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Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Lovell Field)

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport
Lovell Field
Passenger terminal
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorChattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority
ServesChattanooga, Tennessee
Elevation AMSL683 ft (208 m)
Coordinates35°02′07″N 85°12′14″W / 35.03528°N 85.20389°W / 35.03528; -85.20389
Websitewww.chattairport.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram as of January 2021
FAA airport diagram as of January 2021
Map
Interactive map of Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
02/20 7,400 2,256 Asphalt
15/33 5,575 1,699 Asphalt
Statistics (2025)
Aircraft operations83,326
Passengers1,265,736 Increase14.17%
Source:Website[1][2]

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (IATA: CHA, ICAO: KCHA, FAA LID: CHA) (Lovell Field) is 5 miles (8 km) east of downtown Chattanooga, in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The airport is owned and operated by the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority.[2] It is a Class C airport serviced by the Chattanooga Airport Traffic Control Tower. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2019–2023 categorized it as a small-hub primary commercial service facility.[3]

History

[edit]

The first scheduled airline flight in Tennessee took place in Chattanooga in 1928 at Marr Field, dedicated in December 1919, named for Walter L. Marr, off present-day Amnicola Highway.[4] Chattanooga was a stopover on the Contract Air Mail route served by Interstate Airlines between Atlanta and Chicago. Charles Lindbergh, the world-famous aviator who had piloted the Spirit of St. Louis over the Atlantic Ocean in May 1927, flew into Marr Field on October 5, 1927.[4]

In 1930, due to the interest and foresight of John Lovell, president of the local Kiwanis Club and American Red Cross, a new Chattanooga Airport opened with an unpaved runway at its present location and was named Lovell Field in his honor.[5] In 1936, the landing area was expanded and runways paved as a part of the New Deal's Works Progress Administration (WPA). The original terminal building was built at that time.

During World War II, Lovell Field was a military training facility. Growth in aviation in the 1950s led to a transfer of airport operations to the City of Chattanooga and airport expansion with a new runway, the primary runway today. The original terminal building, dating from the 1930s, was expanded in 1950 and 1955 by the city before being replaced by a new terminal in 1964.

The airport's ownership was transferred from Chattanooga to the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority (CMAA) in July 1985.[6]

The current passenger terminal, designed by Gensler, opened in 1992.[7]

In 2011, a 1 megawatt solar farm located on the southwest corner of the airfield was constructed.[8] An additional 1.1 megawatts were added to the solar farm in the summer of 2013.[9] By 2017, the farm was providing approximately 90% of the airport's electricity.[10]

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport was home to the 241st Engineering Installation Squadron (241 EIS) of the Tennessee Air National Guard until late 2010, when the squadron moved to a Bonny Oaks facility near the airport.[11]

Facilities

[edit]
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport from the air
Runway 2-20

Runways

[edit]

Lovell Field covers 950 acres (380 ha) and has two asphalt runways: 2/20 is 7,400 x 150 ft (2,256 x 46 m) and 15/33 is 5,575 x 150 ft (1,699 x 46 m).[2][12]

Terminal

[edit]

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport has one concourse with eight gates. In March 2024, the airport added two additional boarding gates along with a new restaurant, gift shop and business center. This completed an expansion that saw an additional 26,000 square feet of a new terminal wing constructed and 36,000 square feet of the existing terminal renovated. Airline service is provided by United Express, Delta Air Lines, American Eagle, and Allegiant Air. The largest aircraft currently serving the airport is the Boeing 737MAX-8-200 (operated by Allegiant Air) and even the Boeing 757 (operated by FedEx Express). The McDonnell-Douglas MD-80 series aircraft used to be one of the larger aircraft that serviced CHA, but these were retired early because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] Delta had flown a mainline service from 1947 until withdrawing in 1995 after 48 years in favor of affiliates like Atlantic Southeast Airlines operating smaller regional jets, such as the CRJ-200. Delta subsequently decided to resume its mainline service flights, including DC-9s, to Chattanooga in September 2012.[14][15]

Other

[edit]

General aviation is serviced by Wilson Air Center FBO. The general aviation ramp is in two locations, one on the south side of the main terminal and the other on the north. The locations are referred to as "Air North" and "Air South." General aviation can find service at either location. In August 2011, Wilson Air Center opened a facility on the west side of the field.[16]

Airlines and destinations

[edit]

Passenger

[edit]
AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Allegiant Air Fort Lauderdale,[17] Orlando/Sanford,[18] St. Petersburg/Clearwater[19]
Seasonal: Punta Gorda (FL)[20]
American Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth [21]
American Eagle Charlotte,[22] Chicago–O'Hare,[23] Dallas/Fort Worth,[24] Washington–National[24]
Seasonal: Miami[24]
Delta Air Lines Atlanta[25]
Delta Connection Atlanta,[25] Detroit,[26] New York–LaGuardia[27]
United Express Chicago–O'Hare,[28] Houston–Intercontinental,[29] Newark[28]
Seasonal: Denver[30]
Destinations map

Cargo

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
FedEx Express Memphis[31]

Statistics

[edit]

Top destinations

[edit]
Busiest domestic routes from CHA (May 2025 – April 2026)[32]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Atlanta, Georgia 235,341 Delta
2 Charlotte, North Carolina 103,927 American
3 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 98,736 American
4 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 67,901 American, United
5 Detroit, Michigan 34,843 Delta
6 New York–LaGuardia, New York 22,746 Delta
7 Orlando/Sanford, Florida 17,951 Allegiant
8 St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida 17,591 Allegiant
9 Washington–National, D.C. 10,957 American
10 Las Vegas, Nevada 10,561 Allegiant

Airline market share

[edit]
Largest airlines at CHA (May 2025 – April 2026)[32]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 Delta Air Lines 578,567 44.5%
2 American Airlines 454,967 35.0%
3 United Airlines 123,182 9.5%
4 Allegiant Air 112,877 8.7%
5 Spirit Airlines 22,538 1.7%
Other 6,904 0.5%

Annual traffic

[edit]
CHA Airport annual passengers enplaned + deplaned, 2008–present[33]
Year Passengers Year Passengers
2007609,2182017957,064
2008596,63920181,002,414
2009614,57820191,104,662
2010579,8682020447,864
2011608,8862021750,896
2012616,9282022861,097
2013618,8382023972,235
2014701,66520241,108,602
2015778,18320251,265,736
2016836,9832026

2020s airport expansion

[edit]

In the 2020-2021 time-frame, a multi-story car park was built.[34] In addition, despite the COVID-19 pandemic the number of gates was expanded to eight as part of the expansion plans due to record numbers of passengers using the airport pre-COVID.[35][36] The 28 million dollar expansion was opened March 2024.[37]

Accidents and incidents

[edit]
  • On November 11, 1972, Southern Airways Flight 49, a hijacked McDonnell Douglas DC-9 with 31 passengers and 3 crew members aboard, landed at Lovell Field from Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport to pick up $10 million that the three hijackers had demanded. After picking up the ransom money, which actually amounted to between $2 million and $2.5 million, the plane took off, bound for Havana, Cuba.[38][39][40]
  • On November 27, 1973, Delta Air Lines Flight 516, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, crashed short of the runway in severe weather on approach to the airport from Atlanta's Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. The airliner burst into flames that were quickly extinguished in part by torrential rains and deep standing water where the aircraft ended up. Thirty-eight passengers and four crew were injured in the incident and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.[41][42]
  • On October 4, 2023, FedEx Express Flight 1376, a Boeing 757-200SF (N977FD), skidded off the end of Runway 20 landing with gear up after experiencing a hydraulic failure after departure for Memphis International Airport. The crew made it out uninjured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged and was written off.[43][44]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "CHA Airport Annual Operations Reports 2008-Present". chattaairport.com. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "FAA Airport Form 5010 for CHA" (PDF). FAA. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  3. ↑ "NPIAS Report 2019-2023 Appendix A" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. October 3, 2018. p. 109. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  4. 1 2 Jolley, Harmon (July 20, 2009). "Marr Field Preceded Lovell Field as Chattanooga's Airport". Chattanoogan.com. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  5. ↑ Pare, Mike (April 26, 2009). "Lovell Field naming rights could boost airport revenues". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved 20 March 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ "Master Plan Update" [Background] (PDF). Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority. July 2010. pp. 2–1. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  7. ↑ Pickering, Andrew; Steinert, Ron (2004). The Passenger Experience: Gensler Airports. New York City: Edizioni Press, Inc. p. 62. ISBN 1-931536-14-7. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Suniva Powers 1 MW Solar Farm at Chattanooga Airport". Business Wire. San Francisco, California. February 2, 2012. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  9. ↑ Madewell, John (December 6, 2018). "Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport expands solar, almost ready to "go off grid"". WTVC News Channel 9. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  10. ↑ Pare, Mike (April 25, 2017). "Chattanooga Airport eyes growing its solar farm". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  11. ↑ Pare, Mike (August 18, 2011). "Vintage Jet Rides to New Home". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  12. ↑ "CHA Airport data at skyvector.com". skyvector.com. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  13. ↑ Pallini, Thomas. "What it was like on the last fight of a Delta McDonnell Douglas 'Mad Dog' jet which were all just sent to an early retirement after 33 years in the sky". Business Insider. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  14. ↑ Pare, Mike (September 6, 2012). "Delta's Big Jets Return for Atlanta Flights". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  15. ↑ Caldwell, Carla (June 12, 2012). "Delta Returns Daily [Mainline] Flight to Chattanooga After 17 Years". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  16. ↑ "New Lovell Field terminal is 'front door' to Chattanooga". timesfreepress.com. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  17. ↑ "United Airlines launches nonstop flight from Chattanooga to Newark | Chattanooga Times Free Press". Times Free Press. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  18. ↑ Press, Chattanooga Times Free (14 November 2025). "Chattanooga Airport eyes Denver, Philadelphia as it aims to recruit more direct flights". Local 3 News. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  19. ↑ Pare, Mike (30 January 2025). "Allegiant Air adding more flights from Chattanooga to Florida | Chattanooga Times Free Press". Times Free Press. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  20. ↑ Howard, Addison (8 August 2025). "UPDATE: Chattanooga Airport brings back nonstop flights to Punta Gorda, FL". Local 3 News. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  21. ↑ Goins, Courtney (22 January 2026). "Chattanooga Airport adding 2 larger planes for Dallas-Fort Worth flights". Local3News. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  22. ↑ "UPDATED: All Nonstop Flights from Charlotte Douglas International Airport". Charlotte Magazine. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  23. ↑ "American Airlines Boosts Domestic Network by Relaunching Chattanooga Flights from During Peak Travel Season: New Updates You Need to Know". Travel and Tour World. May 27, 2025v. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  24. 1 2 3 "American Airlines Announces Nonstop Service From Chattanooga To Chicago O'Hare". Chattanoogan. 27 May 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  25. 1 2 Carley, Chris (21 January 2026). "Delta Issues Weather Waiver for Fortress Hub Atlanta - and Dozens of Other Cities". Eye of the Flyer. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  26. ↑ Pare, Mike (16 September 2024). "Delta adding to roundtrips from Chattanooga to Atlanta, Detroit | Chattanooga Times Free Press". Times Free Press. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  27. ↑ "Chattanooga Airport to Resume Nonstop Flights to New York City". 3 August 2024.
  28. 1 2 Floyd, David (7 January 2026). "United Airlines launches nonstop flight from Chattanooga to Newark Chattanooga Times Free Press". Time Free Press. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  29. ↑ "United Airlines Expands Service at Chattanooga Airport with New Twice-Daily Flights to Houston".
  30. ↑ http://timesfreepress.com/news/2026/jan/15/united-airlines-to-start-nonstop-flights-to/
  31. ↑ Orlando, Joyce (6 October 2023). "Watch as a FedEx plane 'crash lands' in Chattanooga after takeoff". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  32. 1 2 "Flights from Chattanooga (CHA) — airlines, routes & aircraft". The Frequent Flier. Archived from the original on July 26, 2026. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
  33. ↑ "CHA Airport Annual Passengers and Statistics 2008-Present". chattairport.com. Retrieved February 20, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Chattanooga Airport breaks ground on new parking garage". www.wrcbtv.com. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  35. ↑ "Chattanooga Airport names firms to construct $25 million parking garage". Chattanooga Airport. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  36. ↑ WTVC (2020-07-28). "Federal grant to help Chattanooga Airport expand main terminal". WFLI. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  37. ↑ "Chattanooga Airport unveils $28 million expansion". www.timesfreepress.com. 2024-03-02. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  38. ↑ "1972 Plane Hijacker, Co-Pilot Recount Ordeal". KTHV. May 25, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  39. ↑ Welsch, Anthony (May 25, 2011). "Convicted Hijacker Shares Story, Details 1972 Threat to Oak Ridge". WBIR. Retrieved July 1, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  40. ↑ Derner, Philip Jr. (November 10, 2011). "On This Day in Aviation History: November 10th". NYC.Aviation.com. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  41. ↑ "Accident description for N3323L". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  42. ↑ "Landed short, Delta Air Lines, Inc., McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, N3323L, Chattanooga Municipal Airport, Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 27, 1973" (PDF). National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), USA. November 8, 1974. FILE NO. 1-0028 – via fss.aero.
  43. ↑ "FedEx plane 'crash-landed' at Chattanooga Airport before 'skidding off' runway". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  44. ↑ Duncan, Ian (2023-10-05). "FedEx cargo jet crash-lands at Tennessee airport after landing gear malfunction". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
[edit]
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