Ithaca Tompkins International Airport

Ithaca Tompkins International Airport
IATA: ITH ICAO: KITH FAA LID: ITH
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Tompkins County
Serves	Ithaca, New York
Location	Lansing, New York
Elevation AMSL	1,099 ft / 335 m
Coordinates	42°29′29″N 076°27′31″W / 42.49139°N 76.45861°W / 42.49139; -76.45861Coordinates: 42°29′29″N 076°27′31″W / 42.49139°N 76.45861°W / 42.49139; -76.45861
Website	www.flyithaca.com
Map
ITH Location in New York ITH Location in United States Show map of New YorkShow map of the United StatesShow all
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 14/32 6,977 2,127 Asphalt 15/33 2,018 615 Turf
Statistics (06/2014 - 06/2015)
Passengers 87,230 Aircraft operations 41,286 Based aircraft 57
Sources: FAA[1] and airport web site[2]

Ithaca Tompkins International Airport (IATA: ITH^[3], ICAO: KITH, FAA LID: ITH) is a county-owned airport located in the Town of Lansing, three miles northeast of Ithaca, the county seat and only city in Tompkins County, New York.^[1] The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2019–2023 categorized it as a primary commercial service facility.^[4] Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 99,070 passenger boardings (enplanements) in 2018.^[5]

Nonstop scheduled commercial commuter-jet service is available to Charlotte, Detroit and Newark Liberty International Airport; effective May 5, 2022, Charlotte service will be replaced by service to Philadelphia International Airport. (See below for the specific airlines servicing these destinations.)

History[]

Ithaca Airport tower at sunset

FAA diagram

The original Ithaca Municipal Airport was west of downtown Ithaca, near the inlet of Cayuga Lake. Its single short runway, proximity to the Lehigh Valley Railroad freight yards on the south side, the Cayuga Lake marshes on the north side and fog in the lake valley limited its growth. Cornell University opened the existing airport on East Hill in 1948 and transferred its ownership to the County in 1956. The former airport site is now Cass Park, including a hangar which was renovated in 1975 to house the Hangar Theatre.^[6]

The original airport was the base where aviation pioneer Cecil Robinson began flying aerial photography missions. In 1945, shortly after the end of World War II, he created Robinson Airlines, basing its maintenance operations at the airport. Scheduled DC-3 flights began in 1948; the airline changed its name to Mohawk Airlines in 1952 and merged with Allegheny Airlines in 1972. Later, the airport was served by Empire Airlines and Air North; the latter became Brockway Air, which merged into Piedmont Airlines. Allegheny, Piedmont and Empire all eventually merged into US Airways, which later merged into American Airlines.

Other carriers included Commuter Airlines, Mall Airways, Command Airways (later operating under the name American Eagle), Ransome Airlines (also operating under the name TW Express, United Express) and Continental Express.

In 1994, a new, 33,000 sq ft (3,100 m²), $11-million terminal opened, replacing the cramped original building. Simultaneously, the runway was extended from 5,801 feet (1,768 m) to 6,602 feet (2,012 m); the runway was subsequently extended in 2009 to its present 6,977 feet (2,127 m) as part of a runway-safety extension project that added 375 feet (114 m) of additional takeoff pavement to Runway 14. Runway 32 has an instrument landing system and a medium-intensity approach light system with runway alignment lights. Runway 14 has an instrument approach based on the VOR/DME at the airport. A short turf runway was commissioned parallel to the paved runway, but during the 1980s a north–south turf runway was west of the terminal building, about 1,802 feet (549 m) long and 100 feet (30 m) wide.

Airline traffic peaked in 1990 at 226,813 passengers,^[2] but by the end of the decade the small size of the market and proximity to Syracuse Hancock International Airport and other regional airports led Trans World Airlines, United Airlines and finally Continental Airlines to leave.

In 2001, the airport renamed itself the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, replacing its former moniker: the Tompkins County Airport.

In late 2004, after negotiations with the county, Northwest Airlines agreed to add Northwest Airlink service to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, which began on May 2, 2005. US Airways nonstops to Pittsburgh, a focus city, resumed on November 9, 2005, but ended on April 1, 2006, due to low yield. Passenger traffic has improved with the additional service; the airport served about 140,000 passengers in 2004, increasing to around 170,000 in 2007.^[2] On October 6, 2008, Continental Connection resumed service between Ithaca and Newark Liberty International Airport with four daily flights. In 2011, the airport served 242,493 passengers on three airlines.

In 2009, Regional Elite Airline Services took over ground-handling duties from Mesaba Airlines for the Delta Connection flights to Detroit. As of November, 2012, all ground-handling for Delta and United Airlines was handled by DAL Global Services.

Starting on March 24, 2012, US Airways Express ended all service between Ithaca and New York–LaGuardia as part of a slot-exchange deal with Delta.^[7]

The 2013 Federal sequester did not result in the closure of the airport's control tower. The U.S. Department of Transportation restored the funding needed to support the continued operation of the Ithaca airport control tower.^[8][9][10]

In 2014, Robert Nichols, who had been the airport's general manager since 1990, retired.^[11]

On September 12, 2017, the airport announced that it had been awarded $2.4 million in grants from the FAA to rehabilitate the general aviation tarmac, add new perimeter fencing and lighting and build a second passenger boarding bridge.^[12] Simultaneously, United Airlines announced that it was upgrading its Ithaca to Newark service from 37-seat Dash 8 turboprop aircraft to 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 commuter-jet aircraft, meaning that all commercial passenger flights to and from Ithaca would be aboard jet aircraft.^[13] On May 3, 2018, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced (at the airport) a new $22 million project to double the size of the 25-year-old airport terminal, adding six new gates, three new jet bridges and a customs facility to allow international air travel to Ithaca, as well as expanded office space for the Transportation Security Administration and the serving airlines.^[14] Cuomo returned to Ithaca on October 16, 2018, to help break-ground for the newly renamed "Ithaca-Tompkins International Airport." At groundbreaking, the total cost was expected to be $24.7 million, and the renovated terminal would include a restaurant and bar.^[15][16] The addition was designed by architecture firm C&S Companies.^[17]

On July 12, 2018, the airport announced that American Airlines would start nonstop service to Charlotte, North Carolina, with one weekly flight on Saturdays beginning in December, 2018 (operating daily as of March 2022).^[18] At the same time, United Airlines announced the cancellation of its service to Newark, replacing it with a nonstop to Washington-Dulles International Airport effective October 4 (canceled on March 2, 2022).

The second phase of construction began in the spring of 2019 and was completed on December 20, 2019.^[19] Construction costs had increased to $14.2 million in state funding, $10 million in federal funding and $10.6 million from Tompkins County: $34.8 million.^[20]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, flights to and from Philadelphia were dropped in September, 2020.^[21]

Facilities[]

The airport covers 531 acres (215 ha) at an elevation of 1,099 feet (335 m). It has two runways: 14/32 is 6,977 by 150 feet (2,127 x 46 m) asphalt and 15/33 is 2,018 by 50 feet (615 x 15 m) turf.^[1]

In 2011 the airport had 41,286 aircraft operations, average 113 per day: 77% general aviation, 23% air taxi, <1% military, and <1% airline. 57 aircraft were then based at the airport: 77% single-engine, 9% multi-engine, and 14% jet.^[1]

For over 60 years, the airport has been home to the . The club offers lessons and the use of nine small planes to its members.^[22] It is also the home of which provides business jet charter and management as well as being the fixed-base operator.^[23]

United Express uses the two-class Bombardier CRJ550 between ITH and Newark International Airport/EWR. As of March 2022, American Eagle uses the two-class Bombardier CRJ700, offering nine First Class seats and 56 Main Cabin (Economy Class) seats, between Ithaca and Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, operated by PSA Airlines. (This route terminates on May 4, 2022, with replacement service to starting on May 5, 2022.) Delta Express uses the Bombardier CRJ200 between ITH and Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport/DTW.^{[citation needed]}

Airlines and destinations[]

Passenger[]

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (March 2022)

Destinations Map[]

Destinations Map
Ithaca Charlotte Detroit Newark Philadelphia class=notpageimage| Destinations from Ithaca Tompkins International Airport (Red) = Year-round destination (Blue) = Future destination (Pink) represents destinations to which service is being terminated

Traffic[]

Ground transportation[]

Bus[]

TCAT Route 32 travels to Cornell University and downtown Ithaca (Ithaca Commons) seven days a week.^[26] Buses operate hourly, or more frequently, from morning until early evening. Regular one-way fare is $1.50; reduced fare of 75¢ applies to seniors age 60 and up, youths age 6–17, and persons with disabilities. Fares may be paid with a TCAT card, or with U.S. currency and/or coins; no change is given by the driver. Free transfers are available for connections to Ithaca College, and other parts of Ithaca/Tompkins County served by TCAT.

Rental Cars[]

Avis / Budget and Hertz all have rental counters inside the airport terminal. Each offers discounted rates for Cornell University faculty, staff, and alumni. Vehicles are located in a lot just outside the terminal.

Taxi[]

Ithaca Dispatch (Cayuga, university, Yellow Cab) operates a taxi stand at the airport, although it may be necessary to call in advance, especially during peak hours. Fares to the airport are standardized. Uber and Lyft also operate in Ithaca.

References[]

External links[]

• Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport
• Ithaca Tompkins Regional (ITH) at New York State DOT Airport Directory
• Aerial image as of March 1995 from USGS The National Map
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective February 24, 2022
• FAA Terminal Procedures for ITH, effective February 24, 2022
• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KITH
  • ASN accident history for ITH
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KITH
  • FAA current ITH delay information