Alabama Airports Full Guide — Maps and Travel Information

How Many Airports are There in Alabama?

In Alabama, aviation isn’t as popular as in the majority of US states. The state’s annual turnover of air passengers makes 2.5M–3.5M, which is equal to 0.29% of the aggregated U.S. traffic. AL airports aren’t particularly busy, but there are a lot of them. On the Alabama airports map, there are about 150 airports, which means you can get to any part of the state by air. Commercial airports are represented by small hubs (2 airports) and nonhubs (3 airports). General aviation is well-developed in AL and is represented by several dozens of GA airports. Many airports have room and infrastructure for helicopters, emergency services, charter flights, and flight training schools.

The biggest and most popular among Alabama airports is Birmingham—Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM). It welcomes over 1M of air travelers yearly. Its timing precision is the same as the average in the U.S. 81.23% takeoffs and 77.66% of landings are performed without delay. Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) is the smallest in AL. Its annual passenger count is about 6,000 travelers.

5 Major Airports in Alabama

1. Birmingham—Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM). 1,278,600 passengers have taken their flight to or from BHM in 2020. Being the major among international airports in Alabama, the airport provides only within-the-USA connections currently (15 hubs through 4 airlines).
2. Huntsville International Airport (HSV). The passenger count of HSV was 559,420 in 2020, domestic travel only. Six carriers handle their aircraft at the airport offering direct flights to 7 U.S. hubs. HSV can accept large aircraft due to its 12,600 ft runway length.
3. Mobile Regional Airport (MOB). The airport provides facilities for commercial domestic flights and training activities for the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation. In 2020, 277,232 air travelers visited the airport. Now, 4 carriers provide nonstop service to and from MOB to 4 U.S. cities.
4. Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM). Over 386,000 air travelers passed through the airport’s gates in 2019, with about 40% decrease in 2020. For now, 3 American cities can be reached from MGM with carriers offering flights.
5. Anniston Regional Airport (ANB). ANB is mostly used for charter flights, military operations, and flight school activities. It features a 7,000 ft runway and 500,000 sq ft of paved space.

Airports as Indicators of Community Progress

During the twentieth century, the number and size of Al airports increased, engaging more individuals in the aviation industry. The acquisition of the military bases and changes to the state tax policy also helped the airports undergo reconstruction and improve their infrastructure. The first U.S. flight school for civil pilots was opened in Alabama, indicating the aviation development in the state and its influence on AL economics.

Airlines

The year 2020 was marked as the almost complete international traffic downfall for airports in Alabama, crossing out Qatar Airways from the list of the frequently used airlines. Currently, the list of the major carriers is as follows:

American Airlines (including American Eagle)
Delta Connection
United Airlines

Popular Destinations

Alabama airports are often used to reach the bigger hubs in neighboring states. That’s why Pensacola, FL takes about 40% of flight searches to (through) AL. The list of the most popular internal state destinations goes as follows:

1. Birmingham—29%
2. Huntsville—13%
3. Mobile—11%
4. Montgomery—5%
5. Dothan— 2%

Alabama Aviation

Alabama Aviation Center was established in 2002 at Mobile, providing education in several aviation spheres:

Avionics. Construction and maintenance of electronic systems for aircraft and aviation systems and facilities.
Airframe technology. Reparation and maintenance of the aircraft structures including communication, fuel, and hydraulic systems.
Powerplant technology. Construction and operation of the power systems of the aircraft including engines and propellers.

The center was established in response to the rising need for aviation technicians at airports in Alabama and other aviation facilities. Companies like UTC Aerospace System, Airbus Final Assembly Line, Segers Aero Corporation, and many others have their facilities located within AL and are always looking for new personnel.