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Norfolk International Airport is divided into two concourses, which connect to the main terminal and arrivals terminal. Wireless Internet Access is available throughout the airport. Concourse A serves Southwest Airlines, US Airways, US Airways Express, Air Wisconsin, US Airways Express, Chautauqua Airlines, US Airways Express, Colgan Air, US Airways Express. Concourse B consists of gates B16-B30 and serves American Airlines, American Connection, Chautauqua Airlines, American Eagle, Continental Airlines,Continental Express, Delta Air Lines, Comair, Northwest Airlines, Northwest Airlink, Pinnacle Airlines, United Airlines, and United Express.
Long Term Parking - Parking facilities at Norfolk International Airport are constantly growing, and the airport has short and long term parking. Unlike many other airports, long term parking at Norfolk International Airport is not excessively expensive. The parking cost $1.00 per hour, with a $7.00 daily maximum. Long-term parking for oversized vehicles is available in a surface lot adjacent to the parking garages. All lots are within a short walk of the main terminal.
Discount Airport Parking - The best way to avoid paying parking rates is to take public transportation to the airport. There are many ways to get to Norfolk International Airport, and this is the best way to avoid paying parking charges. All parking spaces are located within easy walking distance to the terminal so shuttle service is not required.
Handicapped Parking - Norfolk International Airport offers parking spaces for disabled and handicapped passengers. These handicapped parking spaces are provided close to the terminal. Oversized vehicles can park here.
Airport Hotel Parking - There are many great hotels to choose from located right at the airport in Norfolk. Many of these hotels offer courtesy shuttle services between the hotel and the airport. Parking here is a good idea and the best option. Oversized vehicles can park here.
Norfolk International Airport (IATA: ORF, ICAO: KORF, FAA LID: ORF) is a public airport located three miles (5 km) northeast of the central business district of Norfolk, a city in Virginia, United States. It is owned by Norfolk Airport Authority.[1] The airport serves the entire Hampton Roads metropolitan area of southeast Virginia (along with Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in Newport News) as well as northeast North Carolina.
Offering nearly 200 arrivals and departures daily to major cities throughout the United States, Norfolk International presently ranks in the country's top 65 airports in terms of passengers served annually, with 3.88 million in 2005, with 3.70 million in the year 2006, 3.71 million in the year 2007. The top three airlines that accounted for the airports traffic were Southwest Airlines at 22.77% followed by US Airways at 21.96% and Delta Air Lines at 20.58%.
Norfolk International does not currently handle any international passenger flights but has the ability to do so. International cargo does come through the airport.
As early as 1903, Hampton Roads was making a connection with aviation. The Virginian-Pilot based in Norfolk, Virginia, was one of the first newspapers in the country to publish an eyewitness account of the Wright Brothers historic first flight.
In 1926, Norfolk citizens flew commercially for the first time on the Mitten Line, operated by Philadelphia Rapid Transit Air Service, Inc. Round-trip service to Washington and Philadelphia was available only a few months before high costs forced its discontinuance. In 1929, Ben Epstein, a veteran World War I flier, started an air taxi service between Norfolk and Richmond from his airfield on Granby Street in Norfolk. That same year, the Ludington Line began the first daily scheduled service from Epstein's field to Washington, D.C. Far from today's routine business travel, a flight in 1929 was an occasion for family, friends, photographs and fine clothes. Women dressed in their finest climbed aboard the 10-passenger Fokker Trimotor and men followed in their broad brimmed hats. A week later, Eddie Rickenbacker's booming Eastern Air Lines made its first appearance in Norfolk with twice daily round trips to Richmond.
Commercial air travel hit a snag in 1932 when the Navy opposed the expansion of the Granby Street field because of its proximity to flying operations at Norfolk Naval Air Station. Commercial air flight operations moved to Glenrock Airport (near what is now JANAF Shopping Center), but in 1932, the Great Depression had taken its effects on aviation and all commercial flights were suspended indefinitely. Norfolk was ground bound for the next five years.
In 1938, city-owned Truxton Manor Golf Course was converted to Norfolk Municipal Airport, complete with a 3,500-foot (1,100 m) runway. This site would become southern Tidewater's permanent home of commercial air travel. Penn Central Airlines (now United Airlines) used a renovated clubhouse for a passenger terminal.
The first permanent terminal was complete by 1940. With World War II, Norfolk Municipal Airport became a vital resource to the war effort. The Army Air Corps assumed control of airport operations between 1942-1947, extending the runway and adding two more to handle the vastly increased number of flights with larger and larger aircraft. As the troops returned from the war, the Army Air Corps returned the Airport to the city's domain, and commercial travel took off with two new airlines providing regular flights.
In 1948, Piedmont Airlines initiated flights. That same year, ground was broken for a larger, more modern terminal building.
By the early 1950s, there were more daily flights in Norfolk than New York's La Guardia Airport.
In 1950, responsibility for the airport was turned over to the newly established Norfolk Port and Industrial Authority (NPIA) which could proudly call Norfolk Municipal Airport one of the finest in the nation and one of the busiest. In 1951, the new terminal was officially dedicated.
In the 1960s, the transition from propeller driven aircraft to jets gathered full steam. Norfolk Municipal Airport took on the new demands for longer and stronger runway and taxiway facilities easily, and jetliners here became the rule, not the exception. As a result, in 1968, the Airport was officially recognized as the air transportation center for the entire Hampton Roads region, and became known as Norfolk Regional Airport. To prepare for exponential growth over the next three decades, NPIA developed a comprehensive master plan that would move the airport into the 21st century in full stride.
In 1974, the Airport dedicated its new, state-of-the-art terminal and additional land was secured for further expansion.
In 1976, the Airport's name was changed to Norfolk International Airport with the addition of Federal Customs facilities. New outbuildings housing the fire station, maintenance depot, ATC tower and more were also planned and came on line as needed. However, one of the challenges in expanding was capitalizing on the location of the Airport's neighboring Botanical Garden, creating a beautiful buffer zone between the Airport and the outside world. Norfolk International Airport, surrounded by year-round beauty, has become a national role model for reconciling expanding air facilities and a delicate ecological sanctuary.
In the 1980s, many changes were taking place. A new general aviation facility opened and a new air cargo terminal was completed for all operations. Parking facilities were also expanded. Even the name of the supervising body changed in 1988 - from the Norfolk Port and Industrial Authority to Norfolk Airport Authority.
Changes continued throughout the 1990s as Norfolk International prepared for growth. The air cargo terminal and parking facilities expanded and public areas of the passenger terminal were renovated.
In 1991, Norfolk International completed a new concourse extension comprised of 10 additional gates, for a total of 24 gates. A new state-of-the-art fire station and new FAA air traffic control tower facility also began operation.
To take advantage of the ever-changing computer age, Norfolk International was the first airport to develop its own web site, and new Internet access booths were installed to let travelers plug in and log on for e-mail, banking, business, or reservations.
The Norfolk Airport Authority continues the master plan process to pave Norfolk International's way for the next 30 years. The Airport's largest capital improvement project, Arrival 2002, was completed in June 2002. The $133 million project included a new 243,000-square-foot (22,600 m²) arrivals building with an automated baggage handling system; a 2,850-space covered parking garage; runway and taxiway rehabilitation and upgrades; main terminal lobby refurbishment; and a new food/beverage and retail concession program. Future expansion of long-term parking, air cargo and general aviation facilities in addition to the construction of an additional runway are key elements to the Airport's master plan. All of these improvements have been designed and carefully scheduled to become a reality before the need is critical.
Norfolk International had scheduled international service to Canada on Air Canada with Bombardier CRJ regional jets in the early 2000's, however the route was suspended shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Norfolk International is currently the third busiest airport in the state of Virginia. (Behind Washington Dulles and Washington National respectively).
Facilities and aircraft
Norfolk International Airport covers an area of 1,300 acres (526 ha) with airfield facilities consisting of a main runway (5-23) which is 9,000' x 150' (2,744 x 46 m) and a crosswind runway (14-32) which is 4,876' x 150' (1,486 x 46 m).[1] These capabilities allow operations by all scheduled aircraft types, including Boeing 747s, 757s, 767s, and certain Airbus models.
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2006, the airport had 128,715 aircraft operations, an average of 352 per day: 44% scheduled commercial, 33% general aviation, 16% air taxi and 8% military. At that time there were 106 aircraft based at this airport: 51% single-engine, 30% multi-engine, 17% jet and 2% helicopter.[1]
General aviation services, or fixed based operations, are provided by Landmark Aviation with full-service facilities for maintaining and housing private and corporate aircraft. The modern 54,000-square-foot (5,000 m²) terminal facility offers everything from aircraft rental to sightseeing flights and aircraft repair.
FAA Control Tower
Built in 1995, the FAA Norfolk Air Traffic Control Tower stands 134 feet (41 m) high. Operated and managed by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Norfolk Tower handles approximately 1,100 aircraft per day, 24 hours per day and 365 days per year. Radar coverage is provided by ASR-9 terminal system with a six-level weather detection capability. Also available for use is an Enhanced Target Generator (ETG) lab with two radar scopes to accomplish training objectives, as well as the IDS4 system, a specialized microcomputer network system designed to distribute and display both static and real-time data regarding weather and other rapidly changing critical information to air traffic controllers.
Norfolk International Airport (NIA) has kept up with the increasingly brisk pace of the air cargo industry by housing one of the most modern and efficient air cargo facilities in the state of Virginia. Approximately 70 million pounds of air cargo are presently shipped in and out of the Airport. All-cargo airlines serve NIA including Airborne Express, FedEx and United Parcel Service, and are supported by a large network of forwarders and customs brokers specializing in air freight.NIA's two modern air cargo terminals provide users with 88,000 square feet of space and can handle all air freight from the largest shipment of massive industrial machinery to the smallest shipment of delicate perfume and fresh seafood. And an adjacent aircraft ramp provides direct access from plane to warehouse.
Passenger Services
Ground Transportation
There are no bus or shuttle services to and from Norfolk International Airport. The nearest bus (HRT Route 15) connection is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away at the intersection of Military Highway (Route 165) and Norview Avenue (Route 247).[2]
All ground transportation services are now located in the new arrivals terminal. On-site rental car companies include Alamo Rent A Car, Avis Rent a Car System, Budget Rent a Car, Dollar Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, The Hertz Corporation, National Car Rental, and Thrifty Car Rental. Carey VIP Airport Connection is the authorized shuttle service providing door-to-door service to the entire Hampton Roads area. Taxicab service is also available through six different taxicab companies.
Internet Services
The Norfolk Airport Authority maintains a comprehensive travel planning resource on the Internet featuring booking capabilities for flights, hotels and rental cars, flight schedules, realtime flight status, airport maps and other helpful air travel information. Web Site: www.norfolkairport.com E-mail: info@norfolkairport.com
Concessions
Food/Beverage and Retail concessions are located throughout the main departures terminal lobby and both airline concourses. New Jersey-based Hudson News manages all airport retail operations; food and beverage operations are managed by HMS Host Corporation. Current retail shops in the airport are Hudson News & Book Corner (in the main lobby and both 3 concourses), Hudson's $10 Boutique, Travel Tunes, and Discover Hampton Roads/Hampton Roads Racing. HMS Host manages several restaurants and lounges throughout the facility and is currently renovating and rebranding several concepts. Current offerings include Freemason Abbey Restaurant and Tavern, A&W All-American Food, First Colony Coffee, The Virginia Nut Company and Freshens Yogurt, Wolfgang Puck To-Go, Back Bay Bistro, USS Norfolk Lounge, and Godfather’s Pizza. Included in the renovation to be completed by spring 2007 are familiar names such as Starbucks Coffee, Phillips Seafood, UNO Pizzeria, and Great American Bagel Bakery.
Pedestrian Bridge
The arrivals terminal is connected to the main passenger terminal by a climate-controlled elevated pedestrian bridge. The bridge, equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows, skylights and moving sidewalks, comfortably transports travelers from the arrivals terminal and adjacent parking garage to the second floor of the main terminal and offers an elevated scenic view of the Norfolk Botanical Garden.
Parking
A nine-level, long-term parking garage, adjacent to the new arrivals terminal, was opened in July 2002 to provide close-covered convenience and quick access for travelers and parking customers. The garage accommodates up to 315 "ready" rental cars on the ground level, and 2,859 short- and long-term public parking spaces throughout the other eight levels. An interior double helix system provides easy vehicular access from one floor to another. An additional 4,700 parking spaces are located throughout two short-term surface lots, one short-term metered lot, two long-term surface lots, and two long-term, five-level garages, all within a short walk of the terminal. Garages have 24-hour manned security, closed-circuit monitoring system, and liberal placement of incidental assistance telephones. Car escorts and complimentary battery and lockout assistance are also available. Short-term parking rates are $1.00/first hour, $0.75/half-hour thereafter, or a maximum of $18.00/day. Long-term rates, including garages, are $1.00/hour or a maximum of $7.00/day.
