one of the flagship routes for many. Among some of the lesser-known unusual airlines to operate direct flights to New York JFK are:
- Uzbekistan Airways from Tashkent International Airport (TAS)
- Air Serbia from Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG)
- LEVEL - from Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
- Kuwait Airways from Kuwait International Airport (KWI)
- XiamenAir from Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC).
New York City's airport system includes a total of seven airports. In addition to JFK Airport, the area's other major facilities are Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Stewart International Airport (SWF). Newark was the second busiest behind JFK in 2023, with a total of 49 million passengers.
3 George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
A major hub for United Airlines
Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) was renamed in May 1997 to honor the 41st president of the US - George H. W. Bush. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines, with the carrier commanding a staggering 72% market share (equivalent to more than 33 million passengers in 2023), way ahead of Spirit Airlines with 6.4% and American Airlines with 4.7% market shares.
With more than 46 million passengers annually, the airport is the second-busiest in the state of Texas, behind Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and ahead of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), with 81 million and 22 million passengers, respectively.
The longest services from George Bush Intercontinental Airport include Air New Zealand to Auckland (AKL), Qatar Airways to Doha (DOH), and Singapore Airlines to Singapore (SIN) via Manchester (MAN), although the latter service is due to end in April 2025.
2 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
One of three major airports serving the nation's capital
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) was renamed after the 40th president of the US, Ronald Reagan, in 1998. Washington National Airport has operated with a perimeter limit since it was first imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1966.
This meant that airlines could not operate flights longer than 650 miles from the airport, although the original restriction has since been relaxed on several occasions, most recently in the 1980s, when it was extended to 1,250 miles. The FAA has also subsequently granted a number of exceptions.
The city's major international airport is Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Washington, DC, is also served by Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) in Maryland.
1 Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT)
Honoring one of the power couple of US politics
Just like the Kennedys, the Clintons are one of the most influential families in US politics, so it seems fitting that they also have an airport named after them, albeit not quite on the same scale as New York JFK. Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock, Arkansas, is named after the 42nd US president and his wife, who ran for president herself in 2016.
Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport is the largest airport in the state of Arkansas, and in 2023 processed more than 2.2 million passengers, with American Airlines being the largest airline, followed by Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines. The busiest routes were to:
- Atlanta (ATL) - 249,000 passengers
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - 188,000 passengers
- Denver (DEN) - 123,000 passengers.
Among the other airports named after US presidents are:
- Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) in Springfield, Illinois, named after the 16th president of the US
- Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (DIK) in Dickinson, North Dakota, named after the 26th president of the US
- Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, named after the 38th president and 40th vice president of the US.
