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Baltimore/Washington International Airport

Coordinates: 39°10′31″N 76°40′06″W / 39.1754°N 76.6683°W / 39.1754; -76.6683
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Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Airline terminal
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerMaryland Aviation Administration
ServesBaltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area
LocationAnne Arundel County, near Glen Burnie, Maryland
Elevation AMSL146 ft / 45 m
Coordinates39°10′31″N 076°40′06″W / 39.17528°N 76.66833°W / 39.17528; -76.66833
Websitewww.bwiairport.com
Maps
A map with a grid overlay showing the terminals runways and other structures of the airport.
FAA airport diagram
BWI is located in Maryland
BWI
BWI
Location within Maryland
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
4/22 6,000 1,829 Asphalt
10/28 10,502 3,201 Asphalt
15L/33R 5,000 1,524 Asphalt
15R/33L 9,501 2,896 Asphalt
Helipads
Number Length Surface
ft m
H1 100 30 Asphalt
Statistics (2009)
Passengers20,953,615
Aircraft operations268,005
Based aircraft75 (2009)
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] and BWI Airport.[2]

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (IATA: BWI, ICAO: KBWI, FAA LID: BWI) 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 facility's IATA Airport Code. The airport is located in northern unincorporated Anne Arundel County, Maryland, about 10 miles (16 km) south of Baltimore and 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Washington, D.C. It is adjacent to the Linthicum CDP.[3] It is named after Thurgood Marshall, a Baltimore native and the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States.

BWI is a focus city for Southwest Airlines and Cape Air, and a hub for AirTran Airways. A record 21.9 million passengers traveled through BWI in 2010,[4] an increase of 4.7% over the previous year,[4] with July being the busiest month ever in the airport's history.[5] This makes BWI the 24th busiest airport in North America.[6] The airport was also ranked 47th in the world in total aircraft movements.[7]

In 2010, BWI was ranked as the best airport of its size (15-25 mil. passengers) in the world by the Airports Council International based on its 2009 Airport Service Quality survey.[8] In 2010, BWI was ranked the second airport in North America by Airports Council International - North America for "Best Food and Beverage Program."[9]

History

Planning for a new airport on 3,200 acres (13 km²) to serve the Baltimore/Washington area began just after the end of World War II, and ground was broken in 1947. Located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland next to where Friendship Church was razed,[10] Friendship International Airport was dedicated on June 24, 1950, by President Harry Truman. The following month the airlines moved to the new airport from Harbor Field (southeast of Baltimore at 39°15′N 76°32′W / 39.25°N 76.53°W / 39.25; -76.53). The Official Airline Guide for April 1957 shows 52 weekday departures: 19 Eastern, 12 Capital, 8 American, 4 National, 3 TWA, 3 United, 2 Delta and 1 Allegheny. Miami had a couple of nonstops, but westward nonstop flights didn't reach beyond Ohio; Baltimore's reach expanded when jet service started in 1958-59. The early Boeing 707s and Douglas DC-8s couldn't use Washington National, and Dulles didn't exist until 1962, so Baltimore became Washington's jet airport, with transcon flights.[11]

The State of Maryland, through the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), purchased Friendship International Airport from the City of Baltimore for $36 million in 1972. Under MDOT, the Maryland State Aviation Administration took over airfield operations and grew from three employees to more than 200. Plans to upgrade, improve, and modernize all Maryland airport facilities were announced almost immediately by the Secretary of Transportation, Harry Hughes.[12]

To attract passengers from the Washington area, the airport was renamed Baltimore/Washington International Airport in 1973.[12] The IATA code remained "BAL" (another airport had "BWI") until it was changed to "BWI" in 1982. [citation needed]

The first phase of BWI modernization was completed in 1974 at a cost of $30 million. Upgrades included improved instrument landing capabilities and runway systems, and construction of three new air cargo terminals, expanding the airport's freight capacity to 2.53 acres (10,200 m2).[12]

The passenger terminal renovation program was complete in 1979, the most dramatic work of the airport's modernization. The BWI terminal more than doubled in size to 14.58 acres (59,000 m2); the number of gate positions increased from 20 to 27. The total cost of project was $70 million. To continue the work, the BWI Development Council was established to support initiatives for airport development.[12]

The BWI Rail Station opened in 1980, providing a rail connection to passengers on the busy Northeast Corridor though Amtrak. BWI became the first airport in the U.S. to be served by a dedicated intercity rail station.[13] In particular, the station provided relatively easy transit access to Washington, D.C., something Washington Dulles International Airport currently lacks. In the late 1990s, a new international terminal (Concourse E) was added, though Dulles continues to hold the lion's share of the region's international flights, and BWI has not attracted many long-haul international carriers. Air Jamaica and British Airways have had a presence at BWI for many years. AerLingus, Air Aruba, Air Greenland, El Al, Ghana Airways, Icelandair, KLM, Ladeco, and Mexicana previously flew to BWI. Military flights, operated by the U.S. Air Force's Air Mobility Command, continue to have a significant presence at BWI.[citation needed]

Beginning in the 1980s, and later for much of the 1990s, BWI was a major hub for Piedmont Airlines and successor US Airways, but that airline's financial difficulties in the wake of the dot-com bust, the September 11 attacks, and intense low fare competition forced it to significantly reduce its presence at the airport. The airport has been a major haven for low-cost flights in the Baltimore/Washington Metropolitan Area since Southwest Airlines' arrival in September 1993 and subsequent expansion in the early 2000s. Southwest is now the airport's largest carrier, accounting for 51.90% of passengers carried in 2008.[14] In terms of daily departures BWI is now Southwest's 4th most-served destination.[15] BWI has International flights to London, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean and domestic flights around the United States.

View at sunset from Concourse A with Southwest 737s parked. Southwest operates at A and B.

To accommodate Southwest's extensive presence at the airport, in 2005 Concourses A and B were expanded, renovated, and integrated with one another to house all of that airline's operations there. This new facility opened on May 22, 2005. On October 1 of that year, the airport was renamed again, to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, to honor the former US Supreme Court justice, who grew up in Baltimore.[16]

The more recent renaming has not resulted in a change to the IATA and ICAO locater codes.[citation needed]

The airport has been a backdrop in numerous films, including The Silence of the Lambs, Goldfinger, Broadcast News, and Twelve Monkeys.

In late 2008, Health magazine named BWI the second healthiest airport in the United States.[17] In 2009 the airport had a six percent increase in air travelers due to the proliferation of discount flights.[18] In a 2009 survey of airport service quality by Airports Council International, BWI was the world's top ranking airport in the 15-to-25-million-passenger category.[19] BWI also ranked seventh, in medium sized airports, based on customer satisfaction conducted by J.D Power and Associates.[20]

In September 2010, Southwest Airlines announced its intent to acquire AirTran Airways, both of which have large presences at BWI. If the merger proceeds, Southwest will continue be the largest carrier at the airport.

Operations and statistics

With winds from the north or west, aircraft will generally land on runway 33L and depart on runway 28. When the winds are from the south or east, arrivals are on runway 10 and departures are on runway 15R. Use of the smaller parallel runway (33R/15L) is restricted to smaller propeller-driven aircraft and small corporate jets. Runway 4/22 is closed for landings and takeoffs however it is used for taxing and turnoffs. The largest planes that land at BWI are Boeing 757's, McDonnell-Douglas MD-11's, and British Airways' Boeing 767.

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2009, the airport had 268,005 aircraft operations, an average of 734 per day: 91% air carrier, 8% general aviation and less than 1% military operations. There were 75 aircraft based at the airport: 45 single engine, 19 multi-engine, and 11 jets.[1]

Southwest is the airport's largest carrier, accounting for 55.76% of passengers carried as of March 2011. Other major airlines with a significant presence at the airport are AirTran (15.31%), Delta Air Lines (8.41%), US Airways (4.93%), and United Airlines (4.87%).[21]

Busiest Domestic Routes from BWI (May 2010 - April 2011)[21]
Rank City Passengers Airline(s)
1 Atlanta, Georgia 668,000 AirTran, Delta
2 Boston, Massachusetts 578,000 AirTran, JetBlue, Southwest
3 Orlando, Florida 482,000 AirTran, Southwest
4 Charlotte, North Carolina 455,000 AirTran, US Airways
5 Detroit, Michigan 337,000 Delta, Southwest
6 Denver, Colorado 321,000 Southwest, United
7 Tampa, Florida 305,000 AirTran, Southwest
8 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 297,000 AirTran, Southwest
9 Providence, Rhode Island 292,000 Southwest
10 Chicago, Illinois 291,000 American, United
Traffic by calendar year
Passengers Change from previous year Aircraft operations Cargo
(pounds)[22]
2006 20,698,967 266,790 252,413,171
2007 21,044,384 Increase1.67% 265,424 254,701,295
2008 20,488,881 Decrease2.64% 249,456 225,275,286
2009 20,953,615 Increase2.27% 245,522 221,302,348
2010 21,936,461 Increase4.69% 253,165 225,706,183
Source: Maryland Aviation Administration[23]

Terminals

New Southwest Airlines ticket counter in the Concourse A-B expansion

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport has five concourses, though Concourses A and B were essentially merged into a single concourse in the renovations completed in 2005.[citation needed] The Maryland Aviation Administration has its headquarters on the third floor of the terminal building.[24]

BWI Airport plans on improving existing Concourse C.[25] For Concourse C, the airport plans on constructing a connection between Concourse A/B and Concourse C beyond security. Other improvements for Concourse C include, moving walkways, widening of Concourse C, modification of passenger hold rooms and relocation of security checkpoint. The estimated completion date is still to be determined based upon the start date of construction.

Passengers wait in Terminal C for a storm to pass
Concourses A/B
  • Note: Concourses A and B have 26 gates, A1-A11 and B1-B15.
  • Note: Concourses A and B are both only used by Southwest Airlines.
Concourse C
  • Note: Concourse C has 14 gates, C1-C14.
  • Note: Concourse C serves American Airlines, American Eagle, Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection, and Jetblue
  • Note:In late 2011, Delta Air Lines will move to Concourse D, where AirTran Airways currently operates out of and AirTran Airways will move to Concourse A and B in September, due to the merger with Southwest Airlines. Delta Air Lines will take AirTran Airway's current ticket counter as well.
Concourse D
  • Note: Concourse D has 38 gates, D1-D5, D7-D8, D10-D16, D21-D42, D46-D47.
  • Note: Concourse D serves AirTran Airways, US Airways, US Airways Express, United Airlines, United Express, Continental Airlines, Continental Connection, Continental Express and Cape Air. The far end of Concourse D is built at ground level to serve small regional planes.
International terminal (Pier E)
Concourse E
  • Officially called the Governor William Donald Schaefer International Terminal.
  • The Air Mobility Command also has a post in Concourse E flying active service troops out to worldwide destinations.
  • Note: Concourse E has 6 gates, E1-E4, E6, E8
  • Note: Concourse E serves Air Canada Jazz, AirTran Airways (International arrivals that are not pre-cleared), British Airways, and USA3000 Airlines.
  • Note: All international arrivals from non pre-cleared destinations are handled at Concourse E.
  • Note: All charter airlines are handled in Concourse E.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger Airlines

Destinations with direct service from BWI
Baggage claim area at the Baltimore/Washington International Airport.
AirlinesDestinationsConcourse
Air Canada Express operated by Jazz Air Toronto-Pearson E
AirTran Airways Atlanta, Boston, Branson, Cancún, Charlotte, Dayton, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Grand Rapids, Huntsville, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Miami, Montego Bay, Milwaukee, Nassau, New Orleans, Orlando, Portland (ME), Rochester (NY), San Juan, Sarasota, Tampa
Seasonal: Bermuda, Dallas/Fort Worth [ends September 6], San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, West Palm Beach 		D
American Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami C
American Eagle Chicago-O'Hare, New York-JFK C
British Airways London-Heathrow E
Cape Air Hagerstown, Lancaster D
Continental Airlines Houston-Intercontinental D
Continental Connection operated by
Colgan Air 		Cleveland, Newark D
Continental Express operated by
ExpressJet Airlines 		Newark D
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake City C
Delta Connection operated by
Atlantic Southeast Airlines 		Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Memphis, Raleigh/Durham [begins September 7] C
Delta Connection operated by
Chautauqua Airlines 		Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, New York-JFK C
Delta Connection operated by
Comair 		Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Memphis C
Delta Connection operated by
Compass Airlines 		Minneapolis/St. Paul C
Delta Connection operated by
Mesaba Airlines 		Memphis, New York-JFK C
JetBlue Airways Boston C
Southwest Airlines Albany, Albuquerque, Austin, Birmingham (AL), Boston, Buffalo, Charleston (SC), Chicago-Midway, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Greenville/Spartanburg, Hartford, Houston-Hobby, Indianapolis, Jackson, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Long Island/Islip, Los Angeles, Louisville, Manchester (NH), Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, New York–LaGuardia, Newark, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Panama City (FL), Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh/Durham, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, Tampa, West Palm Beach
Seasonal: Seattle/Tacoma 		A & B
United Airlines Chicago-O'Hare, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco D
United Express operated by
ExpressJet Airlines 		Chicago-O'Hare D
United Express operated by
GoJet Airlines 		Chicago-O'Hare D
US Airways Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix D
US Airways Express operated by
Chautauqua Airlines 		Philadelphia D
US Airways Express operated by
Piedmont Airlines 		New York-LaGuardia, Philadelphia D
US Airways Express operated by
PSA Airlines 		Charlotte, Philadelphia D
US Airways Express operated by
Republic Airlines 		Charlotte D
USA3000 Airlines Punta Cana E
Vision Airlines Freeport [Begins November 3] E

Airline lounges

  • British Airways operates a British Airways Club Lounge in Concourse E, near entrance to the concourse. This facility, while operated by British Airways, is a common-use facility available to passengers of all international concourse airlines.
  • The USO operates a lounge on the lower level of the Terminal between Concourses D and E for United States military personnel and their families.
  • Airspace Lounge opened on May 7,2011.[26]

Other services

AirlinesDestinations
Pet Airways New York/Long Island (FRG), Atlanta (PDK)

Cargo Airlines

AirlinesDestinations
ABX Air Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
Air Transport International Toledo
FedEx Express Indianapolis, Memphis
FedEx Feeder operated by Mountain Air Cargo Newark
UPS Airlines Louisville
World Airways Los Angeles, Milan

Ground transportation

BWI was ranked one of the "Top 10 Easiest U.S. Airports to Get to" by Aviation.com in 2007 [27] and is one of a small[citation needed] number of airports with a light rail station in the main terminal.

Buses

Route 17 at BWI Business Center Light Rail Stop

Bus service between BWI and the Greenbelt station of the Washington Metro and MARC Camden Line is provided by WMATA's Metrobus on Route B30 every 40 minutes 6am-10pm weekdays and 9am-10pm on weekends.

The Maryland Transit Administration's Bus Route 17 serves BWI 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During the hours when the Light Rail operates, buses operate to the Patapsco Light Rail Stop. When the Light Rail is not in service, buses operate to Downtown Baltimore.

MTA Commuter Bus route 201 connects BWI with Norbeck, Shady Grove Metro Station, and Gaithersburg.

Howard Transit's Silver route operates between BWI and The Mall in Columbia hourly at most times except overnight.

Annapolis Transit's Route C-60 operates between BWI and Annapolis.

Highway

BWI is located at the southeast terminus of Interstate 195, a spur route providing connections to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Interstate 95.

Rail

Light rail train at BWI station

BWI Rail Station is located about a mile from the airport terminal; a free shuttle bus connects the train station and airport terminals. The station is served by Amtrak Northeast Corridor trains and, on weekdays, by the MARC Penn Line. Travel time by train is about ten minutes to Baltimore's Penn Station and thirty-five minutes to Union Station in Washington, D.C. Trains depart at least once an hour seven days a week, with departure times during rush hours and business hours being significantly more frequent.[28]

The Maryland Transit Administration's Light Rail line has a stop just outside the entrance to the airport's International Terminal. Passengers can take the Light Rail to a variety of destinations in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County, and can transfer to the Metro Subway in Baltimore, or to either of MARC's Baltimore terminals. A ride downtown takes approximately 30 minutes. Trains run every 20 minutes during peak hours, and 30 minutes all other times.[29]

References

  1. ^ a b FAA Airport Form 5010 for BWI PDF, retrieved 2009-11-25 Cite error: The named reference "FAA" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ "BWI Airport December 2009 Statistics." BWI Airport, Retrieved on December 10, 2010.
  3. ^ "Linthicum CDP, Maryland". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  4. ^ a b Mirabella, Lorraine (February 14, 2011). "BWI sets passenger record in 2010". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  5. ^ "BWI Airport sets passenger traffic record in 2010". The Associated Press. February 14, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  6. ^ "Airport Traffic Reports". Airports Council International. 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  7. ^ "Top World Airports 2008 Final Rankings". Airports Council International. 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
  8. ^ "Survey: BWI ranked top airport of its size in world". The Baltimore Sun. February 18, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  9. ^ http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/business/consuminginterests/blog/2010/11/bwi_wins_2nd_place_for_airport.html
  10. ^ "The church was razed to make room for Friendship Airport" Friendship Church
  11. ^ "BWI History at a Glance" BWI Airport Timeline: 1950-59, retrieved 2009-11-16
  12. ^ a b c d "BWI History at a Glance" BWI Airport Timeline: 1970-79, retrieved 2009-11-17
  13. ^ "BWI History at a Glance" BWI Airport Timeline: 1980-89, retrieved 2009-11-17
  14. ^ 2008 North American Final Rankings. Airports Council International, retrieved February 17, 2010.
  15. ^ "Southwest Airlines' Top Ten Airports". Southwest Airlines. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
  16. ^ "BWI History at a Glance" BWI Airport Timeline: 2005, retrieved 2009-11-17
  17. ^ Formichelli, Linda. "Magazine picks America's healthiest airports." CNN. Wednesday December 17, 2008. Retrieved on October 21, 2009.
  18. ^ Walker, Andrea K. "BWI gains altitude." The Baltimore Sun. October 21, 2009. Retrieved on October 21, 2009.
  19. ^ "ACI Airport Service Quality Awards 2009" Airports Council International, retrieved February 17, 2010
  20. ^ http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local-beat/BWI-Thurgood-Marshall-International-Airport-Ranks-High-in-Customer-Service-84771047.html
  21. ^ a b "Baltimore, MD: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. June 12, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  22. ^ Total cargo (Freight, Express, & Mail).
  23. ^ "Statistics". Maryland Aviation Administration. 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  24. ^ "Maryland Aviation Administration Contacts." Maryland Aviation Administration. Retrieved on March 2, 2010.
  25. ^ http://www.bwiairport.com/files/pdfs/PFC9_Application05-09-2011.pdf
  26. ^ Mutzabaugh, Ben (March 15, 2011). "Company promises cheap airport lounge access for all". USA Today. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  27. ^ BWI listed in Top 10 of "easiest airports to get to" by Aviation.com BWI press release: 2007-8-15. Retrieved 2009-11-17
  28. ^ MARC Penn Line rail schedule
  29. ^ MTA Light Rail schedules

External links

39°10′31″N 76°40′06″W / 39.1754°N 76.6683°W / 39.1754; -76.6683

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