Memphis International Airport

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Wikipedia

Memphis International Airport - Frederick W. Smith International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic / military
Owner/OperatorMemphis–Shelby County Airport Authority
ServesMemphis metropolitan area
LocationShelby County, Tennessee, U.S.
Opened1929; 96 years ago (1929)
Hub for
Elevation AMSL341 ft / 104 m
Coordinates35°02′33″N 089°58′36″W / 35.04250°N 89.97667°W / 35.04250; -89.97667
Websiteflymemphis.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
Interactive map of Memphis International Airport - Frederick W. Smith International Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18C/36C 11,120 3,389 Concrete
18L/36R 9,000 2,743 Concrete
18R/36L 9,320 2,841 Concrete
9/27 8,946 2,727 Concrete
Statistics (2024)
Passengers4,878,919
Aircraft operations202,697
Cargo8,278,089,669 lbs.
Sources: Memphis International Airport[1]

Memphis International Airport (IATA: MEM, ICAO: KMEM, FAA LID: MEM) is a civil-military airport located 7 mi (11 km) southeast of downtown Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States. It is the primary international airport serving Memphis. It covers 3,900 acres (1,600 ha) and has four runways.[2][3]

It is home to the FedEx Express global hub, often referred to as the FedEx Superhub or simply the Superhub,[4] which processes many of the company's packages.[5] Nonstop FedEx destinations from Memphis include cities across the continental United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America.

From 1993 to 2009, Memphis International was the world’s busiest airport for cargo operations. It dropped to second place in 2010, just behind Hong Kong. It still remained the busiest cargo airport in the United States and the Western Hemisphere. It briefly rose to first place once again in 2020, due to the surge in e-commerce partly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but dropped back to second place in 2021.[6]

The airport averages over 80 passenger flights per day.[7] The 164th Airlift Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard is based at the co-located Memphis Air National Guard Base, operating C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft.[8]

History

Memphis mayor Watkins Overton put together a commission in 1927 to establish a municipal airport. It was built on a 200-acre (81 ha) plot of farmland seven miles (11 km) from downtown Memphis and opened on June 14, 1929.[9] The two-day dedication ceremony featured aerial stunts and the arrival of over 200 aircraft.[10][11] In its early years the airport had three hangars and a sod runway.[10] In 1930, runway lights were installed after an aircraft landed in the Mississippi River because it could not find the airport at night. Robertson Aircraft Corporation, which would merge into American Airlines, was the first major airline to fly to Memphis, with routes to New Orleans and St. Louis. In June 1931, American Airlines commenced the first airmail service from Memphis. Chicago and Southern Air Lines was headquartered in the city from 1934 to 1936 and from 1940 to 1953, when it was acquired by Delta Air Lines. During the 1930s, Memphis figured on American's east–west route between New York and Los Angeles and on Chicago and Southern's north–south route linking Chicago to New Orleans.[12] In 1938, the Works Progress Administration helped construct a new terminal building.[10][9] It had three stories and an Art Deco design.[13]

After the United States entered World War II, the city government leased the airfield to the War Department in July 1942.[14] That December the headquarters of the 4th Ferrying Group of the Army Air Forces Air Transport Command shifted to the airport.[15] The group was tasked with sending new aircraft overseas; pilots departed Memphis for South America and then flew over the South Atlantic Ocean to Africa.[16] Personnel such as mechanics and engineers underwent training at the base and then traveled overseas.[17] Chicago and Southern's repair facilities at the airport were used to repair military planes. Commercial air service continued, though it was limited.[18] The ferrying group's postwar activities included moving planes off deactivated bases.[17] For a period in 1946, Memphis served as headquarters for the Continental Division of the Air Transport Command, which oversaw the 4th Ferrying Group and ran scheduled flights for military personnel throughout the country.[16][19] The ferrying group ceased operations in March 1947.[20] City officials reached an agreement with the federal government in January 1949 to regain control of the airfield.[14]

Five trunk carriers flew to Memphis as of 1947, and two years later, a regional airline named Southern Airways launched operations with multi-stop service to Atlanta.[18] The airport opened the first air-cargo terminal in the country in February 1958.[21] The following year, passenger counts crossed one million.[10] In August 1960, the city received its first scheduled jet flight; Delta Air Lines started using Convair 880s on its Chicago–Memphis–New Orleans route.[21][22] The United States Supreme Court in Turner v. City of Memphis ordered the desegregation of the airport in 1962. Jesse Turner, an African-American banker and civil rights activist, had filed the case after he was denied service in the main dining room of the restaurant.[23]

In June 1963, a new terminal built for the jet age was dedicated, and the airport was rechristened Memphis Metropolitan Airport.[9][10] United Nations ambassador Adlai Stevenson II spoke at the inauguration ceremony and replaced the ribbon cutting with a rocket launch.[10] The terminal was designed by the local firm Mann & Harrover and became Roy Harrover's most famous work.[24][25] It was one of the first airport terminals to have a two-level design where passengers boarded aircraft via jet bridges on the upper level and collected their luggage on the lower level. Another unique aspect of the structure was its columns resembling martini glasses.[24] It opened to passengers in July and was part of an expansion project that also included a control tower and a north–south runway.[26][27] In 1969, the Memphis–Shelby County Airport Authority was formed, and the facility changed its name to Memphis International Airport after being designated a customs port of origin.[28] Expansion continued in the 1970s with the construction of east and west subterminals, another north–south runway, and a parking garage.[29][30] The central concourse was extended as well.[31]

Hub status

Air-cargo company Federal Express moved its base to Memphis from Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1973.[32] Memphis was selected because of its temperate climate and location in the middle of the country.[33] The decision was credited with enabling the city to go from a river port of decreasing economic relevance to an important global distribution center.[32] To accommodate the company's rapid growth and larger aircraft, a "superhub" facility opened in 1981, featuring new methods of handling freight containers and high-speed conveyor belts operated by a computer system.[33][34] Memphis became the busiest airport by cargo traffic worldwide in 1992.[9] By 2000, the hub processed over one million packages per night, and FedEx ran 150 daily flights from Memphis.[32]

Southern Airways developed a busy operation in Memphis. In 1979, the carrier merged with North Central Airlines to form Republic Airlines, which expanded the Memphis operation into a hub in 1985.[35] Republic began the first international flight from Memphis to Puerto Vallarta in December 1985.[36][37] The following year, the company merged into Northwest Airlines, which maintained the hub.[9] Northwest lost money in Memphis and nearly closed the hub in 1993. The airline then worked on its local reputation and on-time record, and passenger counts began to rise.[38]

KLM, a partner of Northwest, launched the airport's first transatlantic passenger flight to Amsterdam in June 1995. To commemorate the occasion, the airline named the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 operating the inaugural flight Elvis 1 and gave each passenger gifts, among them a small bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey.[39] In preparation for the flight, the airport had constructed a new customs facility.[40] A third parallel runway opened in 1997.[41] Three years later, the middle runway was rebuilt and lengthened to 11,120 feet (3,390 m).[41][42] Dubbed the World Runway, it enabled KLM to take off from Memphis with a full cabin in hot conditions and FedEx to carry more cargo.[42]

Memphis was the smallest of Northwest Airlines' three domestic hubs.[43] In 1997, the company acquired Express Airlines I, a regional carrier that operated under the Northwest Airlink brand, and shifted its headquarters to Memphis. In 1999, Northwest allocated most of its initial order of 50-seat Bombardier CRJs to Express.[44] The airline and airport authority then commenced work on an improvement program, which added 15 gates for the regional jets to Concourse A.[43][45] Other upgrades included a post-security corridor linking Concourses B and C, a new lounge, and faster ticket counters.[46][45] The airport served 11.8 million travelers in 2000. As of 2001, Northwest operated 260 daily flights from Memphis.[42] The airline replaced KLM on the Amsterdam route two years later.[47] It provided international service to Canada, Jamaica, Mexico, and the Netherlands as of 2004.[48]

Northwest was acquired by Delta Air Lines (which operates a large hub in Atlanta) in 2008. Delta maintained Memphis as a hub, flying as many as 200 flights per day in 2009.[49] However, the carrier discontinued the Amsterdam link in September 2012 due to high fuel prices, diminished passenger numbers, and economic challenges.[50][51] Delta continued to scale back its operations at Memphis before closing the hub in 2013.[49] Passenger traffic at the airport declined for the next several years until it bottomed out at 3.5 million in 2015.

2010s onwards

In 2014, the Memphis–Shelby County Airport Authority announced a planned $114 million renovation of the airport. This renovation included demolishing the largely vacant south ends of Concourses A and C, mothballing the remaining portions and widening and modernizing the larger Concourse B. The renovation, which was expected to start in late 2015 and end around 2020, would have left the airport with about 60 gates.[52]

The initial project was only partly completed, with the south end of Concourse A demolished. Memphis officials decided to rethink the plans; several aspects of the project changed. The plan had called for renovating and widening Concourse B, the updated plan included a full redesign of most of the concourse. Concourse B was closed during construction, and airlines and tenants moved to Concourses A and C during that time. The southwest leg of Concourse B will be updated in a future phase, and will only be utilized in the near term for passengers from inbound international flights.[53] The modernization began in September 2018 and was completed in February 2022.[54]

In November 2022, Memphis opened its new $309 million consolidated de-icing facility located at the southern edge of the airport. It has capacity for 12 wide-body planes and included the construction of two new taxiway bridges and a control tower.[55]

In 2023, the south end of Concourse C was demolished.[citation needed]

In October 2022, the Airport Authority revealed their revised master plan, including expansion of the landside portion of the terminal, expanding space for parking and car rentals, and runway expansions.[56] Terminal construction will begin in summer of 2024.[57]

Following the death of Fred W. Smith, founder of FedEx, on June 21, 2025, the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority proposed to rename the airport "Frederick W. Smith International Airport" due to his vast contributions to the city of Memphis and the airport in particular. As of June 23, 2025, it is not clear when the renaming would take effect.[58]

Facilities

Terminal

Memphis International Airport has one terminal with 23 common use gates and 2 international gates.[59] The terminal previously had three concourses (A, B, C) with over 60 gates.[60] Concourse A will be demolished in 2025 to make room for a new administrative and baggage inspection building.[61] Concourse C is currently closed to public. All international flights that aren't precleared at the departure airport are processed on the southwestern leg of Concourse B.[62]

Ground transportation

Memphis International Airport's passenger terminal can be accessed from Interstate 240 via Plough Blvd and Jim McGehee Pkwy. It can also be accessed via Winchester Rd.

The airport is served by the Memphis Area Transit Authority route 28 bus, which offers service to Hudson Transit Center in downtown Memphis, as well as Airways Transit Center.[63][64]

The Ground Transportation Center, completed in March 2013, contains the airport's economy parking and parking for all car rental companies. It is seven stories tall and features 4,500 economy parking spaces and 1,200 rental car spaces.[65]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Allegiant Air Fort Lauderdale, Knoxville,[66] Las Vegas, Orlando/Sanford, St. Petersburg/Clearwater
Seasonal: Destin/Fort Walton Beach[67] 		[68]
American Airlines Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Phoenix–Sky Harbor
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare[69] 		[70]
American Eagle Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York–LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Washington–National[71] [70]
Breeze Airways Pensacola,[72] Raleigh/Durham,[73] Tampa[73] [74]
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City [75]
Delta Connection Austin,[76] Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–LaGuardia
Seasonal: New York–JFK[77] 		[75]
Frontier Airlines Atlanta,[78] Denver, Las Vegas (begins March 8, 2026)[79]
Seasonal: Phoenix-Sky Harbor (begins March 15, 2026)[79]		 [80]
Southern Airways Express Harrison/Branson, Hot Springs [81]
Southwest Airlines Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Dallas–Love, Denver, Houston–Hobby, Las Vegas, Nashville, Orlando, Phoenix–Sky Harbor
Seasonal: Tampa		 [82]
Spirit Airlines Detroit,[83] Fort Lauderdale,[84] Las Vegas, Orlando [85]
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental
 [86]
United Express Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark
 [86]
Viva Seasonal: Cancún[87] [88]

Cargo

AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Amerijet International Seasonal: Miami, San Juan
Atlas Air Miami
DHL Aviation Cincinnati, Nashville, New Orleans [89]
FedEx Express Aguadilla, Albany (NY), Albuquerque, Allentown, Anchorage, Appleton, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Billings, Birmingham (AL), Bloomington, Bogotá, Boise, Boston, Buffalo, Burbank, Burlington, Calgary, Campinas, Casper, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Charleston (SC), Charlotte, Chattanooga, Chicago–O'Hare, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Cologne/Bonn, Colorado Springs, Columbia (SC), Columbus–Rickenbacker, Dallas/Fort Worth, Dayton, Denver, Des Moines, Detroit, Dover, Dubai–International, Dublin, Edmonton, El Paso, Fargo, Flint, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Fort Wayne, Fort Worth/Alliance, Frankfurt, Fresno, Grand Junction, Grand Rapids, Great Falls, Greensboro (NC), Greenville/Spartanburg, Guadalajara, Harlingen, Harrisburg, Hartford, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Houston–Intercontinental, Huntington (WV), Indianapolis, Jacksonville (FL), Kansas City, Knoxville, Lafayette, Laredo, Las Vegas, Liège, London–Stansted, Los Angeles, Louisville, Lubbock, Madison, Manchester (NH), Mexico City–AIFA, Miami, Milan–Malpensa, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Mobile–International, Monterrey, Montréal–Mirabel, Nashville, New Orleans, New York–JFK, Newark, Newburgh, Norfolk, Oakland, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Ontario, Orange County, Orlando, Osaka–Kansai, Ottawa, Panama City–Tocumen, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Peoria, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Pittsburgh, Portland (ME), Portland (OR), Providence, Querétaro, Quito, Raleigh/Durham, Reno/Tahoe, Richmond, Roanoke, Rochester (MN), Rochester (NY), Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), San José (CR), San Juan, Santo Domingo-Las Américas, Savannah, Seattle/Tacoma, Seoul–Incheon, Shanghai–Pudong, Shreveport, Sioux Falls, South Bend, Spokane, Springfield/Branson, St. Louis, Syracuse, Tallahassee, Tampa, Tijuana, Tokyo–Narita, Toluca/Mexico City, Toronto–Pearson, Tucson, Tulsa, Vancouver, Washington–Dulles, West Palm Beach, Wichita, Winnipeg [90][91]
FedEx Feeder Atlanta, Birmingham (AL), Charleston (SC), Charleston (WV), Columbus (GA), Dothan, Evansville, Huntsville, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Monroe, Shreveport, Tallahassee, Thief River Falls, Tulsa
Kalitta Charters Cincinnati
UPS Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Jackson (MS), Little Rock, Louisville, Miami, Ontario, Roanoke [92]

Statistics

Passenger traffic

PassengersYear3,400,0003,600,0003,800,0004,000,0004,200,0004,400,0004,600,0004,800,000201720182019202020212022PassengersAnnual passenger traffic

Annual traffic and cargo

MEM Airport annual traffic and cargo data, 2006–present[93]
Year Passengers Total cargo (lbs.) Year Passengers Total cargo (lbs.)
200611,149,7758,141,305,18120164,001,0179,530,165,389
200711,258,6828,468,558,79020174,196,2599,562,537,748
200810,925,6228,148,705,31920184,419,5419,856,782,840
200910,229,6278,152,267,35220194,644,4909,531,640,512
201010,003,1868,636,848,39920202,029,83610,172,615,629
20118,737,6418,635,964,03820213,590,6389,879,426,206
20126,753,1868,855,559,12820224,355,2068,908,773,342
20134,598,1869,124,147,58620234,796,7178,558,070,310
20143,597,6019,390,059,99720244,878,9198,278,089,669
20153,758,4509,460,855,7652025

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from MEM (January 2024 – December 2024)[94]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Georgia (U.S. state) Atlanta, Georgia 466,000 Delta, Southwest
2 Texas Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas 274,000 American, Spirit
3 North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina 228,000 American
4 Colorado Denver, Colorado 149,000 Frontier, Southwest, United
5 Illinois Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 133,000 American, United
6 Texas Houston–Intercontinental, Texas 114,000 United
7 Florida Orlando, Florida 103,000 Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
8 New York (state) New York–LaGuardia, New York 88,000 American, Delta
8 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada 88,000 Allegiant, Southwest, Spirit
10 Texas Houston–Hobby, Texas 82,000 Southwest

Airline market share

Largest airlines at MEM
(December 2023 – November 2024)[94]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 Delta Air Lines 1,135,000 23.39%
2 American Airlines 1,075,000 22.14%
3 Southwest Airlines 837,000 17.23%
4 Republic Airways 343,000 7.07%
5 United Airlines 323,000 6.65%
6 Other 1,142,000 23.53%

Accidents and incidents

  • On August 12, 1944, a USAAF Douglas C-47 caught fire after takeoff after one of the propeller blades cut through the fuselage, causing a fire on the runway. All except the captain got out safely.[95]
  • On December 17, 1944, a USAAF Douglas C-47 drifted to the right after takeoff, stalled and hit a brick storehouse. Three out of the six on board died.[96]
  • On January 13, 1963, a Delta Air Lines Douglas DC-7 struck a USAF Fairchild C-123 Provider taxiing at night. The pilot of the DC-7 was killed, and the Provider was destroyed after catching fire.[97][98]
  • On May 18, 1978, a Dassault Falcon 20 C operated by Flight Safety International collided with a Cessna 150 3.8 miles west of MEM, all four occupants on the Falcon and two aboard the Cessna died as both aircraft crashed.[99]
  • On August 11, 1984, Douglas C-47 N70003 of Aviation Enterprises crashed shortly after takeoff from Memphis International Airport on a domestic nonscheduled passenger flight to O'Hare International Airport, Chicago. All three people on board died.[100] A missing spark plug on the port engine caused a loss of power. Maintenance involving the removal of the spark plugs had been performed the previous day.[101]
  • On October 8, 1987, a Volpar Turboliner II operated by Connie Kalitta Services crashed while attempting to return to MEM due to an attached tail stand. The aircraft was overweight and the cg (Center of Gravity) was three inches forward of the limit. The sole occupant died.[102]
  • On April 7, 1994, Federal Express Flight 705 bound for San Jose, California, experienced an attempted hijacking shortly after takeoff. FedEx employee Auburn Calloway tried to hijack the plane in order to crash it into the FedEx hub at Memphis International, in a Kamikaze-style attack. The crew—although seriously injured—fought him off and returned to Memphis, where police and emergency crews subdued him.
  • On October 15, 2002, a Northwest Airlines Avro RJ 85 collided with the jetway at gate C2 while taxiing for a maintenance check. The mechanics were unable to slow the aircraft down in time. Due to their error, the aircraft suffered minor damage, but the number one engine was ripped almost entirely off, and the jetway. The aircraft was eventually torn apart and set in a field near the airport.[103]
  • On December 18, 2003, FedEx Express Flight 647 veered off the runway after the landing gear collapsed upon landing. The flight had departed Oakland International Airport (OAK) earlier that day. The aircraft was immediately engulfed in flames. All five crew members escaped by exiting via the cockpit window.
  • On July 28, 2006, FedEx Flight 630's landing gear collapsed upon landing at Memphis International Airport after a flight from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. After coming to a stop, the plane caught fire, engulfing the left wing and engine. While the three crew members sustained injuries, they all survived. The aircraft was written off.

References

Citations
  1. ↑ "Memphis International Airport 2024 Statistics" (PDF). flymemphis.com. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  2. ↑ FAA Airport Form 5010 for MEM PDF, effective August 7, 2025.
  3. ↑ "MEM airport data at skyvector.com". skyvector.com. FAA data effective August 7, 2025.
  4. ↑ "U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu Visits FedEx Memphis Superhub". FedEx Newsroom. January 29, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Memphis - Land Use - Global Airport Cities". www.globalairportcities.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Global Airport Cities 2013 – Welcome". Globalairportcities.com. August 11, 2013. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  7. ↑ "MEM March passengers drive 9.1% traffic increase". Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  8. ↑ "164th Airlift Wing > Home". www.164aw.ang.af.mil.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Our history". Memphis International Airport. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Magness, Perre (July 26, 1990). "Airport plays role in local growth". The Commercial Appeal. p. CE2.
  11. ↑ "Nation's birdmen assemble to help Memphis dedicate airport". The Commercial Appeal. June 15, 1929. p. 13.
  12. ↑ Wells 1981, pp. 21–22
  13. ↑ Ortlepp 2017, pp. 20–21
  14. 1 2 Gray, Robert (January 27, 1949). "Memphis will profit by about $2,135,000 in return of airport". The Commercial Appeal. pp. 1, 2.
  15. ↑ Carruth, John (December 18, 1942). "Out of the veil of secrecy emerges new air headquarters at airport". The Commercial Appeal. p. 17.
  16. 1 2 Talley, Robert (July 28, 1946). "America's largest airline, with headquarters here, proves to be 'big business'". The Commercial Appeal. p. 10 (Section IV).
  17. 1 2 "Ferrying group here to continue service". The Commercial Appeal. January 13, 1946. p. 9 (Section I).
  18. 1 2 Wells 1981, p. 22
  19. ↑ Gray, Robert (December 30, 1946). "Air transport looks back on biggest year". The Commercial Appeal. p. 5.
  20. ↑ "Airport here placed on the surplus list". The Commercial Appeal. June 7, 1947. p. 2.
  21. 1 2 Wells 1981, p. 23
  22. ↑ "Service born as jet zooms into Memphis". The Commercial Appeal. August 2, 1960. p. 1.
  23. ↑ Ortlepp 2017, pp. 81–86
  24. 1 2 Finger, Michael (March 9, 2011). "Modern Man". Memphis Magazine. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Progress report" (PDF). Progressive Architecture. Reinhold Publishing Corporation: 44. June 1973. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Jet-age airport opens to traffic". The Commercial Appeal. July 29, 1963. pp. 1, 15.
  27. ↑ "April ceremony will mark opening of metro airport". The Commercial Appeal. January 6, 1963. p. 15.
  28. ↑ "Increased activity ahead for city's airport". The Commercial Appeal. January 11, 1970. p. 21.
  29. ↑ Hancock, Orville (January 15, 1975). "Airport to have new look this spring". The Memphis Press-Scimitar. p. 15 (Business and Industrial section).
  30. ↑ Hancock, Orville (February 7, 1977). "Airport outlines major projects". The Memphis Press-Scimitar. p. 8.
  31. ↑ Riker, Jefferson (January 7, 1973). "Aviation growth soars in '72". The Commercial Appeal. p. 10-A.
  32. 1 2 3 Hirschman, Dave (January 1, 2000). "Arrival of FedEx transformed city into distribution powerhouse". The Commercial Appeal. p. H2.
  33. 1 2 Garland, Max (June 27, 2021). "FedEx at 50". The Commercial Appeal. pp. 1A, 4A, 5A.
  34. ↑ "FedEx history". FedEx. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  35. ↑ Risher, Wayne (June 5, 2013). "Delta cutting 30 more Memphis flights, eliminating hub status". The Commercial Appeal. ProQuest 1364671398.
  36. ↑ "International status in offing". The Commercial Appeal. September 12, 1985. p. B6.
  37. ↑ "Mexican coastal resort beckons weekend Republic travelers". The Commercial Appeal. December 17, 1985. p. B2.
  38. ↑ Kennedy, Tony (February 8, 2000). "Airline to expand Memphis service". Star Tribune. ProQuest 427233076.
  39. ↑ Kelley, Michael; Campbell, Laurel (June 28, 1995). "City celebrates Dutch connection". The Commercial Appeal. pp. A1, A10.
  40. ↑ "Memphis-Amsterdam air route opens". The Daily News-Journal. Murfreesboro, TN. Associated Press. June 28, 1995. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  41. 1 2 Hirschman, Dave (June 27, 1997). "Airport's expansion on runway". The Commercial Appeal. p. B4.
  42. 1 2 3 Schwartz, Adele C. (September 2001). "Happy times in Memphis". Air Transport World. 38 (9): 87–88. ProQuest 224294778.
  43. 1 2 Kennedy, Tony (May 8, 1999). "Northwest Airlines invests $74 million in regional jet service for its Memphis hub". Star Tribune. ProQuest 427134168.
  44. ↑ "Northwest Air Unit To Operate New Jets From Canadair Deal". The Wall Street Journal. May 10, 1999. ProQuest 398713602.
  45. 1 2 Conner, Charles (September 28, 1999). "Airport, NWA outline $400 million upgrade". The Commercial Appeal. pp. B5, B6.
  46. ↑ Thompson, Richard (January 9, 2000). "It's an expansion year for airport". The Commercial Appeal. ProQuest 393855912.
  47. ↑ Roberts, Jane (May 1, 2003). "Northwest/KLM will fly larger jets to Amsterdam". The Commercial Appeal. ProQuest 394015266.
  48. ↑ Roberts, Jane (January 23, 2004). "Northwest adds 15 nonstop flights from Memphis". The Commercial Appeal. ProQuest 394063964.
  49. 1 2 Mutzabaugh, Ben. "Delta to pull plug on Memphis hub after Labor Day". USA Today. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  50. ↑ "Delta's 4Q2012 international route cuts free up significant widebody capacity". CAPA - Centre for Aviation. June 28, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  51. ↑ Ashby, Andy (October 30, 2012). "Delta Air Lines scratches Amsterdam from Memphis". Memphis Business Journal. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  52. ↑ Phillips, Bianca (February 20, 2014). "Memphis International Airport To Downsize Concourses". Memphis Flyer. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  53. ↑ "Modernization Images". Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority. Archived from the original on June 26, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  54. ↑ Chaney, Kim (February 15, 2022). "Renovated B Concourse opens at Memphis International Airport". www.localmemphis.com. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  55. ↑ Gallant, Jacob (November 29, 2022). "New $300M de-icing facility unveiled at MEM". Action News 5. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  56. ↑ Schienberg, Niki (October 27, 2022). "What could be in store for Memphis International Airport? More parking, a hotel and more". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  57. ↑ Roberts, Jane (March 28, 2024). "Airport in for a whole lotta shaking in $665 million terminal upgrade". Daily Memphian. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  58. ↑ Roberts, Jane (June 22, 2025). "Memphis airport could soon bear FedEx founder's name". Daily Memphian. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  59. ↑ "Terminal Map - Memphis International Airport". Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  60. ↑ "Memphis International Airport through the years". The Commercial Appeal. April 20, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  61. ↑ Baker, Julia (January 17, 2025). "Here's what will replace the Memphis airport concourse". Daily Memphian. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  62. ↑ "MEM Airport Terminal Map". Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  63. ↑ "Ground Transportation". flymemphis.com. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  64. ↑ "Route 28 Schedule" (PDF). matatransit.com. February 9, 2025. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  65. ↑ Ashby, Andy (March 4, 2013). "Rental cars move into Memphis airport's new ground transport center". www.bizjournals.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  66. ↑ "Allegiant Announces Five New Routes with One-Way Fares as Low as $39*". Street Insider. May 21, 2025.
  67. ↑ "Memphis nonstop routes". March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  68. ↑ "Allegiant Interactive Route Map". allegiantair.com. Allegiant Travel Company. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  69. ↑ "American A319 2H25 Network Additions – 15JUN25". Aeroroutes.com. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
  70. 1 2 "Flight schedules and notifications". Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  71. ↑ "Memphis nonstop routes". March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  72. ↑ "Breeze Airways Expands Across the United States with New Routes to Fort Lauderdale, Salisbury, Akron-Canton, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Key West, Pensacola, and More Starting This Fall". Travel and Tour World. May 7, 2025. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  73. 1 2 Davis, Corey. "Breeze Airways is coming to Memphis airport. Flights to 3 destinations to start this spring". Commercial Appeal. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  74. ↑ "Breeze Cities". Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  75. 1 2 "Route Map". Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  76. ↑ "Delta Air Lines to launch five more new nonstop routes from Austin in 2025". KXAN. September 30, 2024.
  77. ↑ "Delta to launch new NYC flight at Memphis airport in September, pause it in early 2026". Commercial Appeal. July 16, 2025. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  78. ↑ "Frontier Airlines NW25 Further Network Expansion". Aeroroutes. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  79. 1 2 "2 new nonstop flights coming to MEM". Action News 5. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  80. ↑ "Frontier". Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  81. ↑ "Routes - Southern Airways Express". iflysouthern.com. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  82. ↑ "Southwest nonstop routes". March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  83. ↑ "Spirit Airlines Expands with 20+ New Routes". Aviation A2Z. March 7, 2025. Archived from the original on March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  84. ↑ "Spirit Airlines NW24 Domestic Network Additions". Aeroroutes. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  85. ↑ "Spirit Airlines Route Map". Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  86. 1 2 "Timetable". Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  87. ↑ "Viva Aerobus Adds Its 16th and 17th US Destinations: Columbus and Memphis". Bulkhead Seat. November 27, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  88. ↑ "Aeropuertos internacionales". Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  89. ↑ "Destinations Served". DHL Aviation Cargo. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  90. ↑ Risher, Wayne. "FedEx announces $1 billion expansion of Memphis hub". Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  91. ↑ Nichols, Meagan. "New FedEx route connects China to Memphis". Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  92. ↑ "UPS Air Cargo: Airports". Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  93. ↑ "Memphis Int'l Airport Annual Statistics 2006-Present". flymemphis.com. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  94. 1 2 "Memphis International Airport (MEM)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  95. ↑ Accident description for 43-15598 at the Aviation Safety Network
  96. ↑ Accident description for 43-1976 at the Aviation Safety Network
  97. ↑ Accident description for N4875C at the Aviation Safety Network
  98. ↑ Accident description for Fairchild C-123B at the Aviation Safety Network
  99. ↑ Accident description for N121GW at the Aviation Safety Network
  100. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  101. ↑ "NTSB Identification: ATL84FA251". National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  102. ↑ Accident description for N9231 at the Aviation Safety Network
  103. ↑ "Accident description for N528XJ at Aviation Safety Network". aviationsafetynetwork.org. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
Sources
  • Ortlepp, Anke (2017). Jim Crow Terminals: The Desegregation of American Airports. The University of Georgia Press. ISBN 9780820351216.
  • Wells, Donald R. (January 1981). "A history of air transportation in Memphis". Mid-South Business Journal. I (1). ISSN 0279-8174.

Further reading

External images
image icon Aircraft photos from Memphis International (MEM) at airliners.net
image icon FedEx Jets @ MEM Photo