Gerald R. Ford International Airport

Grand Rapids' first airport broke ground in November 1919, {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}} south of downtown. This was eight years after the area witnessed its first landing, a Wright biplane at Comstock Park State Fairgrounds on September 10, 1911. The airport was operated by the Kent County Board of Supervisors.

The first scheduled air service in the United States was between Grand Rapids and Dearborn on a Ford-Stout monoplane named Miss Grand Rapids, which started July 26, 1926.

In 1938–39, the Works Progress Administration made improvements including adding new runways, runway widening, fencing, sodding, lighting, remodeling the administration building, and constructing a new restaurant.{{cite web |url=http://gfia-master-plan-update.com/masterplan/ |title=Master Plan Update Documentation |publisher=Gerald R. Ford International Airport |access-date=August 10, 2017 |archive-date=October 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019030240/http://gfia-master-plan-update.com/masterplan/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://grr.manobyte.com/new/history.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617001601/http://grr.manobyte.com/new/history.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 17, 2016 |title=History and Statistics |publisher=Gerald R. Ford International Airport |access-date=January 30, 2016}}

Circa 1940, the airport extended between 32nd and 36th Streets, from Jefferson Avenue east to the railroad; the west end was soon expanded south to just north of Himes Street and in the 1950s runway 18/36 was extended to 5700’ and reached south to 44th Street.

In 1959, the county began construction on the present airport in Cascade Township, several miles east of the first airport. The new airport opened November 23, 1963, and was dedicated June 6, 1964; it had a {{convert|6,600|ft|m|adj=on}} runway designated 08/26 and a {{convert|3,400|ft|m|adj=on}} designated 18/36.{{cite web |title=History & Statistics |url=http://www.grr.org/History.php |publisher=Gerald R. Ford International Airport |access-date=November 29, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130012146/http://www.grr.org/History.php |archive-date=November 30, 2009 }} The first scheduled jet was a United Airlines Boeing 737-200 on April 28, 1968, from Chicago O'Hare. The aircraft, N9003U, was named City of Grand Rapids.{{cite book| title=Boeing 737| first=Malcolm L.| last=Hill| publisher=The Crowood Press| date=July 2002| pages=52–53| isbn=978-1861264046}} In 1968, the only scheduled non-stops beyond Michigan were to Chicago and Green Bay.

On January 27, 1977, the Board of Commissioners renamed Kent County Airport as Kent County International Airport with the opening of a U.S. Customs Service Office in the main terminal building.

File:President Gerald R. Ford Tribute Room, Gerald R. Ford International Airport.jpg]]

In 1997, the board added the {{convert|8500|ft|m|adj=on}} runway 17/35 to allow continued operations during a $32 million reconstruction of runway 8R/26L, completed in 2001. It completed a passenger terminal renovation in 2000 at a cost of approximately $50 million.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}

In 2004, the airport served more than 2 million passengers for the first time in a year.{{cite web |url=http://www.grr.org/ |title=Gerald R. Ford International Airport – Grand Rapids, Michigan |publisher=Gerald R. Ford International Airport |year=2011 |access-date=November 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215120146/http://www.grr.org/ |archive-date=December 15, 2009 }} In 2010, it broke the 2004 record with almost 2.2 million passengers, as increase of over 23% from 2009.

On January 2, 2007, a U.S. Air Force Boeing VC-25 jet carried the remains of former president Gerald Ford to his namesake airport as part of funeral services culminating in burial at his presidential museum in Grand Rapids the next day.

From April 2010 through October 2011, the airport was a focus city for Allegiant Air.{{cite news| title=Allegiant To Open New Grand Rapids Base with Service to Myrtle Beach| url=https://www.airlinesanddestinations.com/airports/allegiant-to-open-new-grand-rapids-base-with-service-to-myrtle-beach/| date=February 2, 2010| publisher=AirlinesAndDestinations| access-date=August 10, 2017}}{{cite news| title=Allegiant Air adds direct flights from Grand Rapids to Punta Gorda, Florida| url=http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/09/allegiant_air_adds_direct_flig_1.html| work=The Grand Rapids Press| first=Kyla| last=King| date=September 21, 2010}}{{cite news |title=Allegiant Airlines to close its Grand Rapids base, reduce destinations |date=August 12, 2011 |url=http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2011/08/allegiant_airlines_to_close_it.html |work=The Grand Rapids Press |first=Cami |last=Reister |access-date=August 10, 2017}}

Air Canada operated the airport's only international flights to Toronto Pearson International Airport from July 2008 until September 2013. It was the airline's second attempt at service between the two markets.{{cite news| title=Gerald R. Ford International Airport loses its only direct international flights| url=http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2013/08/gerald_r_ford_international_ai.html| first=Zane| last=McMillin| date=August 21, 2013| work=The Grand Rapids Press| access-date=August 10, 2017}}

Delta Air Lines operates Boeing 757-200s seasonally between Grand Rapids and Atlanta during the winter, making it the largest aircraft to serve GRR.{{cite news|title=Delta cuts flights at Ford Airport, but will fly bigger planes to Detroit| first=Andrew| last=Kreitz| date=March 16, 2015| url=http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2015/03/delta_cuts_flights_at_ford_air.html| work=The Grand Rapids Press}}

Allegiant Air announced in mid-January 2019 that they would be making the airport one of Allegiant's 16 focus cities once again. After dropping GRR as a focus city in 2011, Allegiant is upgrading GRR again to a focus city adding Nashville, Tennessee, and Savannah-Hilton Head, Georgia, as new routes. Allegiant would later add other new destinations such as Los Angeles, Boston, and Newark.{{cite web|url=https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/allegiant-to-add-base-at-ford-airport-create-66-jobs/1703310062 |title=Allegiant to add base at Ford Airport, create 66 jobs |date=January 15, 2019}}

In 2013 the airport began building a natural treatment system to improve stormwater management practices and safeguard the waters of the Thornapple River. The new, innovative system will include a biological treatment system that will improve collection of stormwater runoff and naturally remove sediments and pollutants before sending the water to the Thornapple River, which flows just east of the airfield.{{cite press release |title=Ford Airport Announces Plan To Enhance Stormwater Management, Protect Thornapple River |url=http://www.grr.org/PDFs/NRs/nrStormWater032813.pdf |date=March 28, 2013 |publisher=Gerald R. Ford International Airport}}

The airport eliminated the two separate security checkpoints in each concourse and created one consolidated checkpoint in the grand hall area to help traffic flow much faster and to be prepared for future growth. In addition, the grand hall area and the entrance area to the airport was renovated with more shopping and dining options. Work began in late 2015 and completed in June 2017.{{cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Jesse |date=June 27, 2017 |title=Ford airport consolidates security checkpoints |work=Grand Rapids Business Journal |url=http://www.grbj.com/articles/88313-ford-airport-consolidates-security-checkpoints |access-date=August 10, 2017 |archive-date=August 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811105417/http://www.grbj.com/articles/88313-ford-airport-consolidates-security-checkpoints |url-status=dead }}

The airport began construction of a roof over the parking deck in March 2015 to increase close-in, covered, long-term parking. The roof covers most of the fourth floor, though some spaces on the fourth and third floors remain uncovered due to airfield sight-line requirements for the FAA control tower. The garage roof was completed in November 2015 and will allow use of the fourth floor spaces during heavy snow.{{cite news |date=November 25, 2015 |title=New roof on Ford Airport parking garage adds winter parking |publisher=WOOD-TV News |url=http://woodtv.com/2015/11/25/new-roof-on-ford-airport-parking-garage-increases-winter-parking/ |access-date=August 10, 2017 |archive-date=August 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811105123/http://woodtv.com/2015/11/25/new-roof-on-ford-airport-parking-garage-increases-winter-parking/ |url-status=dead }}

In 2016, the airport partnered with the Cascade Community Foundation on plans to renovate the current outdoor viewing area to make it a larger, more inviting place for people to relax.{{cite news |date=November 21, 2014 |title=New Ford Airport Viewing Park from the Cascade Community Foundation |work=WOOD-TV News |url=http://woodtv.com/2014/11/21/new-ford-airport-viewing-park-from-the-cascade-community-foundation/ |access-date=August 10, 2017 |archive-date=July 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701173612/http://woodtv.com/2014/11/21/new-ford-airport-viewing-park-from-the-cascade-community-foundation/ |url-status=dead }} The renovated park opened in May 2017.{{cite news |last=Carlson |first=Kate |date=May 31, 2017 |title=Viewing park expansion unveiled at Grand Rapids airport |work=The Grand Rapids Press |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/05/viewing_park_expansion_opens_a.html |access-date=August 10, 2017}}

In November 2018 the airport began the phase II of the Gateway Transformation Project, reconstructing the baggage claim, check-in, and front of house areas. It has completed the apron reconstruction, adding new pavement to the apron and taxiway areas.{{cite news |date=November 5, 2018 |title=Gerald R. Ford International Airport Begins Gateway Transformation Project – Phase II |url=https://www.grr.org/hubfs/PDFs/NRs/nrGTPPhase2Begins.pdf?hsLang=en}}

Gerald R. Ford International Airport has two parallel east-west runways and one north-south runway. Along with cargo and general aviation facilities, the airport has a passenger terminal with two concourses: A has 15 gates and B has eight.{{cite map |title=Gates |url=http://www.grr.org/RTFI.php |publisher=Gerald R. Ford International Airport |access-date=December 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126163556/http://www.grr.org/RTFI.php |archive-date=November 26, 2011 }} Runways 08R/26L and runway 17/35 have ILS. The airport also has a {{convert|5,000|ft|m|adj=on}} general aviation runway north of the main 08R/26L runway.

In September 2017, the airport celebrated the opening of phase one of their Gateway Transformation, a 59,000 square foot addition onto the passenger terminal facility that included a consolidated passenger security screening checkpoint, a new Marketplace with expanded retail and food & beverage offerings, new business centers and lounges, and much more. Concourse A's tenants are Delta Air Lines, American Airlines{{Cite web|url=https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/expanded-ford-airport-concourse-welcomes-travelers/|title=Expanded Ford Airport concourse welcomes travelers|date=June 16, 2023}} and United Airlines. Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air occupy Concourse B. All gates have climate-controlled jetways.

The airport is served by Signature Flight Support, which operates an FBO on the field. Besides fuel, the facility provides general maintenance, aircraft parking, courtesy and rental cars, conference rooms, pilot supplies, a crew lounge, snooze rooms, and more.{{Cite web |title=Signature Flight Support|url=https://flightaware.com/resources/airport/KGRR/services/FBO/Signature_Flight_Support|access-date=November 13, 2022| website=FlightAware}}

When new baggage screening regulations were introduced by the Transportation Security Administration in 2002, the airport was the first in the nation to conduct trials on the new screening machines. The baggage processing areas were too small for the machines so they were placed in the passenger lobby.{{cite map |title=Terminal Map |url=http://www.grr.org/Terminals.php |publisher=Gerald R. Ford International Airport |access-date=November 29, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204204435/http://www.grr.org/Terminals.php |archive-date=December 4, 2011 }}

The airport is also home to the West Michigan Aviation Academy, a public charter high school that focuses on aviation, STEM, and robotics educations. The school offers a fleet of Cessna 172 aircraft for flight training, allows students to build a Carbon Cub EX2 plane, and has a Redbird LD flight simulator.{{Cite web |title=Overview|url=https://www.westmichiganaviation.org/about/overview|access-date=January 26, 2023 | website=West Michigan Aviation Academy}}

{{Airport destination list

|3rdcoltitle=Refs|3rdcolunsortable=yes

|Allegiant Air|Austin, Boston, Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville (FL),{{cite web | url=https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/allegiant-offering-nonstop-flights-jax-akron-canton-de-moines-grand-rapids/NH5E53TEVNGUTFS4PU6MVA5HRQ/ | title=Allegiant offering nonstop flights from JAX to Akron-Canton, des Moines, Grand Rapids | date=November 19, 2024 }} Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach,{{cite web | url=https://www.wbtw.com/news/grand-strand/myrtle-beach/allegiant-air-to-add-3-new-routes-from-myrtle-beach-international-airport/ | title=Allegiant Air to add 3 new routes from Myrtle Beach International Airport | date=November 19, 2024 }} Nashville, Orlando/Sanford, Phoenix/Mesa, Punta Gorda (FL), Sarasota, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, West Palm Beach
Seasonal: Los Angeles,{{cn|date=May 2025}} Newark,{{cn|date=May 2025}} Portland (OR),{{cn|date=May 2025}} Savannah{{cn|date=May 2025}}|{{cite web| title=Route Map| publisher=Allegiant Air| url=https://www.allegiantair.com/interactive-routemap| access-date=August 10, 2017}}{{cite web |last=Gerardi |first=Joey |date=November 17, 2020 |url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/11/17/allegiant-announces-john-wayne-service-and-grand-rapids-additions/ |title=Allegiant Adds Service to Orange County, Calif. and Grand Rapids, Mich. |website=AirlineGeeks.com}}

|American Airlines|Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth
Seasonal: Phoenix–Sky Harbor|{{cite web|title=Flight schedules and notifications|url=https://www.aa.com/travelInformation/flights/schedule|access-date=May 23, 2025}}

|American Eagle| Chicago–O'Hare, Philadelphia, Washington–National
Seasonal: Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New York–LaGuardia|

| Avelo Airlines|Lakeland (begins June 13, 2025),{{cite web |title=Avelo Airlines Announces 13 New Routes and Three New Destinations to its Growing Network |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/avelo-airlines-announces-13-new-routes-and-three-new-destinations-to-its-growing-network-302397839.html |website=PR Newswire |access-date=11 March 2025}} Raleigh/Durham|{{Cite web|url=https://www.aveloair.com/destinations|title = Destinations}}

|Delta Air Lines|Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Seasonal: Detroit|{{cite web| title=Flight Schedules| url=https://www.delta.com/flightinfo/viewFlightSchedulesSetup.action| access-date=January 7, 2017| publisher=Delta Airlines}}

|Delta Connection|Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–LaGuardia
Seasonal: Orlando (begins December 20, 2025){{cite web | url=https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/05/02/delta-adds-new-routes-from-orlando-austin-jfk-and-more/ | title=Delta Air Lines Adds New Routes from Orlando, Austin, JFK and More | date=May 2, 2025 }} |

|Frontier Airlines|Orlando
Seasonal: Atlanta, Denver, Fort Myers|name="Frontier">{{cite web |url=https://flights.flyfrontier.com/en/flights-from-grand-rapids |title=FLIGHTS FROM GRAND RAPIDS (GRR) |date=September 17, 2023 |publisher=Frontier Airlines }}

|{{nowrap|Southwest Airlines}}|Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Denver, Las Vegas, Orlando
Seasonal: Fort Myers, Nashville, Tampa|

|{{nowrap|Sun Country Airlines}}|Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul|{{cite web | url=https://ishrionaviation.com/news/sun-country-summer-2024-new-routes | title=Sun Country Airlines Expands with 11 New Destinations, Including Two in Canada }}

|United Airlines|Chicago–O'Hare, Denver|{{cite web| title=Find flight deals from Grand Rapids| url=https://flights.united.com/en-us/flights-from-grand-rapids| publisher=United Airlines| access-date=January 7, 2017}}

|United Express|Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark|

}}

{{unreferenced section|date=December 2024}}

{{Airport destination list

|FedEx Express|Boston, Indianapolis, Memphis

|FedEx Feeder|Pellston, Sault Ste. Marie (MI), Traverse City

|UPS Airlines|Minneapolis/St. Paul

}}

{{ small |*Includes flights operated by American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express partner airlines. The specific airline total passenger numbers only include mainline operations. }}

{{Airport-Statistics|iata=GRR}}

The airport is at the intersection of 44th Street and Patterson Avenue. It abuts I-96 on the east, M-6 on the south, M-37 on the west, and M-11 on the north.

Metro Cab and Metro Cars provides taxi and luxury sedan service and the airport is served by Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz/Dollar, and National/Alamo rental car companies on-site.{{cite web | url=https://www.grr.org/tenant | title=Tenant Directory }}

Rapid route 27, Airport Industrial, travels between the airport and Woodland Mall (Kentwood Station) on weekdays between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. From Woodland Mall, passengers can continue on to downtown or parts of the east side of Grand Rapids via routes 5 and 6, or across town to Grandville and Wyoming on routes 24, 28, and 44.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ridetherapid.org/ride/routes/27|title=Airport Industrial}}

In late August 2019, the airport made an announcement about its next focus, Project Elevate. This phase of airport development, consisting of three major projects, includes a $90 million expansion and extension of Concourse A to encompass 8 more gates, a $50 million relocation and construction of a new air traffic control tower as well as a $25 million federal inspection station to facilitate departures and arrivals of direct international flights.{{cite news| title=Authority Board Announces $90 Million Expansion of Concourse A| url=https://www.grr.org/hubfs/PDFs/NRs/nrProjectElevate.pdf?hsLang=en| date=August 28, 2019}} As of summer, 2024, the concourse A expansion is mostly complete with some of the new tenants open including only the second airport Freddy's (also the only ones with a breakfast menu){{Cite web |date=June 25, 2024 |title=Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Opens Second Airport Location|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/freddys-frozen-custard-steakburgers-opens-144900231.html |access-date=June 25, 2024 |website=Yahoo |language=en-US}} in an airport and some other yet-to-open spaces including a Firehouse Subs and a Priority Pass club lounge.

Project Elevate expanded with some additional projects that include a $156 million rental car facility and additional parking in a new ramp that was announced in 2023 and is expected to be completed by late 2025.{{Cite web |date=May 31, 2023 |title=Work begins on $156M Ford airport rental car building |url=https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/work-begins-on-156m-ford-airport-rental-car-building/ |access-date=June 2, 2023 |website=WOODTV |language=en-US}} And in April 2024, it was announced there would also be an $135 million Terminal Enhancement Project included as well expected to be completed by 2027 {{Cite web |date=June 25, 2024 |title=Ford International Airport Breaks Ground on $135 Million Terminal Enhancement Project |url=https://www.grr.org/news/terminal-enhancement-project-groundbreaking |access-date=June 2, 2023 |website=GRR |language=en-US}}

• On May 9, 2008, a Cessna 208 Caravan operating for Federal Express by CSA Air crashed just north of Grand Rapids. The pilot was not injured and there were no injuries on the ground.{{Cite web |title=Small plane by FedEx contractor crashes in Michigan|url=https://www.actionnews5.com/story/8303708/small-plane-by-fedex-contractor-crashes-in-michigan/|access-date=November 13, 2022| website=NBC 5 Action News|date=May 10, 2008 }}
• On September 6, 2010, a Cessna 210 Centurion that departed from Grand Rapids made an emergency landing in a field due to an engine failure. The aircraft was on a training flight at the time of impact. The probable cause of the accident was found to be a fatigue failure of the crankshaft due to the loss of engine case through-bold torque. Both occupants were uninjured.{{Cite web |title=N4632A accident description

|url=https://planecrashmap.com/plane/mi/N4632A/|access-date=November 13, 2022 | website=Plane Crash Map}}

• On October 29, 2012, a Delta Air Lines McDonnell Douglas MD-88 diverted to the airport after an engine issue. The engine was shut off and the plane with 95 passengers was able to land safely.{{Cite web |title=Gerald R. Ford International Airport (KGRR), Grand Rapids, Michigan: Delta Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-88, N987DL, Flight DL-1734 - Engine Problem

|url=http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2012/10/gerald-r-ford-international-airport.html|access-date=November 13, 2022 | website=Kathryn's Report}}

• On January 9, 2022, a private aircraft returned to the airport due to a landing gear problem. It landed safely back at the airport.{{Cite web |title=Plane makes emergency landing in GR after staff notice landing gear not working properly|url=https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/emergency-landing-ford-airport/69-ec5aaede-5bdf-464f-b374-c468303d12b4|access-date=November 13, 2022 | website=ABC 13 On Your Side|date=January 9, 2022 }}
• On July 8, 2022, an American Airlines flight en route from Chicago to Buffalo, New York diverted to Grand Rapids due to smoke in the cockpit. The plane landed safely and there were no injuries.{{Cite web |title=Plane makes emergency landing in Grand Rapids for possible smoke in cockpit

|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2022/07/plane-makes-emergency-landing-in-grand-rapids-for-possible-smoke-in-cockpit.html|access-date=November 13, 2022 | website=MLive|date=July 9, 2022 }}

• On December 16, 2022, a Delta Air Lines Airbus A320 departing Grand Rapids for Minneapolis–Saint Paul returned shortly after takeoff following an engine failure. The aircraft landed safely and the 147 passengers and crew were uninjured.{{Cite web |title=Delta flight returns to Grand Rapids airport after engine trouble over Lake Michigan|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2022/12/delta-flight-returns-to-grand-rapids-airport-after-engine-trouble-over-lake-michigan.html|access-date=January 20, 2023 |website=MLive|date=December 16, 2022 }}
• On December 2, 2023, a small white and black Cessna Citation experienced an engine malfunction and safely returned to the airport.
• On January 22, 2025 a Pilatus PC-12 experienced a gear malfunction when the nose gear collapsed on landing. The nose gear towbar was still attached at the time of landing and was not removed prior to the flight. There were no injuries.{{cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/472433|title=Accident description for N886WF at Aviation Safety Network|website=asn.flightsafety.org|accessdate=April 16, 2025}}

• List of airports in Michigan

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.flygrandrapids.org/}}
• [http://www.michigan.gov/aero/ Michigan Bureau of Aeronautics]
• {{FAA-diagram|05184}}
• {{US-airport|GRR}}

{{Airports in Michigan}}

{{Gerald Ford}}

{{grand Rapids, Michigan}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Transportation in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Category:Airports in Michigan

Category:Economy of Grand Rapids, Michigan

Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Kent County, Michigan

Category:Works Progress Administration in Michigan