{{Short description|Airport in Chattanooga, Tennessee}} {{Use American English|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox airport | name = Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport | nativename = Lovell Field | image = CHA Airport Logo.png | image2 = Chattanooga Airport entrance.jpg | caption2 = Passenger terminal | image-width = 178 | FAA = CHA | IATA = CHA | ICAO = KCHA | type = Public | owner-oper = Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority | city-served = [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]] | elevation-f = 683 | coordinates = {{coord|35|02|07|N|85|12|14|W|type:airport_region:US-TN|display=inline,title}} | website = {{URL|www.chattairport.com}} | image_map = CHA_FAA_Diagram.pdf | image_mapsize = 275 | image_map_caption = FAA airport diagram as of January 2021 | mapframe = yes | r1-number = 02/20 | r1-length-f = 7,400 | r1-surface = Asphalt | r2-number = 15/33 | r2-length-f = 5,575 | r2-surface = Asphalt | stat-year = 2025 | stat1-header = Aircraft operations | stat1-data = 83,326 | stat2-header = Passengers | stat2-data = 1,265,736 {{increase}}{{0}}14.17% | footnotes = Source:Website<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chattairport.com/monthly-statistics|title=CHA Airport Annual Operations Reports 2008-Present|website=chattaairport.com|accessdate= February 20, 2026}}</ref><ref name=FAA /> }}
'''Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport''' {{Airport codes|CHA|KCHA|CHA}} (Lovell Field) is 5 miles (8 km) east of downtown [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]], in [[Hamilton County, Tennessee|Hamilton County]], [[Tennessee]], United States. The airport is owned and operated by the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority.<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=CHA|use=PU|own=PU|site=22899.*A}}, effective February 19, 2026</ref> It is a [[airspace class|Class C]] airport serviced by the Chattanooga Airport Traffic Control Tower. The [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) [[National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems]] for 2019–2023 [[FAA airport categories|categorized]] it as a small-hub primary commercial service facility.<ref name="NPIAS Airports">{{cite web |title=NPIAS Report 2019-2023 Appendix A |url=https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/NPIAS-Report-2019-2023-Appendix-A.pdf |website=[[Federal Aviation Administration]] |access-date=October 12, 2018 |page=109 |date=October 3, 2018}}</ref>
==History== The first scheduled airline flight in Tennessee took place in Chattanooga in 1928 at Marr Field, dedicated in December 1919, named for [[Walter L. Marr]], off present-day [[Tennessee State Route 58|Amnicola Highway]].<ref name="History of Lovell Field">{{cite web|url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/2009/7/20/155237/Marr-Field-Preceded-Lovell-Field-as.aspx|title=Marr Field Preceded Lovell Field as Chattanooga's Airport |last=Jolley|first=Harmon|date=July 20, 2009|publisher=Chattanoogan.com|access-date=20 March 2013}}</ref> Chattanooga was a stopover on the Contract Air Mail route served by [[Interstate Airlines]] between Atlanta and Chicago. [[Charles Lindbergh]], the world-famous aviator who had piloted the ''[[Spirit of St. Louis]]'' over the Atlantic Ocean in May 1927, flew into Marr Field on October 5, 1927.<ref name="History of Lovell Field"/>
In 1930, due to the interest and foresight of John Lovell, president of the local Kiwanis Club and American Red Cross, a new Chattanooga Airport opened with an unpaved runway at its present location and was named Lovell Field in his honor.<ref name="Lovell Field named after Chattanoogan John Lovell">{{cite web|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/apr/26/lovell-field-naming-rights-could-boost-airport-rev/|title=Lovell Field naming rights could boost airport revenues|last=Pare|first=Mike|date=April 26, 2009|publisher=Chattanooga Times Free Press|access-date=20 March 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1936, the landing area was expanded and runways paved as a part of the [[New Deal]]'s [[Works Progress Administration]] (WPA). The original terminal building was built at that time.
During World War II, Lovell Field was a military training facility. Growth in aviation in the 1950s led to a transfer of airport operations to the City of Chattanooga and airport expansion with a new runway, the primary runway today. The original terminal building, dating from the 1930s, was expanded in 1950 and 1955 by the city before being replaced by a new terminal in 1964.
The airport's ownership was transferred from Chattanooga to the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority (CMAA) in July 1985.<ref>{{cite web|title=Master Plan Update|trans-title=Background|url=http://www.chattairport.com/downloads/Master_Plan_Final_vers_1.0.pdf|pages=2–1|publisher=Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority|date=July 2010|access-date=February 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220140535/http://chattairport.com/downloads/Master_Plan_Final_vers_1.0.pdf|archive-date=December 20, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
The current passenger terminal, designed by [[Gensler]], opened in 1992.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pickering|first1=Andrew|last2=Steinert|first2=Ron|title=The Passenger Experience: Gensler Airports|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h-FPAAAAMAAJ&q=%221989%22|access-date=February 7, 2013|year=2004|publisher=Edizioni Press, Inc.|location=New York City|isbn=1-931536-14-7|page=62}}</ref>
In 2011, a 1 [[megawatt]] [[solar power|solar farm]] located on the southwest corner of the airfield was constructed.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 2, 2012|title=Suniva Powers 1 MW Solar Farm at Chattanooga Airport|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120202005191/en/Suniva-Powers-1-MW-Solar-Farm-Chattanooga|work=Business Wire|location=San Francisco, California|access-date=2018-12-11}}</ref> An additional 1.1 megawatts were added to the solar farm in the summer of 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Madewell|first=John|date=December 6, 2018|title=Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport expands solar, almost ready to "go off grid"|url=https://newschannel9.com/news/local/chattanooga-metropolitan-airport-going-solar-almost-ready-to-go-off-grid|work=[[WTVC|WTVC News Channel 9]]|location=Chattanooga, Tennessee|access-date=2018-12-11}}</ref> By 2017, the farm was providing approximately 90% of the airport's electricity.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pare|first=Mike|date=April 25, 2017|title=Chattanooga Airport eyes growing its solar farm|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2017/apr/25/chattanoogairport-eyes-growing-solar-farm4-mi/424551/|work=[[Chattanooga Times Free Press]]|location=Chattanooga, Tennessee|access-date=2018-12-11}}</ref>
Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport was home to the 241st Engineering Installation Squadron (241 EIS) of the [[Tennessee Air National Guard]] until late 2010, when the squadron moved to a Bonny Oaks facility near the airport.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vintage Jet Rides to New Home|first=Mike|last=Pare|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/aug/18/vintage-jet-rides-new-home/?print|newspaper=[[Chattanooga Times Free Press]]|date=August 18, 2011|access-date=December 8, 2011}}</ref>
==Facilities== [[File:CHA from air.png|thumb|Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport from the air]] [[Image:Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport.jpg|thumb|Runway 2-20]]
===Runways=== Lovell Field covers {{convert|950|acre|ha}} and has two [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] [[runway]]s: 2/20 is 7,400 x 150 ft (2,256 x 46 m) and 15/33 is 5,575 x 150 ft (1,699 x 46 m).<ref name=FAA /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/airport/CHA/Lovell-Field-Airport|title=CHA Airport data at skyvector.com|website=skyvector.com|access-date=February 20, 2026}}</ref>
===Terminal=== Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport has one concourse with eight gates. In March 2024, the airport added two additional boarding gates along with a new restaurant, gift shop and business center. This completed an expansion that saw an additional 26,000 square feet of a new terminal wing constructed and 36,000 square feet of the existing terminal renovated. Airline service is provided by United Express, Delta Air Lines, American Eagle, and Allegiant Air. The largest aircraft currently serving the airport is the Boeing 737MAX-8-200 (operated by [[Allegiant Air]]) and even the [[Boeing 757]] (operated by [[FedEx Express]]). The [[McDonnell Douglas MD-80|McDonnell-Douglas MD-80]] series aircraft used to be one of the larger aircraft that serviced CHA, but these were retired early because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pallini|first=Thomas|title=What it was like on the last fight of a Delta McDonnell Douglas 'Mad Dog' jet which were all just sent to an early retirement after 33 years in the sky|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-retires-md-80-series-aircraft-send-off-in-atlanta-2020-6|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Business Insider}}</ref> Delta had flown a mainline service from 1947 until withdrawing in 1995 after 48 years in favor of affiliates like [[Atlantic Southeast Airlines]] operating smaller regional jets, such as the [[CRJ-200]]. Delta subsequently decided to resume its mainline service flights, including [[DC-9]]s, to Chattanooga in September 2012.<ref name="Delta's DC-9 jets return to Chattanooga after 17 years">{{cite news |title=Delta's Big Jets Return for Atlanta Flights|first=Mike|last=Pare|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/sep/06/deltas-big-jets-return-for-atlanta-flights/|newspaper=[[Chattanooga Times Free Press]]|date=September 6, 2012|access-date=February 2, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Delta returns DC-9 jets to Chattanooga after 17 years">{{cite news |title=Delta Returns Daily [Mainline] Flight to Chattanooga After 17 Years|first=Carla|last=Caldwell|url=http://m.bizjournals.com/atlanta/morning_call/2012/06/delta-returns-mainline-flight-to.html?ana=yfcpc&r=full|newspaper=[[American City Business Journals|Atlanta Business Chronicle]]|date=June 12, 2012|access-date=February 2, 2013}}</ref>
===Other=== General aviation is serviced by Wilson Air Center [[Fixed Base Operator|FBO]]. The general aviation ramp is in two locations, one on the south side of the main terminal and the other on the north. The locations are referred to as "Air North" and "Air South." General aviation can find service at either location. In August 2011, Wilson Air Center opened a facility on the west side of the field.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2011/aug/12/new-lovell-field-terminal-is-front-door-to-chatt/56252/|title=New Lovell Field terminal is 'front door' to Chattanooga|website=timesfreepress.com|date=12 August 2011 |access-date=2020-02-09}}</ref>
==Airlines and destinations== ===Passenger=== {{Update section|date=January 2022}} {{Airport destination list | 3rdcoltitle = Refs | 3rdcolunsortable=yes | [[Allegiant Air]] | [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]],<ref>{{cite news |title=United Airlines launches nonstop flight from Chattanooga to Newark {{!}} Chattanooga Times Free Press |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/jan/07/united-airlines-launches-nonstop-flight-from/#/questions |access-date=22 January 2026 |work=Times Free Press |date=7 January 2026 |language=en}}</ref> [[Orlando Sanford International Airport|Orlando/Sanford]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Press |first1=Chattanooga Times Free |title=Chattanooga Airport eyes Denver, Philadelphia as it aims to recruit more direct flights |url=https://www.local3news.com/local-news/chattanooga-airport-eyes-denver-philadelphia-as-it-aims-to-recruit-more-direct-flights/article_18817e67-e7fb-403a-838f-f146465079e2.html |access-date=22 January 2026 |work=Local 3 News |date=14 November 2025 |language=en}}</ref> [[St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport|St. Petersburg/Clearwater]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pare |first1=Mike |title=Allegiant Air adding more flights from Chattanooga to Florida {{!}} Chattanooga Times Free Press |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/jan/30/allegiant-air-adding-more-flights-from/ |access-date=22 January 2026 |work=Times Free Press |date=30 January 2025 |language=en}}</ref> <br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Punta Gorda Airport (Florida)|Punta Gorda (FL)]] <ref>{{cite news |last1=Howard |first1=Addison |title=UPDATE: Chattanooga Airport brings back nonstop flights to Punta Gorda, FL |url=https://www.local3news.com/local-news/update-chattanooga-airport-brings-back-nonstop-flights-to-punta-gorda-fl/article_98c0e422-a68f-11ef-90c8-53a1533fa95b.html |access-date=22 January 2026 |work=Local 3 News |date=8 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref> | <!-- --> | [[American Airlines]]| [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]] |<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goins |first1=Courtney |title=Chattanooga Airport adding 2 larger planes for Dallas-Fort Worth flights |url=https://www.local3news.com/local-news/chattanooga-airport-adding-2-larger-planes-for-dallas-fort-worth-flights/article_1bf4dd02-c3df-43ad-842d-d8d0db03cc28.html |access-date=22 January 2026 |work=Local3News |date=22 January 2026 |language=en}}</ref> <!-- --> | [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]] | [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]],<ref name="CLT">{{cite news |title=UPDATED: All Nonstop Flights from Charlotte Douglas International Airport |url=https://www.charlottemagazine.com/here-are-all-nonstop-flights-from-charlotte-douglas-international-airport/ |access-date=22 January 2026 |work=Charlotte Magazine |date=13 October 2025}}</ref> [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]],<ref>{{cite web |title=American Airlines Boosts Domestic Network by Relaunching Chattanooga Flights from During Peak Travel Season: New Updates You Need to Know |website=Travel and Tour World |url=https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/american-airlines-boosts-domestic-network-by-relaunching-chattanooga-flights-from-during-peak-travel-season-new-updates-you-need-to-know/ |date=May 27, 2025v |accessdate=May 26, 2025}}</ref> [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]],<ref name="CHATTAflights">{{cite news |title=American Airlines Announces Nonstop Service From Chattanooga To Chicago O’Hare |url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2025/5/27/504237/American-Airlines-Announces-Nonstop.aspx |access-date=22 January 2026 |work=Chattanoogan |date=27 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref> [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]]<ref name="CHATTAflights"/> <br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Miami International Airport|Miami]]<ref name="CHATTAflights"/> | <!-- --> | [[Delta Air Lines]] | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]]<ref name="Carley2026">{{cite news |last1=Carley |first1=Chris |title=Delta Issues Weather Waiver for Fortress Hub Atlanta - and Dozens of Other Cities |url=https://eyeoftheflyer.com/2026/01/21/delta-weather-travel-changes/ |access-date=22 January 2026 |work=Eye of the Flyer |date=21 January 2026}}</ref> | <!-- --> | {{nowrap|[[Delta Connection]]}} | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]],<ref name="Carley2026"/> [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pare |first1=Mike |title=Delta adding to roundtrips from Chattanooga to Atlanta, Detroit {{!}} Chattanooga Times Free Press |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/sep/16/delta-adding-to-roundtrips-chattanooga-atl-detroit-tfp/ |access-date=22 January 2026 |work=Times Free Press |date=16 September 2024 |language=en}}</ref> [[LaGuardia Airport|New York–LaGuardia]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chattanoogapulse.com/citylife/day-trippin/chattanooga-airport-to-resume-nonstop-flights-to-new-york-la/ | title=Chattanooga Airport to Resume Nonstop Flights to New York City | date=3 August 2024 }}</ref> | <!-- --> | [[United Express]] | [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]],<ref name="Floyd2025"/> [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]],<ref>{{cite web | title=United Airlines Expands Service at Chattanooga Airport with New Twice-Daily Flights to Houston | url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2025/10/30/510646/United-Airlines-Expands-Service-At.aspx }}</ref> [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]]<ref name="Floyd2025">{{cite news |last1=Floyd |first1=David |title=United Airlines launches nonstop flight from Chattanooga to Newark Chattanooga Times Free Press |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/jan/07/united-airlines-launches-nonstop-flight-from/#/questions |access-date=22 January 2026 |work=Time Free Press |date=7 January 2026 |language=en}}</ref> <br> '''Seasonal:''' [[Denver International Airport|Denver]]<ref>http://timesfreepress.com/news/2026/jan/15/united-airlines-to-start-nonstop-flights-to/</ref> }}
{| class="collapsible uncollapsed" style="border:1px #aaa solid; width:50em; margin:0.2em auto" |- ! Destinations map |- |{{Location map+ |United_States |width=1000 |float=center |caption=Destinations from Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport <br /> {{font color | red | Red}} = Year-round destination <br />{{font color | green | Green }} = Seasonal destination <br />{{font color | blue | Blue }} = Future destination |places= {{Location map~ |United_States |lat=35.0207 |long=-85.1214 |position=left |label=<div style="position:relative; left:-5px;"><small>'''Chattanooga'''</small></div>|caption=|mark=Airplane_silhouette.svg|marksize=15 }} {{Location map~ |United_States |lat=33.63666 |long=-84.428056 |position=right| label='''<small>[[Atlanta Airport|Atlanta]]</small>''' |label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ |United_States |lat=32.896944 |long=-97.038056 |position=left |label='''<small>[[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7}} {{Location map~ |United_States |lat=28.775502|long=-81.243443|position=right |label='''<small>[[Orlando Sanford International Airport|Orlando/Sanford]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ |United_States |lat=41.974186|long=-87.907783|position=left |label='''<small>[[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ |United_States |lat=27.91 |long=-82.6875 |position=left |label=<small>'''[[St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport|St. Petersburg/Clearwater]]'''</small>|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ |United_States |lat=42.216112|long=-83.355586|position=left |label='''<small>[[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ |United_States |lat=35.213889|long=-80.943056 |position=right |label='''<small>[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ |United_States |lat=38.8512|long=-77.0402 |position=right |label='''<small>[[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ |United_States |lat=25.795965|long=-80.287326 |position=under |label='''<small>[[Miami International Airport|Miami]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ |mark = Red pog.svg |United_States |lat=36.08|long=-115.152222 |position=right |label='''<small>[[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ |mark = Red pog.svg |United_States |lat=40.775|long=-73.875 |position=right |label='''<small>[[LaGuardia Airport|New York-LaGuardia]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ |mark = Red pog.svg |United_States |lat=26.918889|long=-81.990833 |position=left |label='''<small>[[Punta Gorda Airport (Florida)|Punta Gorda (FL)]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ |mark = Red pog.svg |United_States |lat=26.0725|long=-80.152778 |position=right |label='''<small>[[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ |mark = Red pog.svg |United_States |lat=40.6925|long=-74.168611 |position=left |label='''<small>[[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ |mark = Red pog.svg |United_States |lat=29.984444|long=-95.341389 |position=left |label='''<small>[[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }} {{Location map~ | mark=Green pog.svg |United_States |lat=39.855193|long=-104.673849|position=right|label='''<small>[[Denver International Airport|Denver]]</small>'''|label_size=90 |marksize=7 }} }} |}
===Cargo=== {{Airport destination list | [[FedEx Express]] | [[Memphis International Airport|Memphis]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Orlando |first1=Joyce |title=Watch as a FedEx plane 'crash lands' in Chattanooga after takeoff |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2023/10/06/fedex-plane-crash-landing-chattanooga-tn-airport-watch-video/71082727007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z113528d00----v113528d--39--b--39--&gca-ft=199&gca-ds=sophi |access-date=22 January 2026 |work=The Commercial Appeal |date=6 October 2023}}</ref> }}
==Statistics== ===Top destinations=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%" width= align= |+ '''Busiest domestic routes from CHA (August 2024 – July 2025)'''<ref name="transtats.bts.gov">{{cite web |title=OST_R BTS Transtats - CHA |url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=CHA&Airport_Name=Chattanooga,%20TN:%20Lovell%20Field&carrier=FACTS |website=www.transtats.bts.gov |access-date=November 6, 2025 |language=en}}</ref> ! Rank ! City ! Passengers ! Carriers |- | 1 | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta, Georgia]] | 217,330 | Delta |- | 2 | [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte, North Carolina]] | 117,190 | American |- | 3 | [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas]] | 101,240 | American |- | 4 | [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois]] | 55,100 | United |- | 5 | [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit, Michigan]] | 30,350 | Delta |- | 6 | [[Orlando Sanford International Airport|Orlando–Sanford, Florida]] | 17,380 | Allegiant |- | 7 | [[St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport|St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida]] | 16,480 | Allegiant |- | 8 | [[LaGuardia Airport|New York–LaGuardia, New York]] | 13,250 | Delta |- | 9 | [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National, D.C.]] | 11,240 | American |- | 10 | [[McCarran International Airport|Las Vegas, Nevada]] | 10,500 | Allegiant |}
===Airline market share=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%" |+ '''Largest airlines at CHA (August 2024 – July 2025)'''<ref name="transtats.bts.gov"/> |- !Rank !Airline !Passengers !Share |- |1 |[[Endeavor Air]] |270,000 |22.71% |- |2 |[[Delta Air Lines]] |208,000 |17.50% |- |3 |[[PSA Airlines]] |173,000 |14.51% |- |4 |[[Piedmont Airlines]] |154,000 |12.91% |- |5 |[[Envoy Air]] |120,000 |10.11% |- | |Other |265,000 |22.27% |- |}
===Annual traffic=== {| class="wikitable" |+ CHA Airport annual passengers enplaned + deplaned, 2008–present<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chattairport.com/monthly-statistics|title=CHA Airport Annual Passengers and Statistics 2008-Present|website=chattairport.com|accessdate=February 20, 2026}}</ref> !Year !Passengers !Year !Passengers |- |2007||609,218||2017||957,064 |- |2008||596,639||2018||1,002,414 |- |2009||614,578||2019||1,104,662 |- |2010||579,868||2020||447,864 |- |2011||608,886||2021||750,896 |- |2012||616,928||2022||861,097 |- |2013||618,838||2023||972,235 |- |2014||701,665||2024||1,108,602 |- |2015||778,183||2025||'''1,265,736''' |- |2016||836,983||2026|| |}
==2020s airport expansion== In the 2020-2021 time-frame, a multi-story car park was built.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chattanooga Airport breaks ground on new parking garage|url=https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/42385178/chattanooga-airport-breaks-ground-on-new-parking-garage|access-date=2021-03-07|website=www.wrcbtv.com|date=19 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In addition, despite the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] the number of gates was expanded to eight as part of the expansion plans due to record numbers of passengers using the airport pre-COVID.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chattanooga Airport names firms to construct $25 million parking garage|url=https://www.chattairport.com/news-media/cjjr69n55ei538noq8op6k4x0mxuch|access-date=2021-03-07|website=Chattanooga Airport|date=28 February 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=WTVC|date=2020-07-28|title=Federal grant to help Chattanooga Airport expand main terminal|url=http://chattanoogacw.com/news/local/federal-grant-to-help-chattanooga-airport-expand-main-terminal|access-date=2021-03-07|website=WFLI}}</ref> The 28 million dollar expansion was opened March 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-02 |title=Chattanooga Airport unveils $28 million expansion |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/mar/02/airport-unveils-28-million-expansion/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=www.timesfreepress.com |language=en}}</ref> <gallery> File:Multistory car park at CHA.jpg|New parking garage under construction in March 2021 File:CHA airport rebuild and upgrade.jpg|CHA airport terminal expansion in progress November 2022 File:Chattanooga airport new terminal being built December 23rd 2023.jpg|Chattanooga airport new terminal being built December 23, 2022 File:New terminal gates at CHA May 2024.jpg|New terminal gates at CHA May 2024 </gallery>
==Accidents and incidents== *On November 11, 1972, [[Southern Airways Flight 49]], a hijacked [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]] with 31 passengers and 3 crew members aboard, landed at Lovell Field from [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]]'s [[McGhee Tyson Airport]] to pick up $10 million that the three hijackers had demanded. After picking up the ransom money, which actually amounted to between $2 million and $2.5 million, the plane took off, bound for [[Havana, Cuba]].<ref>{{cite news|title=1972 Plane Hijacker, Co-Pilot Recount Ordeal |url=http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/158532/9/THV-Extra-1972-plane-hijacker-co-pilot-recount-ordeal |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205000307/http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/158532/9/THV-Extra-1972-plane-hijacker-co-pilot-recount-ordeal |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 5, 2013 |work=[[KTHV]] |date=May 25, 2011 |access-date=July 1, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Southern Airways Flight 49 and Oak Ridge">{{cite news|title=Convicted Hijacker Shares Story, Details 1972 Threat to Oak Ridge|first=Anthony|last=Welsch|url=http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=170845|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209072601/http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=170845|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 9, 2013|work=[[WBIR-TV|WBIR]]|date=May 25, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2012}}</ref><ref name="November 10th, 1972">{{cite web |title=On This Day in Aviation History: November 10th|first=Philip Jr.|last=Derner|url=http://www.nycaviation.com/2011/11/on-this-day-in-aviation-history-november-10th/|publisher=NYC.Aviation.com|date=November 10, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2012}}</ref> *On November 27, 1973, Delta Air Lines Flight 516, a [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]], crashed short of the runway in severe weather on approach to the airport from [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]]'s [[Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport|Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport]]. The airliner burst into flames that were quickly extinguished in part by torrential rains and deep standing water where the aircraft ended up. Thirty-eight passengers and four crew were injured in the incident and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19731127-1|accessdate=2018-10-23|title=N3323L}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fss.aero/accident-reports/dvdfiles/US/1973-11-27-US.pdf |title=Landed short, Delta Air Lines, Inc., McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, N3323L, Chattanooga Municipal Airport, Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 27, 1973 |id=FILE NO. 1-0028 |date=November 8, 1974 |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] (NTSB), USA|via=fss.aero}}</ref> *On October 4, 2023, FedEx Express Flight 1376, a [[Boeing 757|Boeing 757-200SF]] (N977FD), skidded off the end of Runway 20 landing with gear up after experiencing a hydraulic failure after departure for [[Memphis International Airport]]. The crew made it out uninjured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged and was written off.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FedEx plane 'crash-landed' at Chattanooga Airport before 'skidding off' runway|url=https://www.msn.com/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=www.msn.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Duncan |first=Ian |date=2023-10-05 |title=FedEx cargo jet crash-lands at Tennessee airport after landing gear malfunction |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/10/05/fedex-chattanooga-airport-crash-landing/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
==See also== * [[List of airports in Tennessee]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}}
* {{official website}} * [https://www.sunshineskies.com/chattanooga-airline-history-1.html History of Airline Service at Chattanooga] * [http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/aeronautics/airports/CHATTANOOGA_8.htm Lovell Field] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713085639/http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/aeronautics/airports/CHATTANOOGA_8.htm |date=2013-07-13 }} page at [[Tennessee DOT]] Airport Directory * {{FAA-diagram|00079|Lovell Field}} {{US-airport|CHA}}
{{Airports in Tennessee}}
[[Category:Airports in Tennessee]] [[Category:Economy of Chattanooga, Tennessee]] [[Category:Transportation in Chattanooga, Tennessee]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Chattanooga, Tennessee]] [[Category:Airports established in 1930]] [[Category:1930 establishments in Tennessee]]