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Appleton International Airport
IATA: ATW ICAO: KATW FAA LID: ATW
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner/Operator	Outagamie County & Winnebago County
Serves	Appleton, Wisconsin/Fox Cities
Location	Greenville, Wisconsin
Opened	August 22, 1965; 59 years ago (1965-08-22)
Operating base for	Allegiant Air Air Wisconsin
Time zone	CST (UTC−06:00)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC−05:00)
Elevation AMSL	918 ft / 280 m
Coordinates	44°15′29″N 088°31′09″W / 44.25806°N 88.51917°W / 44.25806; -88.51917
Website	ATWairport.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram
ATWLocation of airport in WisconsinShow map of WisconsinATWATW (the United States)Show map of the United States
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 03/21 8,003 2,439 Concrete 12/30 6,502 1,982 Concrete
Statistics (12 months ending September 2024 )
Passenger volume 1,031,000 Departing passengers 518,000 Scheduled flights 7,301 Cargo (lb.) 14 mil Aircraft operations (2022) 49,384 Based aircraft (2024) 74
Source: Federal Aviation Administration, BTS

Appleton International Airport (IATA: ATW, ICAO: KATW, FAA LID: ATW), formerly Outagamie County Regional Airport, is an airport located in Greenville, Wisconsin, United States, 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) west of Appleton. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2025–2029. Along with Madison’s Dane County Regional Airport, it is one of two airports in the State of Wisconsin categorized as a small hub. The airport covers 1,638 acres (6.63 km) at an elevation of 918 feet (280 m) above sea level.

It is the third busiest of eight commercial airports in Wisconsin in terms of passengers served. In 2016 the airport contributed $676 million to the Northeastern Wisconsin economy. In May 2018, Appleton International Airport was the fourth fastest growing airport in the US. It is the main base of privately owned regional airline Air Wisconsin and was the original home of Midwest Airlines. Midwest Airlines grew out of Kimberly-Clark subsidiary K-C Aviation, which was sold in 1998 to Gulfstream Aerospace, which retains a major facility at the airport, focusing on maintenance, interior completions, and exterior painting for the company's G600, G650, and G700 products.

The airport attracts people heading back and forth between the EAA's AirVenture, Air Academy and other programs in nearby Oshkosh. Starting in 2017, the airport began to offer camping for AirVenture. Appleton International is also used for people heading to events at Lambeau Field in nearby Green Bay, most popularly Green Bay Packers games.

History

The airport opened with the 5,200-foot (1,580 m) runway 12/30 in 1965.

In the 1920s, Appleton's airport was George A. Whiting Field, three miles (5 km) south of town. When Northwest was awarded Contract Airmail Route No. 9 in 1926, Whiting Field became one of the original six airports in the airline's route network. Passenger service on Northwest began in 1928 but was short-lived. By 1936 the municipal airport had opened northeast of town on the south side of US 41, southeast of the intersection (44°17′15″N 88°22′30″W / 44.2874°N 88.3749°W / 44.2874; -88.3749). At its closing, it had a 3,750-foot (1,140 m) paved runway; North Central DC-3s landed there after 1958–59.

Construction of the current facility began in 1963; the field was dedicated on August 22, 1965, along with Air Wisconsin, which started operations out of the airport the next day.

Recent years

Since 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. In January 2017, a new rental car facility opened across from the terminal building.

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.

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.

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. The solar carports supplement a system of solar panels installed on the roof of the terminal building which were installed in the early 2010s.

The Appleton 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. 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.

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

Since the late 2010s, the airport has seen 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. In 2022, the airport handled just under 830,000 passengers, the most in its history. In March 2024, the airport handled 100,800 passengers, its busiest month to date.

On August 10, 2021, Allegiant Air announced that they would base Airbus A320 aircraft at the airport beginning March 2, 2022. They will also open a crew/maintenance base to support these aircraft.

In November 2023, the airport began work on a major multi-phase expansion of the terminal that will nearly double the size of the terminal. The project will add four additional gates designed to handle Embraer E-Jet, Boeing 737, or Airbus A320 family aircraft. The check-in/ticketing hall and passenger loading areas will also be expanded as well as the addition of a new international arrivals building will occur in later phases. The $66 million project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2025.

In August 2024, there were 74 aircraft based at this airport: 50 single-engine, 17 multi-engine and 7 jets.

Facilities

Runways

Appleton International Airport has 2 runways that are perpendicular to one another forming an X shape. All taxiways are equipped with LED taxiway edge lighting and all entrances to runways have runway guard lights.

Terminal

The terminal was built in 1974, with expansions in 1983, 1990, and 1998.

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 underwent its most extensive renovation and expansion to date in 2001. The new 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m) 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. It cost $10.7 million and was designed by Mead & Hunt, Inc.

The airport's 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.

The terminal has eight gates currently in use: seven with jet bridges–which are numbered 3 through 7, 7b, and 8–and one for tarmac entry, numbered 8b. Most of the gates are designed to hold 2 regional jets. Gates 1 and 2 are not frequently used due to their close proximity to the main terminal building and the resulting difficulty maneuvering aircraft in those tight spaces.

In November 2023, the airport began work on a major multi-phase expansion of the terminal that will nearly double the size of the terminal and add four additional gates.

Ground transportation

Appleton International Airport is located 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Interstate 41 and 3 miles (4.8 km) north of US Highway 10.

Valley Transit bus service does not have a stop servicing the airport, but there are stops nearby.

Vehicle for hire companies including Uber, Lyft, and taxicabs are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers on airport property.

Six car rental companies offer service at the airport out of a consolidated rental car facility across from the terminal.

Other

The airport has an FBO, Appleton Flight Center, which offers AvGas and jet fuel, as well as a number of other resources such as a crew car and WiFi.

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. The airport has hosted many community events to raise money for these flights, including a plane pull event in September 2017. The flights are flown by Sun Country Airlines.

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, boarding their flight, and collecting checked baggage. The event is sponsored by many local organizations and companies. It is one of the largest versions of the event held nationally.

Every April, the airport celebrates autism awareness month by lighting the terminal blue.

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.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Destinations map

AppletonAtlantaChicago–O'HareDetroitMinneapolis/Saint PaulLas VegasOrlando/SanfordPhoenix/MesaPhoenix–Sky HarborSt. Petersburg/ClearwaterDenverPunta GordaNashvilleCharlotteSavannahFort LauderdaleSarasotaNewarkPortlandDallas/Fort Worthclass=notpageimage| All passenger destinations from Appleton International Airport (ATW) Red = Year-round destination Green = Seasonal destination Blue = Future destination

Cargo operations

Statistics

Carrier shares

Top destinations

Annual traffic

Appleton Airport passengers served 1999–2023 (hundred thousands)

For the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2022, the airport had 49,384 aircraft operations, an average of 135 per day: 65% general aviation, 20% air taxi, 15% commercial airline and less than 1% military.

Accidents and incidents

• On June 29, 1972, Air Wisconsin Flight 671, a DHC-6 Twin Otter, collided with North Central Airlines Flight 290 over Lake Winnebago while on approach to the airport; both planes crashed into the lake and sank, resulting in 13 fatalities.
• On February 14, 2011, a Gulfstream G550 overran runway 30 at Appleton after the aircraft had reportedly lost its hydraulic system. The aircraft was operating a test flight after a new interior was installed and before being delivered to a new owner. All three people on board survived.
• On December 23, 2016, a chartered Delta Air Lines Airbus A330 (N802NW) carrying an NFL team, the Minnesota Vikings, slid off a taxiway after landing, stranding the team on board for four hours before they were rescued using fire ladders.
• On August 13, 2022, a Delta Air Lines Boeing 717 encountered a bald eagle strike on takeoff from Appleton.

See also

• List of airports in Wisconsin
• Valley Transit

References

1. "Allegiant Announces New Aircraft And Crew Bases In Appleton, Wisconsin and Flint, Michigan". Retrieved August 10, 2021.
2. ^ FAA Airport Form 5010 for ATW PDF, effective August 8, 2024.
3. ^ "Appleton International (ATW) Summary Statistics". Retrieved December 12, 2024.
4. ^ "Outagamie County airport goes international".
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10. ^ "These Are America's Fastest-Growing Airports". Bloomberg.com. May 31, 2018. Archived from the original on May 31, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
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18. ^ "Notice of Passenger Facility Charge - Appleton International Airport (ATW)". Appleton International Airport (ATW). Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
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20. "Appleton International Airport breaks ground on new car rental facility". Associated Press./WLUK. June 22, 2016. Archived from the original on June 23, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016 – via WLUK FOX 11.
21. ^ "Appleton Airport to build new rental car facility". USA Today. June 22, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016 – via Post Crescent.
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31. Voight, Sophia (April 30, 2024). "Appleton International Airport has busiest month ever in March 2024". Post-Crescent Media. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
32. Behnke, Duke; Prinsen, Jake (August 10, 2021). "Allegiant Air will invest $50 million to establish aircraft base at Appleton International Airport". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
33. ^ Kaster, Ashley; Meyer, Brady (November 29, 2023). "Appleton International Airport embarks on $66 million expansion to double its size". Retrieved December 17, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
34. Voight, Sophia (November 29, 2023). "5 changes travelers can expect from the $66M Appleton airport expansion". Retrieved December 17, 2023.
35. "OUTAGAMIE COUNTY CIP 2023-2027". Retrieved December 17, 2023.
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54. "Allegiant announces twelve new routes with one-way fares as low as $49". Cision PR Newswire. November 16, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
55. Bollier, Jeff (February 20, 2023). "Allegiant expands Appleton schedule with flights to Pacific Northwest". Retrieved February 20, 2023.
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69. "Boeing 717-200, N963AT: Incident occurred August 13, 2022, at Appleton International Airport (KATW), Outagamie County, Wisconsin". Kathryn's Report. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
70. Smith, Paul (February 5, 2023). "SOAR volunteers help safely capture and relocate snowy owls and other birds at airports". The Post-Crescent. Gannett. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 5, 2023.

External links

• Official website
• "Appleton International (ATW)" (PDF). from the Wisconsin DOT Airport Directory
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective November 28, 2024
• FAA Terminal Procedures for ATW, effective November 28, 2024
• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KATW
  • ASN accident history for ATW
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KATW
  • FAA current ATW delay information

v t e Civil aviation in Wisconsin
Primary airports	Appleton International Airport Central Wisconsin Airport Chippewa Valley Regional Airport Dane County Regional Airport Green Bay–Austin Straubel International Airport La Crosse Regional Airport Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport Rhinelander–Oneida County Airport
Airlines	Air Wisconsin Midstate Airlines Midwest Airlines Wisconsin Central Airlines
Museums	EAA Aviation Museum Mitchell Gallery of Flight
Aviation related	Champion Aircraft EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Experimental Aircraft Association Milwaukee Air and Water Show Sonex Aircraft Cirrus VK-30
People	Paul Poberezny Tom Poberezny Robert Campbell Reeve Jeffrey Skiles Steve Wittman
Aviation in Wisconsin List of airports in Wisconsin

• Airports in Wisconsin
• Buildings and structures in Outagamie County, Wisconsin
• Transportation in Outagamie County, Wisconsin
• 1965 establishments in Wisconsin