History
Tampa Bay was the birthplace of commercial airline service, when pioneer aviator Tony Jannus flew the inaugural flight of the St Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line on January 1, 1914, from St. Petersburg, Florida, to Tampa using a Benoist Flying Boat the first scheduled commercial airline flight in the world using a heavier-than-air airplane.
Drew Field
Postcard from Drew Field
In 1928 the city completed the 160-acre (0.65 km2) Drew Field six miles (10 km) west of Downtown Tampa. The more popular Peter O. Knight Airport was opened on Davis Island near Downtown Tampa in 1935, where both Eastern and National Airlines operated until 1946.
The United States Army Air Force took over Drew Field during World War II and expanded and modernized the airport. The airfield was used by Third Air Force and renamed it Drew Army Airfield. Third Air Force used it as a training center by 120,000 combat air crews and flew antisubmarine patrols from the airfield. There was one accident in 1943 that killed five fliers. Despite this, Drew Field set a safety record for the Third Air Force in 1945 after 100,000 flying hours had been completed over a period of 10 months without a fatal incident. The aircraft operated included the B-17, C-47, AT-6, B-25, and others.
Tampa International Airport
After the hostilities, Eastern and National Airlines moved to Drew Field. The reason for the relocation was that the Peter O. Knight Airport was too small to handle the new Douglas DC-4, DC-6 and Lockheed Constellation prop-liners that were being placed into service. During this period the airlines were housed in the former Base Operations Building which was converted into a terminal.
Trans Canada Airlines inaugurated international flights in 1950 and Drew Field was renamed Tampa International Airport. The airport’s second terminal opened in 1952 near the intersection of Columbus Drive and West Shore Blvd. The building, which was built for three airlines, was soon swamped. The Civil Aeronautics Board granted Capital, Delta, Northeast, Northwest and Trans World Airlines authority to fly to Tampa during the late 1950s and as a result created havoc at the undersized terminal. An annex was built east of the terminal to accommodate the new carriers.
Jet-powered operations began in 1959 when Eastern Air Lines introduced the Lockheed L-188 Electra. The following year National Airlines began turbojet service with the Douglas DC-8 jetliner. Flights to Mexico City began in 1961 with weekly service by Pan American.
Congestion became a serious problem at the 1952 Terminal when the airlines began to replace their piston powered equipment with larger jetliners. As a temporary measure the terminal was once again expanded to handle the growth in traffic.
The 1971 Terminal
During the early 1960s, the aviation authority began making plans to build a replacement terminal in an undeveloped site at the airport. Airport leaders chose the Landside/Airside design in 1965 after a careful study of different types of terminals.
Construction on the new terminal began in 1968 between the airport’s parallel jet-capable runways. When completed in 1971 the new jetport was highly praised by the press. Prior to its official April 15 opening, 60,000 people toured the new facility during a two day open house event. National Airlines Flight 36 from LAX was the first to arrive at the terminal. After touching down at 05:26 am the jet taxied to Airside E to disembark its passengers.
The people mover system (Airside E, right)
The airport’s people mover system was the first such system in the world. The original eight trains were built by Westinghouse.
The 227-foot (69 m) tall ATC control tower became operational on July 15, 1972 and at the time was the tallest in the United States (at 227 feet). The Host/Marriott Airport Hotel with its revolving rooftop restaurant got plenty of attention when it opened its doors on December 1973. The building’s features include triple-paned windows and sound-proof guest rooms.
Northwest and National Airlines brought the Jumbo Jet to the airport late in 1971 with the introduction of the Boeing 747 and McDonnell Douglas DC-10. This was followed by the introduction of the Lockheed Tristar a year later by Eastern Air Lines. National Airlines began trans Atlantic DC-10 service to Amsterdam and Paris in 1977. In 1991, Airside B closed following the demise of Eastern Airlines.
During the following decades, the airport was expanded and improved to handle more traffic and additional airlines. In 1996, Airsides C and D were remodeled. The interiors of both satellites were refurbished and the original Westinghouse shuttles were replaced with Bombardier CX-100 trains. During this time, all the airlines from both facilties were housed in Airside E. Upon completion of the renovations, the airlines returned to their original locations and Airside E was closed for good. The Landside Terminal was also remodeled numerous times during the 1980s and 1990s.
Both Delta Air Lines and US Airways opened maintenance bases at the airport to service their growing fleets. However, both bases closed following the September 11 terrorist attacks and the airline struggles that ensued. Alabama based Pemco World Air Services currently occupies the former US Airways hangar performing MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) services for several airlines.
Terminal, airlines and destinations
Aerial of TPA in 2004
The Ticketing Level at Tampa International Airport. The level received a makeover from 2000 to 2002.
Airside A
Airside C Interior (2008)
Airside E Interior (2008)
Airside F Interior (2008)
Tampa International Airport’s Landside/Airside terminal was the first of its type in the world. There is a central Landside Terminal where baggage and ticketing functions take place. The Landside Terminal is surrounded by four Airside satellites where airliner embarkment and disembarkment occur. Each Airside is connected to the Landside Terminal via an elevated automated people mover (APM) system which employs 16 Bombardier CX-100 Shuttle Cars. TPA was the first airport in the world to deploy a fully automated, driverless people mover system and is host to Bombardier Transportation’s longest-running APM system. The terminal was originally designed to limit the walking distance between the automobile and airliner to 700 feet (210 m); today, it has increased to about 1,000 feet (300 m), due mostly in part to the larger, more modern airside buildings which have replaced the original, smaller structures. The future of the Airport is certain to see continued growth and success. Many plans have been set in motion to expand as the Tampa Bay area continues to thrive.
Airsides
Today, there are four active airsides (A, C, E and F) with 62 gates. All were constructed after 1985 and all airsides include a food court and gift shop, and outdoor smoking patios. Airsides E and F contain duty free shops in addition to the regular gift shops to serve passengers arriving or departing on international flights. As of 2009, the security screening area in each airside is equipped with one “puffer” explosives walk-thru detection machine. A brief description of each airside and the airlines they occupy are listed below, including the major cities/hubs that each airline serves from TPA.
Airside A
includes gates 1-12 and 14-18
it was opened on March 16, 1995 and was designed by Continental Airlines
Airside C
includes gates 30-45
it was the last airside to be demolished and rebuilt from the ground up; it was reopened to passengers on April 19, 2005
Airside E
includes gates 62-75
it was the first airside to be demolished and rebuilt
the current fourteen-gate facility was designed for Delta Air Lines and was dedicated and opened to passengers on October 15, 2002
the facility includes one airline lounge: the Delta Air Lines “Sky Club”
Airside F
includes gates 76-90
it was opened on November 4, 1987 and was designed for international flights
the facility includes two airline lounges: the US Airways’ Club and the International Club which is used by British Airways passengers
the customs/immigration center is located on level 1
Airlines and destinations
Airlines
Destinations
Airside
Air Canada
Halifax [seasonal], Montral-Trudeau [seasonal], Toronto-Pearson
E
AirTran Airways
Akron/Canton, Asheville [seasonal; begins May 4] Atlanta, Baltimore, Dayton, Flint [seasonal], Grand Rapids [begins June 12], Gulfport/Biloxi, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh [seasonal], Rochester (NY)
A
American Airlines
Chicago-O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New York-JFK, San Juan
F
British Airways
London-Gatwick
F
Cayman Airways
Grand Cayman
F
Continental Airlines
Cleveland, Houston-Intercontinental, Newark
A
Continental Connection operated by Gulfstream International Airlines
Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Miami, Pensacola, Tallahassee
A
Continental Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines
Cleveland
A
Delta Air Lines
Atlanta, Boston [seasonal], Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Detroit, Hartford/Springfield, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Salt Lake City [seasonal]
E
Delta Connection operated by Comair
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky [seasonal]
E
Delta Connection operated by Mesaba Airlines
Memphis [seasonal]
E
Frontier Airlines
Denver, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City [seasonal; ends April 18]
C
Frontier
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