Tucson International

A Legacy of Private Aviation

TUS originated in 1919 as the first municipal airport in the US. Commercial flights began in 1928 through Standard Airlines, which would later become American Airlines. In 1930, regular airmail service began. During WWII, the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces Air Technical Service Command, and the USAAF West Coast Training Center operated a contract flying school. The Tucson Airport Authority was created in 1948 to serve the airport. Then, the airport was moved to its current location and operated on the west ramp out of 3 hangers vacated by WWII manufacturing companies. Furthermore, in 1958 a new air traffic control tower was constructed, replacing the WWII wooden-framed tower. In the late 1950s, TUS was serviced by TWA, American Airlines, and Frontier Airlines. In 1960 the first jets were introduced to TUS in the form of American Airlines Boeing 707s and Boeing 720s. Wide-body aircraft arrived at TUS in 1971 by American Airlines McDonald Douglas DC-10s, and in 1981 Eastern Airlines began servicing TUS with the Airbus A300. In the late 1980s, American Airlines transitioned to Boeing 767-200s for its flights to Dallas/Ft. Worth. In 1961, International Service at TUS began through Aeronavas de Mexico (succeeded in the mid-70s by Aeromexico), and on November 15th, 1963, a new terminal with an international inspection station opened. Then, the airport was named Tucson International Airport. In 1985, the terminal building was remodeled, doubling in size. Furthermore, the concourse was rebuilt into two separate, two-level structures with jet bridges. The primary runway was lengthened in 1987 for noise reduction, and arresting barriers were installed for military aircraft. In 2005 a Concourse Renovation Project was completed, adding 82,000 square feet to the ticketing and baggage claim. On March 19th, 2008, the concourses and gates were renamed, as the former East and West Concourses became known as Concourse A and Concourse B. A new FAA air traffic control tower was built on the south side of the airport after the Tucson Airport Authority board approved a no-cost, 20-year property lease with the FAA in January 2014. Furthermore, on April 6th, 2016, the Tucson Airport Authority announced the Terminal Optimization Program, which would include, among other things, the relocation and improved capacity of security screening checkpoints, the enhancement of concession revenue opportunities, an upgrade of building systems, and more. The program was completed in November 2017.