Appleton International Airport

In the late 2010s, the airport saw a period of mass growth. In May 2018 a report by Bloomberg News revealed that Appleton International Airport was the fourth fastest growing airport in the US, with a 26.8% increase in passengers compared to two years prior.[7]

This expansion was the result of the introduction of American Airlines and an increase in flights from Air Wisconsin flying under the United Express brand. New routes like Denver and Punta Gorda, an upgrade in the size of aircraft being utilized by airlines and cheaper airfare also contributed towards the large growth.

In 2019, the airport handled just over 762,000 passengers, the most in its history.[2]

Through the years, the airport has been served by North Central Airlines, Air Wisconsin (headquarters), Midwest Express (original headquarters), Republic Airlines (1979–1986), Northwest Airlines, Britt Airways, United Express, Skyway Airlines, Northwest Airlink, Comair, Delta Connection, Chicago Express Airlines, Frontier Express, Allegiant Air, Delta Air Lines, and American Eagle. In addition, for a brief period in the mid-1980s, Pan American provided service under a unique code sharing operation with Republic.

The Outagamie County Board rejected a proposal in 1983 to change the name to "Fox Cities Metro Airport," and three more name change efforts failed between 2003 and 2011.[13]

In February 2014, the county board voted to rename the airport "Appleton International Airport."[14] The new name was officially implemented in 2015 on August 21, during the golden anniversary celebration of the airport.[3]

The airport added a new ground-level seven-gate concourse in 2000 and renovated the existing passenger terminal, which was designed by architect Paul W. Powers. The architectural theme was representative of the river flowing through the historic paper manufacturing region.

The terminal was built in 1974, with expansions in 1983, 1990, and 1998.[16] The terminal underwent its most extensive renovation and expansion to date in 2001. The new 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m²) gate area included more spacious seating areas with natural lighting, in floor heating, new passenger paging system, and five aircraft boarding bridges; a 6th bridge for larger planes was added later.[17] It cost $10.7 million and was designed by Mead & Hunt, Inc.

The airports main entrance at CTH CA features a complete reproduction of the Apollo 11 statue located in the Moon Tree Garden of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. It was donated to the airport in 2020 by local car salesmen giant John Bergstrom.[18]

The terminal has six gates with jet bridges, numbered 3-8. Gates 1 and 2 are rarely used due to their close proximity to the main terminal building and the resulting difficulty maneuvering aircraft in those tight spaces. The layout can best be explained by looking at the terminal map.[19]

The global headquarters of Air Wisconsin is located on the second floor of the terminal.

Car rental center under construction

Since October 2009 the airport has been completing a number of renovation projects under a PFC plan. Parts of the project already completed include rehabilitating runway 12/30 and taxiway B as well as expanding taxiway N and installing runway guard lights throughout the field.[20] In January 2017, a new rental car facility opened across from the terminal building.[21][22][23][20]

In December 2017, the airport started a project to remodel the terminal with the addition of meeting space, a brand new restaurant with airfield views, remodeled/expanded security area, and remodeled check-in area.[23][24]

Furthermore the airport is currently studying the construction of adding additional gates either through expanding the airport's current concourse or building a second concourse.[25][26]

In 2011, the airport was one of ten nationwide airports selected to participate in an FAA airport sustainability project with a goal to make the airport 70% more energy efficient by 2030. In 2017, the airport constructed solar carports (covered parking structure with solar panels on the roof) in the short-term parking lot. Additional solar carports were constructed and completed in October 2019.[27] The solar carports supplement a system of solar panels installed on the roof of the terminal building which were installed in the early 2010s.[28][29]

The Platinum Flight Center Terminal, which was constructed in 2013, is a LEED-certified facility and features zero VOC finishes, a roof-mounted 26 kW photovoltaic system, a ground source heat pump, in-floor radiant conditioning, and a rainwater collection system.[29] The terminal was the nation’s first airport terminal to achieve a net-zero energy designation, receiving a Class D Net Zero Energy Building rating and is widely considered to be a leader in airport energy sustainability.[30]

ATW holds the Old Glory Honor Flights for the Northeast Wisconsin area. These flights bring veterans from World War II and the Korean war to see their memorials in Washington.[35] The airport has hosted many community events to raise money for these flights, including a plane pull event in September 2017.[36] The flights are flown by Sun Country Airlines.

The airport is often used for visiting teams playing the Green Bay Packers.[37][38]

The airport along with Allegiant Air hosts a bi-annual event called "Wings for Autism". The event allows children on the autism spectrum along with their parents to go through a rehearsal flight in which they practice checking in for their flight, going through airport security, flight boarding, and collecting checked baggage. The event is sponsored by many local organizations and companies.[39][40] It is one of the largest versions of the event held nationally.

Every April the airport celebrates autism awareness month by lighting up the terminal blue.[41]

The airport is home to the Fox Cities Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, which houses a fleet of Cessna 182s at the airport.[42]