Burlington International Airport

In 2020, under the leadership of Director of Aviation Gene Richards, and in partnership with Erin Desautels, Burlington International Airport celebrated it's 100th Anniversary with a BTV history documentary, booklet, and exhibit installation.

Burlington Municipal Airport c.1940s

On Saturday, August 14, 1920, the first aircraft landed at what became the Burlington Municipal Airport.[6] The pilot was Captain Hubert Stanford Broad, who served in the Air Forces of Great Britain during World War I.[7] He circled the city of Burlington, did a few stunts for awaiting spectators, and landed his Avro plane in the new field east of Williston Road.[8] This marked Burlington Airport’s first fly-in.[9]

Like many Vermont stories, BTV’s starts on the farm. Imagine three well-dressed men standing in a cornfield near Williston Road debating whether the field could be cleared and leveled to make an adequate landing strip. Not long after the Wright Brothers took to the air in a powered flying machine, these three visionaries—WWI pilot and future Mayor of Burlington, Johnny Burns, Aviation Commissioner Mason Beebe and Chamber of Commerce secretary James Taylor—ended the debate, raised funds to purchase the land and transformed the field into a landing strip. It was 1920 and the Burlington Airport was officially on the map.[10]

Enthusiasm for an airport in Burlington went beyond these three men. Barnstorming pilots—stunt performers essentially—frequently appeared in the skies over Burlington, thrilling the crowds below.[11]

Things were pretty rudimentary in the early years of the airport. The air strip was leveled using a horse-drawn grader and steamroller owned by the City of Burlington. The airport office was configured in the 1853 Eldridge Schoolhouse, which was relocated to the airfield by Burlington City crews. Technology was nonexistent.[12] In 1921 there were no instruments or beacons to guide pilots to a safe landing. Instead a circle of crushed limestone showed pilots where to land. [13]

In-flight experience in those days was a far cry from the smooth sailing of today. Early planes didn’t fly at particularly high altitudes. Flights were turbulent, noisy affairs. None of this stood in the way of progress at BTV. After improvements to the landing field, the Burlington Municipal Airport—Vermont’s Aerodrome—was formally recognized at a dedication ceremony on September 22, 1921 by Governor Hartness, a pilot himself.[14]

Also in 1921, when J. Holmes Jackson was Mayor, the airport came under the management of the City of Burlington.[15]

Seven years later in 1928, after further improvements, Burlington received recognition from the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce of America, and the local Board of Airport Commissioners was formed. Initial steps were taken toward making the airport financially sustainable when the commission established the first set of fees—renting hangar space.[16] By 1930, traveling to Albany or Montreal could be done in record time when Curtiss-Wright Flying introduced service for both passengers and freight.[17]

Burlington Airport attracted aviation record setters. Post and Gatty were the stars of an air meet in Burlington in 1931, and Amelia Earhart visited the airport in 1934 and was presented with the keys to the City.[18]

Grace Hall Pugh was Vermont’s “First Lady of Aviation.” A teacher from Ferrisburgh, Vermont, and the stepdaughter of Arthur Ashley, BTV’s first airport manager, Grace received a learner’s permit to fly in 1932, and became the first licensed female pilot in Vermont in 1938. “When I got my first license, she said, there wasn’t an Aeronautics Board. I got my license from the Motor Vehicle Department.”[19]

During this period Harold Hugh, a skilled pilot, was managing the airport and became the president of the newly formed Vermont Pilot’s Association.[20]

On May 22, 1934, Amelia Earhart was at the airport when she was presented with the keys to the city of Burlington.[21] Renowned for her solo flights across the Atlantic and the continental US, Amelia Earhart’s vision for the future of flying was not one of a courageous and able lone flyer. Instead, her wish was for flight to become a conventional means of travel for everyone. She used her celebrity status to promote this idea during her visit to Burlington in 1934. Arriving at the airport on a Central Vermont/Boston-Maine Airways Stinson Trimotor, a company she helped found and of which she was Vice President, she was greeted by 2,000 people.[22]

And in 1934, hundreds of Civil Works Administration temporary workers helped to prepare the North-South runway and apron for hard surfacing, using equipment from City of Burlington Public Works.[23]

In 1935 Earhart returned to Vermont to speak at the Vermont State House in support of increased aviation in the region. As usual, she captivated the media, lawmakers and citizens with details of her flights.[24]

In 1941, 75 acres of land adjacent to the Burlington Airport were purchased through a City of Burlington bond as part of a major upgrade of Burlington Airport.[25]

With the onset of the Second World War, the United States government created a Defense Zone extending inland 150 miles (240 km) from the coastline, where private aircraft were restricted from operating. Burlington Municipal Airport was located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) outside of the Defense Zone, allowing it to conduct pilot training both locally and from other airports located within the restricted zone, one such example being Boston's Logan Airport. Due to increased demand, the Burlington Municipal Airport was noted as being the busiest airport in the world on both August 14, 1942 and February 11, 1943, with 662 and 793 landings respectively.[21]

During the Defense Zone period flight training at the airport, led by Harold High, numbered over 100 pilots. And the Airport was averaging 4 to 6 landings an hour for every 24 hour period.[26]

In 1948, then airport manager, Hugh Finnegan, saw what was happening in aviation, and was quoted in the Burlington Free Press saying, “This is the age of expansion of the airlines industry.” It was his intention that BTV would not be left behind.[27] Finnegan saw the airport through tremendous expansion. By the time of his unexpected death in 1958, BTV consisted of 942 acres (up from 72 in 1920), boasted a new terminal and modern control tower, improved runways, and thoroughly accommodated the swelling ranks and infrastructure needs of the Vermont National Guard.[28]

Presidential Candidate John F. Kennedy visited the Burlington Airport November 7, 1960. The next day he will win the presidency.[29]

In 1964, then Michigan Representative, Gerald Ford, joined a celebration at BTV to commemorate Mohawk’s new jet service at the airport. Folks could now fly from BTV to JFK in a mere 42 minutes. A few years later, EXPO ’67, Montreal’s World’s Fair, gave rise to another Mohawk jet route: direct service between BTV and Montreal. By the end of the ‘60s, BTV was serving about 100,000 passengers annually. In 1969, Burlington Municipal Airport was renamed Burlington International Airport, underscoring BTV’s growth.[30]

On February 24, 1969, the Board of Aldermen voted to change the airport's title from "municipal" to "international" as a means of re-branding the airport and steering it away from the perceptions of it being a small, community-based facility.[21]

In 1970, Mohawk Airlines introduced the first jet service to the airport.[21]

With all the recent and anticipated growth, it was clear a new round of changes were needed at BTV.[31] On May 11, 1971, Burlington voters approved a $1.25 million bond for a new 40,000-sq/ft terminal. This terminal opened on October 7, 1973.[32]

Walt Houghton, Burlington’s Airport manager from 1983-1986 was Walt Houghton, was a pilot who commuted from Shelburne, Vermont in his 1941 N3N Biplane, “Yellow Bird.”[33]

The 1980's saw further expansion. People Express, the first no-frills airline, started service at Burlington in 1982.[34] With the Airport's combined 400,000 passengers, the airport was indeed bustling. In addition to the parking challenge, the terminal was crowded, the restaurant full, and office space for airport workers at a premium. This surge in business prompted yet another expansion of the airport. In October 1984 Houghton and the Airport Commission shared plans for major development. The terminal would go from 40,000 to 61,000 square feet, providing additional space for a single departure lounge, expanded baggage claim area and more concession stands. New enclosed walkways for boarding were a welcome relief for passengers, especially in winter. Additional space to accommodate future airlines was included in the plan, as well. In 1986, funded primarily by the FAA, crews broke ground on the project.[35]

Just before the new millennium, BTV experienced the sting of competition. The carrier, Southwest Airlines, began flying out of Manchester, New Hampshire, with low fares that prompted travelers to drive south to save money. Knowing the only way to stem the loss of passengers was to provide better service at competitive prices, the BTV team, headed by Airport Manager, JJ Hamilton, began negotiations with the brand new, low cost carrier, jetBlue. The deal was successful.[36]

In November of 2001, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) imposed heightened security procedures at all airports. Before 9/11, security at BTV was a minor part of the annual budget and operations. In fact, the airport’s security needs were handled by a small team of Burlington City police officers. Today, at BTV and all US airports, security is managed by TSA, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security, and is a major focus.[37]

From 2000 to 2008, the airport experienced an increase in growth and service. Since 2000, $24 million in renovations and expansion has been invested at Burlington. In 2008, the airport authority completed a $15 million expansion project which added five gates – four with boarding bridges – and customer service areas, in addition to a 948-space parking garage and an elevated connected walkway.

The airport set a local record in July 2008 when 759,154 passengers flew from Burlington, the first time the figure has crossed 700,000.[38]

BTV enplaned over 759,000 people in 2008, a 7.3% increase from 2007.[39] However, FAA Data from 2015 show a decrease to 581,143 total enplaned, a significant decrease given stronger regional competition due to the increasing popularity of the recently constructed and renovated Plattsburgh International Airport in Plattsburgh, NY.

Burlington International Airport serves its metropolitan area, which contained over 219,433 residents as of 2019 U.S. Census estimates. Due to the relatively small size of the market, airlines mostly fly regional airliners on their Burlington routes. Among these are Bombardier CRJ-200, CRJ-700, and CRJ-900 and Embraer ERJ-145 and ERJ-175 regional jets operated by most of the major carriers. JetBlue, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines notably fly some of the only daily flights using mainline aircraft. Currently the largest scheduled passenger planes to fly out of Burlington are Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 flown by United Airlines, Boeing 717s flown by Delta Air Lines, and Embraer E-190s flown year-round by JetBlue. Denver, Colorado is the farthest destination served by any airline out of BTV.

In 2008, Big Sky Airlines stopped flying the Boston route. Management has been searching for a replacement for this important route, Cape Air has shown considerable interest in establishing this route using their Cessna 402s, currently the closest Boston-served destination by Cape Air to Burlington is the city of Rutland.

On February 3, 2010, it was announced that AirTran Airways would not be returning to Burlington. Service started in early 2009 on Boeing 717 aircraft operating 55-minute flights from Baltimore, but after six months AirTran changed BTV to seasonal service, operating during the summer months. AirTran planned on resuming service in the spring of 2010, but for unspecified reasons, they did not. AirTran service lasted for eight months in 2009.[40] Allegiant Air ended service from BTV in March 2017.[41]

In 2010, a city-owned cable provider was unable to pay the city of Burlington $17 million it owed. As a result, Moody's downrated the debt for the city. Moody's also downrated the credit rating for the airport, as well.[42] Although voters approved a $21.5 million bond for airport expansion, this downgrade made borrowing the money too expensive. The airport therefore borrowed $7.5 million from the city for a $14.5 million garage expansion. In June 2011, the city asked for the money back.[43]

The airport was in the process of expanding the parking garage by adding two more levels on the north end. This would have given it a total of 2,700 parking spaces. This project was later completed in early 2012. The airport finished renovating the upper concourses bathrooms in late 2013.

When airport manager, Gene Richards, accepted his appointment by Mayor Miro Weinberger in 2012, he was determined to bring an even stronger “sense of place” to the airport. Dining at the airport is a local experience with specialty food and craft beer, wine and spirits. In fact, the three gift shops at BTV agree to carry local products as 50% of their inventory making it easy for travelers to bring a little of Vermont home. The airport has used natural resources such as marble and granite, and maple for interior decoration, intended to give the airport a "Vermont Feel". History and culture abound at BTV. A reconstructed, Burgess-Wright biplane circa 1912 hangs from the ceiling in the main concourse. The mezzanine level includes an exhibit highlighting Native American Abenaki culture. Installations throughout the airport feature Vermont artists.[44]

In 2012, the US Department of Transportation reported passenger enplanements nationwide of 730 million, up from 641 million in 2002. At BTV, the end of the first decade of the new century saw 15 different commercial carriers, 3 cargo/freight carriers, and Vermont Air National Guard's F-16’s flying in and out of the airport. Approximately 1.5 million people—passengers, meeters and greeters—passed through the terminal annually.[45]

As the largest transportation hub in Vermont, BTV serves people from remote corners of the state and Canada. To better accommodate all travelers, BTV realized the need for an on-site hotel. Construction has begun on the hotel property. The future is electric. BTV is more than ready. In a collaboration with the City of Burlington and Burlington Electric Department, BTV installed a 2000-panel solar array on the rooftop of the airport’s northern garage, and partnered with TESLA to bring twelve electric charging stations to the airport in 2019.[46]

In 2020, the airport had fifteen gates serving five airlines.

Electric aircraft? Definitely. BTV hosts Beta Technologies and applauds their innovation.[47]

BIA main entrance sign

A general aviation ramp at BTV with the passenger terminal and tower in background

Burlington International Airport covers an area of 942 acres (381 ha) at an elevation of 335 feet (102 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways: 15/33 is 8,319 by 150 feet (2,536 × 46 m) with an asphalt and concrete surface; 1/19 is 4,112 by 75 feet (1,253 × 23 m) with an asphalt surface.[1]

There is one fixed-base operator at the airport, providing services such as de-icing, hangars and customs service for international traffic.[48]

As a Burlington-owned facility, the airport purchases electricity from the city-owned utility.

In 2009, the Airport Authority sought $45 million for an expansion. If approved by Burlington city voters; it would provide 1,400 additional parking space to add onto the current 3-story, 2,100 spaces garage. It would hold 3,500 cars within 5 stories, with a completion date of late 2010 or early 2011. It was later completed in late 2011 though the airport had to remove half of the proposed parking spaces, leaving the parking lot looking like a backwards L if you look at it from the terminal.[49]

Daily aircraft operations average 193 per day: 57% general aviation, 20% air taxi, 17% scheduled commercial, and 6% military. At this time there are 94 aircraft based at Burlington International.[50]

Military facilities

The ANG ramp, now supporting the Green Mountain Boys squadron

The airport hosts two military installations. The first is Burlington Air National Guard Base and the 158th Fighter Wing (158 FW) based there, an Air Combat Command (ACC)-gained unit of the Vermont Air National Guard, flying the F-35 since August 2019. The 158 FW consists of approximately 1,000 Air National Guard personnel, both full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) and Air Reserve Technician (ART) personnel and traditional part-time Air National Guardsmen.

The second installation is an Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) of the Vermont Army National Guard where the 1st Battalion, 103d Aviation Regiment and the 86th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) is based.

The airport is the muster point for the Air Wing of the Vermont State Guard.

Burlington International Airport is one hour's drive to the Canada–United States border. About 40% of the airport's passengers come from Canada's second most populous province of Quebec.[51]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Burlington International Airport (Burlington, Vermont).

• Burlington International Airport (BTV)
• Aerial image as of 25 April 1999 from USGS The National Map
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective January 28, 2021
• FAA Terminal Procedures for BTV, effective January 28, 2021

• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KBTV
  • ASN accident history for BTV
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KBTV
  • FAA current BTV delay information