Niagara Falls International Airport opened in 1928 as a municipal airport with four crushed-stone runways.
During World War II, Bell Aircraft established a large manufacturing plant next to the airport, where during the war it built over 10,000 P-39 Airacobras and P-63 Kingcobras. Bell employed over 28,000 at the plant. After the war, the plant was the development site of the Bell X-1 used by Chuck Yeager to break the sound barrier in 1947.
The United States Army Air Forces assumed jurisdiction of the airport during the war, with the 3522d Army Air Force Base Unit managing the airport and coordinating use of the airfield with Bell Aircraft. The airfield was improved with macadam runways, 4000x150 (N/S), 4000x150 (NE/SW), 4200x300 (E/W), 4000x150 (NW/SE), and added many taxiways and other improvements to handle large numbers of aircraft. Air Technical Service Command also operated an aircraft modification center at the airport where new aircraft were given various updates prior to their deployment to operational bases and overseas combat theaters.
In November 2013 Calspan Air Services became the fixed-base operator for the airport, including refueling, ramp assistance, deicing, transportation and maintenance services.
On August 4, 2014, an Air FranceBoeing 747-428 flight AF356 from Paris Charles-de-Gaulle was diverted into the airport instead of landing in Toronto due to the temporary closing of Toronto Pearson International Airport. Landing and take-off were on Runway 28R.[4] Niagara Falls gets a large number of Toronto's diversions due to its location and long runways.
In October 2020, Spirit Airlines suspended all of their flights from Niagara Falls International Airport. In March 2020, Spirit suspended their flights to Fort Lauderdale. In April, seasonal service to Myrtle Beach began for the season as scheduled. This service was downgraded from the usual Airbus A320, to an Airbus A319. On June 14, service to Myrtle Beach was suspended and service to Fort Lauderdale began again. On June 20, flights to Fort Lauderdale were being operated direct instead of via Plattsburgh. On June 30, flights to Fort Lauderdale were suspended again. Flights to Myrtle Beach resumed on July 6. August 31 marked the day that Spirit suspended all flights and said they would be pulling out of the airport entirely in October. Flights to Fort Lauderdale resumed again for the final time in September on the A320/A320neo. After nine years of service, the final Spirit Airlines flight to Niagara Falls was on October 6. Spirit has not released any plans to return in the future. However, Spirit still has Niagara Falls listed as a destination on their website.[13]
The airport covers 1,067 acres (432 ha) and has three paved runways:[1]
6/24: 5,189 x 150 ft (1,582 x 46 m), surface: asphalt
10L/28R: 9,829 x 150 ft (2,996 x 46 m), surface: asphalt/concrete
10R/28L: 3,973 x 75 ft (1,211 x 23 m), surface: asphalt
Passenger terminal
On September 2, 2009, Niagara Falls International Airport dedicated its new two-story terminal. With 69,430 square feet (6,450 m2), it has four gates (two jetways and two ground-loading gates), and has room for a Boeing 747 in size.[14] The exterior is designed to reflect Niagara Falls' water flow. Cost was an estimated $42.5 million, $31.5 million for the terminal and $11 million for runway apron and landside improvements.[15][16]
^"Airport now has Vision: Third carrier company will soon be offering flights from the Falls to Florida". Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, New York). November 11, 2010.