McGhee Tyson Airport, Commercial airport in Alcoa, United States
McGhee Tyson Airport sits at 986 feet (300 meters) elevation in Alcoa and features two parallel runways measuring 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) and 9,000 feet (2,743 meters) in length, serving both civilian and military aircraft. The terminal and facilities spread across a large site south of Knoxville, near the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
The airport opened in 1937 after moving from West Knoxville, with American Airlines operating the first flight from the new site on July 29. It served as a military base during World War II and gradually grew into a major regional hub afterward.
The name honors Charles McGhee Tyson, a Navy pilot who died in 1918 and whose family had deep roots in the region. The connection between military tradition and civil aviation still shapes how the place feels today.
Travelers should arrive at least two hours before departure to allow enough time for check-in, baggage drop, and security screening without rushing. Parking areas sit close to the terminal, and signage guides passengers directly to the gates.
Alongside civilian operations, the site permanently hosts the 134th Air Refueling Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard, giving the airport a dual identity. This mix of military and commercial traffic is visible day to day, with different aircraft types sharing the taxiways.
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