Richmond International Airport is an airport located in Sandston, Virginia, US, just outside of Richmond. It is a joint-use airport between the civil population and the military. The airport is currently the busiest airport in central Virginia, and also the 3rd-busiest within the state of Virginia, after Washington D.C.'s two major airports (Washington Dulles and Washington National). In 2018, the airport dealt with 4,077,763 passengers from over 100,000 aircraft operations.
The airport as we know it was first established in 1975 and is owned by the Capital Region Airport Commission, although the airport was originally an airfield in 1927, called Richard Evelyn Byrd Flying Field. In 1950, the airport was renamed Richard E. Byrd Airport, the same year that the terminal was completed. The airport was eventually renamed to its current form, Richmond International Airport in 1984.
The 2000s saw the airport grow extensively, with renovation announced for the airport in 2005. The renovation resulted in a single-story terminal with 22 gates, upgraded parking facilities, a new terminal road and also an ATC (air traffic control tower). Following this, the airport announced that starting in late 2018, they would expand the airport further, adding gates to the concourse and expanding the security area in Concourse B.
The airport is located 7 miles southeast of downtown Richmond, which is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is actually located in nearby Sandston.
RIC currently covers 2,500 acres of land, including its runway, terminal building and offices. The newly renovated terminal building contains plenty to keep you occupied whilst waiting for your flight.
Richmond International Airport (RIC) features two primary asphalt-grooved runways:
There is currently only one terminal at RIC. This was most recently renovated in spring 2007, where it was transformed from a single-story terminal with 12 gates, to a two-level terminal with 22 gates. However, the number of gates is expected to increase to 28 or 30 at the end of the upcoming renovations.
Richmond International Airport is primarily served by the following airlines:
There is easy access to the airport from the I-64, I-295, Pocahontas Parkway and I-85, all of which will have directions and signposts to the airport.
To get to Richmond Airport via bus, you can use the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC), which connects the airport to the surrounding areas of Richmond.
There are car rental services and companies which are located on the lower ground floor of the airport, near the entrance. Choose from companies such as Alamo, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz or National.
If you or a passenger on your booking require a special service to make the journey easier (such as wheelchair assistance or special medical equipment), we're here to help. Contact us today to discuss adding special services to your booking.
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