History of Richmond International Airport in Timeline

Richmond International Airport (RIC) is a joint civil-military airport located in Sandston, Virginia, approximately 7 miles southeast of downtown Richmond. It serves as the busiest airport in central Virginia and ranks as the third-busiest in the state, following Washington Reagan and Washington Dulles. The airport encompasses 2,500 acres of land.

1927: Dedication as Richard Evelyn Byrd Flying Field

In 1927, the airport was dedicated as Richard Evelyn Byrd Flying Field in honor of aviator Richard E. Byrd. Charles Lindbergh attended the dedication ceremony.

1950: Renamed Richard E. Byrd Airport

In 1950, Richard Evelyn Byrd Flying Field was renamed Richard E. Byrd Airport.

1950: Completion of Terminal Building

In 1950, a terminal building designed by Marcellus Wright and Son was completed at Richmond's airport.

April 1957: Airline Departures

In April 1957, the Official Airline Guide listed 43 weekday departures from Richmond, with Eastern Air Lines having the most departures at 22.

1957: Anthony E. Dowd, Sr. became Airport Manager

In 1957, Anthony E. Dowd, Sr. became the manager of Richmond's airport.

1968: Expansion of Terminal Building Began

In 1968, expansion of the terminal building at Richmond's airport began.

1970: Expansion of Terminal Building Completed

In 1970, expansion of the terminal building at Richmond's airport was completed, including the current passenger concourses.

1975: Airline Operations

In 1975, United Airlines scheduled a daily round trip between Richmond and Los Angeles (LAX) with a Douglas DC-8-61. Other airlines such as Eastern Air Lines and Piedmont Airlines also operated flights from Richmond.

1975: Establishment of the Capital Region Airport Commission

In 1975, the Virginia General Assembly established the Capital Region Airport Commission (CRAC) to oversee Richmond International Airport. The commission includes representatives from Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico counties, and the City of Richmond.

1984: Renamed Richmond International Airport

In 1984, Richard E. Byrd Airport was renamed Richmond International Airport.

February 15, 1985: Airlines Serving Richmond

On February 15, 1985, five airlines served Richmond with jet aircraft, including Delta Air Lines, Eastern Air Lines, Piedmont Airlines, United Airlines, and USAir.

1986: Wheeler Airlines Hub

By 1986, Wheeler Airlines had a small hub at Richmond International Airport and had added nonstop flights from Charleston (WV) and Parkersburg (WV).

1988: Anthony E. Dowd, Sr. Resigned

In 1988, Anthony E. Dowd, Sr. resigned as the manager of Richmond's airport.

2005: Announcement of Complete Redesign

In 2005, Richmond International Airport announced a complete redesign, initiating a project that expanded the terminal from 12 to 22 gates and increased parking to 10,500 spaces.

2005: BRAC 2005 Action

Pursuant to BRAC 2005 action, the 192d Fighter Wing (192 FW) relinquished its F-16C and F-16D aircraft.

October 2007: Relocation of 192d Fighter Wing

Until October 2007, the 192d Fighter Wing maintained an Air National Guard station at Richmond International Airport. In late 2007, the 192 FW moved to Langley AFB to integrate with the Regular Air Force as an associate unit to the 1st Fighter Wing (1 FW).

2007: Previous Passenger Record

In 2007, Richmond International Airport served 3,634,544 passengers, setting a record at that time.

2007: Completion of Two-Level Terminal Construction

In spring 2007, construction of the two-level terminal at Richmond International Airport was completed. This project, designed by Gresham, Smith & Partners, also led to the reopening of the international gate (B15) to accommodate seasonal flights.

October 2016: 32nd Consecutive Month of Growth

In October 2016, Richmond International Airport reported its 32nd consecutive month of growth, with approximately 345,000 travelers.

2016: Record Cargo Volume

In 2016, Richmond International Airport handled over 63,000 tons of cargo, marking an all-time high for cargo volume.

2016: Record Passenger Volume and Major Expansion

In 2016, Richmond International Airport recorded its second-highest yearly passenger volume, leading to a major expansion that began in late 2018.

2017: Record Passenger Volume

In 2017, Richmond International Airport served 3,657,479 passengers, setting a new record for the airport at that time.

2017: Airlines added Routes and Aircraft

In 2017, several airlines, including Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, and Southwest Airlines, responded to growing demand by adding routes and larger aircraft at Richmond International Airport.

2018: Major Expansion Commenced

In late 2018, a major expansion commenced at Richmond International Airport to increase the number of gates from 22 to 28 or 30 by adding 6 or 8 gates to its A Concourse.

2018: Expansion of Checkpoint Area in Concourse B

In the fall of 2018, Richmond International Airport started expanding the checkpoint area in Concourse B, increasing it from four to six TSA screening lanes.

June 2019: Completion of TSA Lane Expansion

In June 2019, the TSA lane expansion in Concourse B at Richmond International Airport was completed, increasing the number of screening lanes from four to six.

2021: Completion of Expansion

The major expansion at Richmond International Airport, which commenced in late 2018, was completed in 2021, increasing the number of gates on Concourse A.

2023: All-time Passenger Record

In 2023, Richmond International Airport set an all-time passenger record of 4,755,889.

November 2024: Consolidation of TSA Security Checkpoints Announced

In November 2024, the Capital Region Airport Commission announced an official plan to consolidate the TSA security checkpoints into one central location, made possible by a $2.5 million FAA grant.