Raleigh–Durham International Airport

Raleigh–Durham International Airport , locally known by its IATA code RDU, is an international airport that serves Raleigh, Durham, and the surrounding Research Triangle region of North Carolina as its main airport. It is located in unincorporated Wake County, but is surrounded by the city of Raleigh to the north and east, and the towns of Cary and Morrisville to the south. The airport covers and has three runways., effective April 17, 2025.

As of 2025, RDU ranks 35th in passenger arrivals and departures in the US, offering passenger service to nearly 80 destinations, including 14 international destinations in 10 countries. It was the 38th busiest US airports by international passenger traffic in 2023. The airport serves 31 U.S. states, plus Puerto Rico, with Atlanta being the busiest domestic route, and New York metropolitan area having the most passengers per day. As of 2025, Delta Air Lines has the largest market share, and Breeze Airways flies to the most destinations with 28. There are nearly 600 daily aircraft operations. The RDU Airport Authority is in charge of the airport facilities and operations and is controlled by a board of representatives from the counties of Wake & Durham plus the cities of Raleigh & Durham.

Raleigh–Durham International Airport is the second-largest airport in the state of North Carolina, behind Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The main catchment area is central & eastern North Carolina, and southern Virginia. The airport is an operating base for Avelo Airlines and Endeavor Air, as well as a focus city for Delta Air Lines.

In 2024, RDU served a record 15.5 million passengers, which broke the airport's record of 14.5 million passengers set in 2023.

History

Founding

The region's first airport opened in 1929 as Raleigh Municipal Airport, south of Raleigh. It was quickly outgrown, and in 1939 the North Carolina General Assembly chartered the Raleigh–Durham Aeronautical Authority to build and operate a larger airport between Raleigh and Durham. This was promoted by Eastern Air Lines, led by then chairman Eddie Rickenbacker, Capital Airlines joined Eastern at RDU; Piedmont Airlines arrived in 1948. The April 1957 Official Airline Guide shows 36 departures a day: twenty Eastern, eight Capital and eight Piedmont. Nonstop flights did not reach beyond Washington, Atlanta, or the Appalachians (but Eastern started a Super Constellation nonstop to Newark in 1958). The next airline (aside from United's takeover of Capital in 1961) was Delta Air Lines in 1970. In April 1969, nonstops didn't reach beyond New York or Atlanta, and Chicago was the only nonstop west of the Appalachians. RDU's first scheduled jets were Eastern 727s in 1965.

In the 1970s, the last decade before airline deregulation, Piedmont connected RDU to the North Carolina cities of Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, New Bern, Rocky Mount, Winston-Salem, and Wilmington. It also connected to Norfolk, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia; and Washington, among others. United flew to Asheville, Charlotte, Huntsville, and Newark, while Eastern flew to Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, and Washington, and Delta flew to Chicago and Greensboro.

After deregulation, Allegheny Airlines arrived in 1979, and by 1985 Trans World Airlines, American Airlines, Ozark Air Lines, People Express, New York Air and Pan Am had all put in appearances.

Hub years

American Airlines (AA) built a terminal at RDU between 1985 and 1987 to house a new hub, and flew to 38 cities when the hub started in June 1987. The December 1987 timetable shows AA nonstops to 36 airports and American Eagle prop nonstops to 18 more. In 1988, the first international destination was Paris-Orly with AA. Caribbean destinations started in 1989, with routes to Bermuda, Cancún, St. Croix and St. Thomas. The RDU hub operated at a loss even during its heyday in the early 1990s, like the hub AA had at Nashville. AA's December 1992 timetable, around the time of the hub's peak, showed 211 daily departures to 64 destinations, almost all in the eastern United States (the westernmost destinations being AA's hubs at Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago–O'Hare). The hub faced intense competition from Delta and Eastern in Atlanta, Northwest in Memphis, and from USAir in Charlotte, as well as the short-lived Continental hub in Greensboro that opened in 1993. AA began to consider closing the hub in late 1993. AA started serving London-Gatwick and discontinuing the Paris flight in 1994. The London route was originally launched based on a purchasing commitment from GlaxoSmithKline, which has major offices at both ends of the route; the route is no longer dependent on GSK for revenue. AA operations were reduced until June 1995 when they closed the hub. In 1996, Air Canada became the airport's first international carrier with service to Toronto. Canadian Regional Airlines also started service to Toronto in 1997.
Other brief international airports served via AA between late 1980s and mid 1990s include Grand Cayman, Nassau, and Saint Maarten.

Midway Airlines replaced AA as the airport's hub carrier from 1995 until 2003. In 1995, Midway had flights to Boston, Hartford, Long Island, Newark, in the Northeast; and to Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach in Florida. They also served Cancún. AA subleased its gates at RDU to Midway in order to repay $113 million in AA-guaranteed bonds that had been used to construct the hub facilities. Midway suspended service for some time after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and ceased operations in 2002, filing for bankruptcy in 2003.

AA moved to London-Heathrow from Gatwick in 2008. The airport restarted Paris service, this time to Paris–Charles de Gaulle in 2016 with Delta. All international flights were cancelled in 2020, due to COVID-19. Both AA to Heathrow and Delta to Paris restarted in 2022. Also in 2022, Icelandair started service to Reykjavík–Keflavík; Bahamasair briefly served Freeport that subsequently terminated in 2024. Air France took over Paris service from Delta in 2023. In 2024, expansion occurred with service to Mexico City via Aeroméxico Connect; Panama City–Tocumen via Copa Airlines; and Frankfurt via Lufthansa. In 2025, the largest international expansion occurred with service to Toronto and Vancouver via mainline Air Canada; Montego Bay amn Punta Cana via Avelo Airlines; return to Bermuda via BermudAir; and Calgary via WestJet.

Recent history

RDU's post-hub years have brought the addition of new carriers and destinations, notably
discount carriers such as Allegiant Air, Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines. Because of the economic downturn and high fuel prices in 2008, American ended most point to point flights it operated out of the airport. Several mainline flights were also dropped and service to other cities was reduced or downgraded. Other airlines also cut flights and destinations including United Airlines and US Airways. Also in 2008, the airport was modernized; the current rebuilt Terminal 2 opened, on the site of the old Terminal C that was built in 1987. The rebuilt was completed in 2011, and was designed by Fentress Architects.

By 2010, RDU's traffic began to recover. In the first few months of the year, passenger numbers stabilized at RDU, ending the decrease the airport experienced in 2008 and 2009. In the first four months of 2010, 2.7 million passengers traveled through RDU. Growth was flat compared to the same period a year before, but these signs were positive indicating that the decline was over. Airlines at RDU began to add new services to the schedule with both legacy and low-cost carriers significantly increasing service since the early 2010s.

Delta Air Lines maintains a focus city operation at RDU, which it decided to maintain in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the area's strong economy and lack of a dominant network carrier.

In November 2022, Avelo Airlines announced the opening of an operating base at Raleigh-Durham. Service started on February 15, 2023. Avelo currently operates two aircraft and around 90 employees at the airport.

Endeavor Air, a regional airline for Delta, opened a new crew base in the spring of 2025, with expected 130 to 170 employees.

Future

The Vision 2040 Master Plan details several major improvements that are aimed to be made by 2040. Proposed in 2017 by the RDU Airport Authority, the plan calls for major additions and renovations of current facilities at the airport. This includes the construction of a consolidated rental car facility, an on-site hotel, expansion of parking lots, expansion of both terminals, improvements to the taxiway layout, and the replacement of both runways. The proposal included lengthening runway 5R/23L to and rebuilding runway 5L/23R to a length of just northwest of its current position. The existing runway 5L/23R will become a taxiway for the new runway. After modifying the planned runway length multiple times, the Federal Aviation Administration authorized the construction of the new runway on September 5, 2023. The construction of RDU's new 5L/23R runway began on October 11, 2023. The new runway will be built at a length of , and is anticipated to be finished in five years.

In June 2023, the Airport Authority Board approved an agreement to advance the planning process for Terminal 1 expansion to allow for future growth as RDU reached new passenger traffic records and destinations served. RDU is also planning on expanding their customs and border patrol center to accommodate for the increase of international flights at RDU.

Facilities

Airfields

Runway 05L/23R is north of the airport terminals, while runways 05R/23L and 14/32 are south of the airport terminals. New runway 05L/23R is currently under construction north of the current runway 05L/23R.

Terminals

The airport contains two terminals with a total of 45 gates. The terminals do not have an airside connection; passengers moving between the terminals may ride a shuttle bus or take the moving walkway through covered parking decks between the terminals. All non precleared international flights are processed in Terminal 2 and arrive into gates C21, C23, C24 and C25.
* Terminal 1 contains 9 gates, A1–A9. The Vision2040 plan proposes the addition of 4, 7, 12 or 15 gates. The terminal is used by Alaska Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines. In 2024, RDU moved three airlines in Terminal 2 to maximize check-in, gate space, and overall terminal space for airlines at Terminal 2.
* Terminal 2 contains 36 gates, with concourses C and D. This is the only terminal at RDU that hosts international arrivals, utilizing gates C21 and C23–C25. Aeroméxico Connect, Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, BermudAir, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Icelandair, JetBlue, Lufthansa, WestJet, and United fly from Terminal 2. American Airlines Admirals Club, Delta Air Lines Sky Club, United Club, and USO of North Carolina are all located in this terminal.

Cargo areas

The airport incorporates two cargo areas, North Cargo and South Cargo. The North Cargo terminal area is used by cargo airlines. The largest cargo operators are FedEx and UPS. The South Cargo terminal area is used by commercial airlines for cargo operations.

Maintenance base

Endeavor Air built a maintenance base in 2019. The primary function is line maintenance. No hangar is available for maintenance.

Lounges

United Airlines has a United Club in Terminal 2, across from gates D1-D3, Delta Air Lines has a Delta Sky Club in Terminal 2, across from gate C3, and American Airlines has an Admirals Club in Terminal 2, also across from gate C3.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Cargo

Statistics

Top destinations

Annual traffic

Annual traffic at RDU

Airline market share

Accidents and incidents

* On January 2, 1953, a USAF Douglas C-47 crashed near RDU attempting to land with rain and low visibility after diverting from Pope AFB in Fayetteville. The aircraft crashed nearly two miles south of the airport in Lake Crabtree County Park. Three out of the four occupants died.
* On Wednesday, November 12, 1975, Eastern Air Lines Flight 576, a Boeing 727-225, crashed while attempting to land on runway 23 (now runway 23 Left). The aircraft hit the ground short of the runway and bounced back into the air before coming down on the runway and sliding down the runway, stopping where the south end of Terminal 1 is today. Of the 139 persons on the flight, eight were injured, one seriously. The NTSB investigation initially blamed the crash on "the pilot's failure to execute a missed approach when he lost sight of the runway environment in heavy rain below decision height." The accident report and probable cause were later revised to include the influence of undetected wind shear. The aircraft (Boeing 727-225, N8838E) sustained major damage and was moved to an area on the north end of closed runway 18. A temporary structure was built around the aircraft, which was eventually repaired and returned to service.
* On December 31, 1986, a passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 1502 was wounded after a local hunter fired his rifle from the ground into the airframe of the landing aircraft. Robert Raymond Proulx fired a bullet through the fuselage, wounding a passenger (Barry Rollins) in the thigh and the cheek as the projectile ricocheted inside the cabin.
* On February 19, 1988, AVAir Flight 3378, a Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner was on a regularly scheduled flight between Raleigh and Richmond operating for American Eagle when it crashed into a reservoir about a mile from the airport in the vicinity of Cary. The aircraft had departed during low ceiling, low visibility and night conditions. Analysis of radar data indicated the aircraft was in a 45-degree descending turn. Both crew members and all 10 passengers were killed. It was revealed during the investigation that the pilot had complained of illness but decided to continue the flight.
* On December 13, 1994, American Eagle Flight 3379 operated by AMR's regional airline Flagship Airlines, a Jetstream 31 was on a regularly scheduled service of Raleigh–Greensboro–Raleigh when it crashed into a wooded area about SW of the airport, in the vicinity of Morrisville. Of the 20 onboard (18 passengers and two crewmembers) 15 were killed while the five survivors received serious injuries. The probable cause of the crash was the pilot not following proper procedure when it came to an engine failure situation.
* On July 31, 2000, a Win Win Aviation de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter crashed on approach nearly two miles SSW of RDU on a positioning flight due to fog and darkness. The pilot was not instrument rated to fly in bad weather. One crewmember out of the three occupants died.
* On October 20, 2019, a Piper PA-32 crashed in a wooded area of Umstead State Park on approach to runway 32. Both occupants of the plane died.
* On July 29, 2022, a CASA C-212 Aviocar from Raeford West Airport made an emergency landing and subsequently slid off runway 23L due to its lack of right landing gear. On approach, the 23-year old co-pilot, Charles Hew Crooks, exited the plane over Fuquay-Varina and subsequently died. The pilot was transported to the hospital with minor injuries as the result of a rough landing.
* On April 25, 2024, a Socata TBM 850 from Wilmington operated by UNC Air Operations crashed during landing on runway 32. Both the pilot and the sole onboard passenger were injured.

See also

* List of airports in North Carolina
* List of the busiest airports in the United States
* North Carolina World War II Army Airfields

References

External links

Raleigh–Durham International Airport
* at North Carolina DOT airport guide
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Airports in North Carolina
Transportation in Raleigh, North Carolina
Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces Technical Service Command
Buildings and structures in Wake County, North Carolina
Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in North Carolina
Transportation in Wake County, North Carolina
Transportation in Durham, North Carolina
Airports established in 1943
1943 establishments in North Carolina