The history of the Niagara Falls International Airport mirrors the development
of the region, changing and adapting with the times.
Opened in 1928 as a city-owned municipal airport with four crushed stone runaways,
the airport underwent its first metamorphosis in the early 1940s. The construction
of a Bell Aerospace plant made a place for the airport in aviation history.
The first commercial helicopter and the world’s first super sonic plane,
among many other innovations, were born at Niagara Falls.
The entry of the United States into World War II moved the airport into an
active military phase, which continues even today. The U.S. Air Force established
a base and managed and operated the facility during the war. Runways were
added and extended during the 40s and 50s, and construction included a control
tower, high intensity lights, and instrument landing system. The base was
converted to an Air Reserve Base which became the upstate home of the New
York Air National Guard. In 1959, the main runway was extended to over 9,000
feet in order to accommodate the new, more demanding military aircraft. A
U.S. Air Force Reserve Unit is also based out of the NFIA. In 2003, the runway
was lengthen again, to 2994 meters (9,825 feet, with a maximum take off distance available of 10,825), making it one of the longest
in New York State and enabling the NFIA to accommodate anything flying.
The airport itself reshaped in 1965 when U.S. Customs approved it for international
flights and in 1970 when the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority purchased
it from the City of Niagara Falls, which is its current owner.
The airport has three active runways, which serve general aviation, military
and commercial flights.
