Happy National Aviation Day! Believe it or not, Ithaca, New York has a deep history with aviation. If you live in or frequently visit Ithaca, you may be aware that our airport, the Ithaca Tompkins International Airport (ITH) has been in business since the 1950’s. However, aviation in Ithaca and neighboring towns dates back to the very early 1900s. In fact, quite a few significant milestones took place well before anyone imagined our current airport.

The Ithaca Tompkins International Airport (ITH) is very quiet these days.  Only a handful of flights are coming in and out per day.  But our cleaners are still cleaning, TSA workers are still screening, airline employees are working, and rental cars are available.

Ithaca Tompkins International Airport is pleased to announce the completion of its $34.8 million modernization and expansion. The funding was granted in 2018 by Governor Andrew Cuomo, to whom ITH is very grateful. Without his initial funding and continued support throughout this renovation, ITH would not be able to continue promoting economic growth for the Southern Tier.

If you’ve been up to the Ithaca Tompkins International Airport recently, you may have noticed that the new signage says just that: Ithaca Tompkins International Airport. “Regional” has slowly been replaced with “international” inside and outside the new terminal – but what exactly does this mean? Direct airline flights to Paris? Not yet!

On Wednesday, November 6th, Airport Director Mike Hall helped welcome and congratulate 29 new United States Citizens into Tompkins County. The ceremony took place in the Tompkins County courthouse, which was packed with petitioners, families, friends, and community members.

During the early stages of the construction of Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (ITH)’s new terminal, the construction crew discovered a time capsule that had been buried within the previous terminal’s wall during the 1994 renovation.

The Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport is featured in the October 2019 edition of Business View North America, as part of their series on best practices of regional airports! The article beautifully highlights the past, present, and future of ITH, using several quotes from Airport Director, Mike Hall. The article is titled “The Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport – An Economic Powerhouse”, which is further articulated by Hall.

In 1994, then-Airport Director Robert A. Nicholas wrote a letter to the future.

The weather of Upstate New York, especially in the winter months, can be unpredictable and messy. Running an airport in such weather can be a tricky and laborious task. As technology continues to advance, opportunities to work smarter and more efficiently in snowy conditions are arising. ITH has capitalized on these advancements, adopting technology not from the aviation industry, but from the agricultural industry. ITH has recently installed Ag Leader technology in their snowplows to optimize productivity when plowing the snowy runways. ITH is the first airport to use self-driving snow plows with this technology.

Despite a dreary start to the morning, over 300 runners ran the Runway 5K, and hundreds more came throughout the morning to enjoy a pancake breakfast at East Hill Flying Club, check out cars and firetrucks, test out some delicious desserts at the Rotary Club Bake-Off and watch the B-17 take flight!

On Friday, September 13th, the aviation community came together to honor and remember Ithaca native David Fairbanks, a recent inductee into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. His friend, Tom Appleton, spoke of his fond memories with David during their career together in aviation. All proceeds of the dinner benefited the future endeavors of the Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation.

In anticipation of the B-17’s soon arrival to ITH, we thought we’d provide you with a little history behind the spectacular WWII aircraft!

The Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport is looking a little different lately, we are building the airport of the future!

Federal Funding Awarded as Part of FAA Program

See what’s changing at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport

Conference Held to Discuss Developing a Microgrid at ITH

Ithaca’s annual Runway 5k race and Airport Day is coming up soon! Whether you’re a newbie to running or getting back into the game, preparing for a race can be intimidating.

After over two years of planning, proposals, negotiations, and renegotiations, Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (ITH) is thrilled to announce our mutual agreement with New York State to begin a $24.5 million dollar renovation and expansion of the airport’s facilities. Construction will begin this fall and is expected to be completed in 2019.

Fly back in time to the early days of aviation, with the centennial flight of Tommy! 2018 marks the 100 year anniversary since the Thomas-Morse bi-plane took to the skies, used by American pilots in World War I. These planes were made in Ithaca, at the Thomas-Morse Aircraft factory on South Hill which still stands today. They were flown across the world and became affectionately known as “Tommys” by the pilots who manned them. This September, the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport is ecstatic to host the centennial flight of this historical aircraft.