Detroit Metropolitan Airport Explained

Image2-Width:250
Iata:DTW
Icao:KDTW
Faa:DTW
Wmo:72537
Type:Public
Owner-Oper:Wayne County Airport Authority
Location:Romulus, Michigan, U.S.
Elevation-F:645
Elevation-M:197
Coordinates:42.2125°N -83.3533°W
Image Mapsize:180
Image Map Caption:FAA diagram
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Zoom:9
Mapframe-Wikidata:yes
R1-Number:4R/22L
R1-Length-F:12,003
R1-Length-M:3,659
R1-Surface:Concrete
R2-Number:4L/22R
R2-Length-F:10,000
R2-Length-M:3,048
R2-Surface:Asphalt/concrete
R3-Number:3R/21L
R3-Length-F:10,001
R3-Length-M:3,048
R3-Surface:Concrete
R4-Number:3L/21R
R4-Length-F:8,500
R4-Length-M:2,591
R4-Surface:Asphalt/concrete
R5-Number:9L/27R
R5-Length-F:8,708
R5-Length-M:2,654
R5-Surface:Asphalt/concrete
R6-Number:9R/27L
R6-Length-F:8,500
R6-Length-M:2,591
R6-Surface:Concrete
Stat-Year:2023
Stat1-Header:Total passengers
Stat1-Data:31,453,486
Stat2-Header:Cargo volume (lbs.)
Stat2-Data:347,738,137
Stat3-Header:Aircraft operations
Stat3-Data:290,238
Footnotes:Source: Detroit Metropolitan Airport[1]

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is the primary international airport serving Detroit and its surrounding metropolitan area in Michigan, United States. It is located in the City of Romulus and is Michigan's busiest airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 categorized it as a large hub primary commercial service facility.[2] The airport covers 4850acres.[3]

The airport is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and is also a base for Spirit Airlines.[4] [5] Detroit serves as Delta's main gateway to Asia for the Eastern United States. The airport has service to 30 international destinations and service to 39 states across the United States. Operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority, the airport has six runways, two terminals, and 129 in-service gates.[6] Detroit Metropolitan Airport has maintenance facilities capable of servicing and repairing aircraft as large as the Boeing 747-400.[7]

Metro Airport serves the Metropolitan Detroit area; the Toledo, Ohio, area about 40miles south; the Ann Arbor area to the west; Windsor, Ontario; and Southwestern Ontario in Canada.[8] The airport serves over 140 destinations[6] and was named the best large U.S. airport in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power & Associates in 2010, 2019, and 2022.[9] [10] [11]

History

Wayne County began to plan an airport in the western townships of the county as early as 1927. The following year, the county board of commissioners issued a $2 million bond to fund the purchase of 1sqmi of land at the corner of Middlebelt and Wick roads, the northeastern boundary of today's airport. Construction was completed in 1929, and the first landing was on February 22, 1930; Wayne County Airport was dedicated on September 4, 1930.[12] That year, Thompson Aeronautical Corporation, a forerunner of American Airlines, began service from the airport. From 1931 until 1945, the airport hosted Michigan Air National Guard operations gained by the United States Army Air Forces. It was named Romulus Field during the war; it was then all east of Merriman Road and north of Goddard Road. The intersection of the two runways is still visible at 42.2327°N -83.3356°W.

Wayne County expanded the airport to become Detroit's primary airport. It renamed it Detroit-Wayne Major Airport in 1947, and in the next three years expanded threefold as three more runways were built. In 1949 the airport added runways 3L/21R and 9L/27R, followed by runway 4R/22L in 1950. In 1946-47 most airline traffic moved from the cramped Detroit City Airport (now Coleman A. Young International Airport) northeast of downtown Detroit to Willow Run Airport over 20miles west of the city, and 10miles west of Wayne County Airport.

Pan-Am (1954) and BOAC (1956) were the first passenger airlines at Detroit-Wayne Major. In the April 1957 Official Airline Guide they were the only passenger airlines: three Pan Am DC-7Cs each week FRALHRSNN–DTW–ORD and back, and one BOAC DC-7C each week LHR–PIKYUL–DTW–ORD and back (skipping YUL on the return flight).

Aerial photographs of DTW from 1949 and 1956 show the airport's expansion.[13] In 1958 the Civil Aviation Administration—now the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—announced the inclusion of Detroit-Wayne in the first group of American airports to receive new long-range radar equipment, enabling the airport to become the first inland airport in the United States certified for jet airliners. Also, in 1958, airport management completed the Leroy C. Smith (South) Terminal and gave the airport its present name.

American Airlines moved from Willow Run to Detroit-Wayne in October 1958, followed by Northwest, Allegheny, and Delta in the next few months; the other airlines stayed at Willow Run until 1966.

Northwest's flights to Minneapolis were DTW's only nonstops west beyond Chicago and Milwaukee until 1966. The first scheduled jets were Delta DC-8s to Miami in late 1959. The North Terminal (later renamed the James M. Davey Terminal) opened in 1966, which was located on the current site of the Evans Terminal. A third terminal, the Michael Berry International Terminal, opened in 1974. The last of its original three parallel runways (3R/21L) was completed in 1976; a new parallel crosswind runway (9R/27L) opened in 1993.

Republic Airlines began hub operations in 1984,[14] and its merger with Northwest Airlines in 1986 expanded the hub. The Northwest hub operated out of the Davey Terminal throughout the 1980s and 1990s.[15] Transpacific flights began in 1987, with Northwest providing nonstop service to Tokyo–Narita.[16] The last of Metro's six runways (4L/22R) was completed in December 2001 in preparation for the opening of the mile-long, 122-gate, $1.2 billion McNamara Terminal in the airport midfield in 2002.[17] The airport remained a hub for Northwest Airlines until it merged with Delta Air Lines.[18]

The present Runway 3L/21R has had four identifiers. When it opened in 1949, it was Runway 3/21. With the opening of the new west side Runway 3L/21R in 1950, the original 3/21 became 3R/21L. With the opening of the new east side Runway 3R/21L in 1976, it became 3C/21C. With the opening of Runway 4L/22R in December 2001 and the splitting of the field into two sectors (3/21 on the east and 4/22 on the west), Runway 3C/21C became Runway 3L/21R.

In 2009, Detroit Metro Airport launched its first social media efforts with participation in Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube networks.

Detroit was a major hub for Northwest Airlines from 1986 to 2010; Northwest merged with Delta Air Lines, and Detroit became Delta's second-largest hub.

In April 2011 Lufthansa launched a unique curbside check-in and baggage check service for premium customers from DTW's North Terminal to Frankfurt and beyond. Lufthansa became the only airline allowing international customers departing from DTW to check their bags and receive a boarding pass at the curb, while DTW became Lufthansa's first North American gateway with this service.[19]

Detroit's economy plunged in the Great Recession, causing airlines such as British Airways to drop flights to London–Heathrow and other airlines such as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Virgin Atlantic to use codeshare flights through Delta Air Lines. The city has lost population, but Detroit Metropolitan Airport has since re-grown, and airlines are looking to expand or resume service. JetBlue Airways began flights to Boston in February 2014. Spirit Airlines has grown at DTW, adding service to more East and West Coast cities. Spirit has increased its market share to over 10%, widening the gap as Metro Airport's second largest carrier.[20]

Royal Jordanian was the first airline to schedule the Boeing 787 Dreamliner into Detroit, on December 1, 2014.[21]

One of Delta Connection carriers, Compass Airlines chose to close its operating base in Detroit to move operations to the new Seattle hub in early 2015. Delta has replaced many of the existing Compass flights with mainline Delta flights to allow SkyWest Airlines and GoJet to open Detroit bases.[22]

Beginning in January 2018 Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation, or SMART Bus, began providing a direct connection from the airport to the Rosa Parks Transit Center in downtown Detroit via route 261, also known as the Michigan Ave FAST bus, with stations at both the McNamara and Evans terminals.[23]

On June 26, 2015, Spirit Airlines announced the construction of a new maintenance facility, saying it would bring $31.5 million and 82 jobs to the area. Spirit previously had a hangar that closed, forcing the airline to do maintenance at the gate with contract workers. With the new facility, which opened in May 2017, Spirit will retain its operating base at Metro Airport and bring more flights.[24] Spirit was also the first airline to regularly fly the A320neo in the US, the first route was Detroit to Los Angeles as well as add self-tagging luggage kiosks at DTW.

In 2017, WOW Air announced service to Reykjavík on the Airbus A321. This marked the first ever entrance of a modern European low-cost carrier to DTW. In the summer of 2018, Reykjavík went from the 55th most traveled destination to the fifth due to this flight's popularity. Passengers could connect onwards in Reykjavík, boosting travel to European destinations. In March 2019, the airline ceased operations, leaving Metro Airport with no low-cost nonstop to Europe; the airport looked for replacement service to begin in 2020, but due to the COVID pandemic, that effort ceased until 2022, when Icelandair and Delta announced seasonal flights to Reykjavík starting in 2023.[25]

In October 2021, Turkish Airlines announced the intent to serve Detroit. Service began on November 13, 2023.[26]

Facilities

DTW has 2 passenger terminals and 4 concourses with a total of 147 gates.

Edward H. McNamara Terminal

The McNamara Terminal, also once known as the Northwest WorldGateway, opened February 24, 2002. Designed by SmithGroup and built by Hunt Construction Group, it replaced the aged Davey Terminal. During development, the terminal was known as the Midfield Terminal.[17] The terminal is used exclusively by Delta (which merged with Northwest) and Delta partners Aeromexico and Air France. This terminal has three concourses, A, B, and C, which house 121 gates with shopping and dining in the center of A concourse (known as the Central Link), as well as throughout the concourses. It houses five Delta Sky Clubs located throughout Concourse A, and 1 located in Concourses B and C.[27] At nearly 1miles in length, Concourse A in McNamara Terminal is the second-longest airport concourse in the world (the longest is in Terminal 1 of Kansai International Airport in Japan).[28] [29] In addition to moving walkways spaced along the length of each concourse, Concourse A has a people mover, the ExpressTram. It transports passengers between each end of Concourse A in just over three minutes. Trams arrive almost simultaneously at the Terminal Station, in the midpoint of the concourse and depart in opposite directions to the North Station and the South Station, then return.[30] The McNamara Terminal opened a new baggage sorting facility in October 2008, which has improved the screening of baggage through 14 new explosive detection system devices along a fully automated conveyor system. Northwest Airlines said that it reduced the amount of lost baggage, and it improved the timeliness of bags getting to their correct flight.[31] [32]

An AAA Four Star Westin hotel is connected to the A concourse. Additionally, overnight guests at the hotel who are not flying can obtain a pass to enter the concourses to visit shops and restaurants. Called the Airport Access Authorization to Commercial Establishments Beyond the Screen Checkpoint (AAACE), registered guests must be cleared through the same security background check (Secure Flight) and TSA screening process as travelers to access the terminal area. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the only other airport participating in this program.[33]

The A concourse houses 78 gates with 12 gates used for international departures and arrivals processing.[30] The A concourse is intended for all aircraft. At the midpoint of the concourse is a large, laminar flow water feature designed by WET.[34] The concourse contains over 1.5miles of moving walkways. The A concourse also includes a pet relief area for passengers traveling with pets and service animals. Signage through the terminal is in English, along with Japanese, due to a large number of business travelers from Japan. Izumi Suzuki, a Sheraton employee, and several colleagues provided the Japanese translations used by the airport. In previous eras many Japanese travelers going through Detroit missed connections due to a lack of English comprehension.[35] Also, messages reminding travelers to configure watches to the Eastern Time Zone regularly broadcast through the public address system are said in English, Japanese, and Mandarin.

In addition to the ticketing level, there's an additional ticketing and security area for passengers using the parking structures.

The terminal houses ten international gates that are capable of dual jet bridge loading and unloading. The gates contain two exit configurations depending on the arriving flight. Domestic arrivals follow an upper path directly into the terminal, while international arrivals proceed downstairs to customs and immigration screening. The Customs and Border Protection processing center located in the terminal's lower level is designed to accommodate as many as 3,200 passengers per hour. International arriving passengers connecting to another flight are screened by TSA at a dedicated screening checkpoint within the international arrivals facility. Those passengers then exit directly back into the center of the A concourse.[36] Passengers arriving from international destinations who end their trip in Detroit (or connecting to a flight via Evans Terminal) exit directly into a dedicated International Arrivals Hall on the lower level of the terminal.

The B and C concourses currently have 41 gates that are used for Delta's regional flights that employ smaller aircraft. All regional flights have jet bridges, eliminating the need for outdoor boarding.

The B and C concourses are connected to the main terminal building and the A concourse by a pedestrian walkway under the airport ramp. This walkway, known as the Light Tunnel, features an elaborate multi-colored light show behind sculpted glass panels extending the entire length of the walkway, as well as several moving walkways. The light patterns are synchronized with an original musical score composed by Victor Alexeeff,[37] which runs for nearly 30 minutes before repeating. This installation, one of the first large-scale uses of color-changing LED lighting in the United States, was produced by Mills James Productions with glasswork by Foxfire Glass Works of Pontiac, Michigan.[38] The display won multiple lighting design awards, including the prestigious Guth Award of Merit. For passengers prone to medical conditions such as seizures, buttons at each end of the tunnel will suspend the light show for five minutes so they can pass through with no adverse effects.

The terminal has undergone updates that include new electronic terminal directories to assist passengers better. A unique feature of this is that passengers can scan their boarding passes, and the screen will direct them to the gate from which their plane departs. The passenger can also choose to view the information in other languages. Passengers may select a restaurant on the touch screen, and a menu will show what items the restaurant serves. Mini tablet devices and phone/tablet apps have been installed in food court areas, where travelers may order food and have it delivered to their table.[39]

There are five Delta Sky Clubs located in the McNamara terminal. The largest is located above the central link across from gate A38. Next to that, across from gate A43, houses a smaller Sky Club. There are two satellite Sky Clubs in Concourse A located on the upper level near gates A18 and A68, across from their respective ExpressTram stations. An additional Sky Club is located in Concourse C, at gate level near the entrance to Concourse C. This lounge services Delta Connection flights in concourses B & C.[40]

Warren Cleage Evans Terminal

The Evans Terminal, formerly known as the North Terminal, was designed by Gensler and built by Walbridge/Barton Malow Joint Venture,[41] opened September 17, 2008, as the replacement for the aged Berry and Smith terminals, which housed all non-SkyTeam airlines. It used to be known as the North Terminal until it was renamed in 2022.[42] Initially, Wayne County Airport Authority sought bids for the naming rights of the North Terminal. After two years with no successful offers, however, the effort ceased and the North Terminal name remained.[43] The terminal currently houses all non-SkyTeam airlines serving the airport and is considered D Concourse. (Concourses A, B, and C are housed in the McNamara Terminal) The concourse has 29 gates, two of which opened in the middle of 2009 to accommodate international wide-body aircraft, and three of which were added to the north end of the concourse in 2022. The two gates were unusable at the building's opening because they were extremely close to Smith Terminal's C concourse, which was demolished after operations moved to the new facility. The terminal features four long segments of moving walkways on the departures level and another moving walkway on the lower level, for international arriving passengers to access the Federal Inspection Services area.

Airlines that utilize the North Terminal include Air Canada, Alaska, American, American Eagle, Frontier, Icelandair, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Royal Jordanian, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country, Turkish, United, United Express, and all non-SkyTeam and non-Delta partner charters.

The Evans Terminal houses two six-lane security checkpoints. The terminal also has U.S. Customs & Border Protection inspection facilities located on the lower level for arriving international flights.[44]

This terminal includes a brand new service pet relief area to accommodate passengers traveling with pets.

The Evans Terminal has five common-use domestic baggage carousels on the lower level. Two additional carousels are located inside the Federal Inspection Services area for international flights, and a central Oversize Baggage Claim is adjacent to both the international and domestic carousel areas.

On January 29, 2010, the Evans Terminal was named winner of the "Build Michigan" award project.[45]

The Evans Terminal is home to a Lufthansa Business and Senator Lounge located between Gates D7 and D8. This lounge is accessible to passengers flying in Lufthansa premium cabins as well as select Lufthansa and Star Alliance elite members. This lounge also grants access to Priority Pass members outside of peak hours.[46]

Historical terminals

Michael Berry Terminal

The Berry Terminal, named for a former airport commissioner, was designed by Detroit architect Louis G. Redstone, and opened in 1974 as the international terminal at DTW. It was decommissioned on September 17, 2008, and replaced by the Evans Terminal; however, the airport authority voted May 20, 2009, to renovate the terminal to house its offices.[47] All international passengers would arrive at this terminal, pass through customs and immigration inspection, and continue on to their connecting flights by bus to adjacent terminals.

Originally containing six gates (two of which were removed in 2003 to allow for construction of an adjacent Northwest Airlines maintenance hangar), the terminal was later used for scheduled and charter flights. There were still several international scheduled flights on low cost carriers to destinations in the Caribbean and other warm-weathered places in the early 2000s (decade), including flights from Champion Air, Ryan International Airlines, and USA3000 Airlines. Four charter airlines also used this terminal.

Since its closure in 2008, the Berry Terminal has become a popular space for commercial film and television production. Films such as Up in the Air (2009), Machine Gun Preacher (2011), and This Must Be the Place have used the now-vacant terminal as a set (in addition to shooting in and around the airport's active terminals).

L. C. Smith Terminal

The Smith Terminal, named for Detroit-Wayne Major airport visionary Leroy C. Smith, was built in 1958. Though cited as the oldest of Metro Airport's terminals, that designation belongs to the Executive Terminal building located near Middlebelt Road and Lucas Drive, one-quarter-mile east. The Executive Terminal was built in the late 1920s and is still in operation today as home to ASIG, a flight support company.

The Smith Terminal's thirty-two gates originally housed Northwest Orient Airlines, Allegheny Airlines (forerunner to US Airways), Eastern Airlines, and Pan-Am, among others. A control tower was included in the construction, and served its purpose until the late 1980s, when a new control tower was built near the site of the new McNamara Terminal.

In later years, Smith Terminal hosted North American airlines other than Northwest, Continental, and later Delta, which relocated to the McNamara Terminal in 2002 before its merger with Northwest.

State of the art for its time, the Smith Terminal eventually became victim to airline expansion. The design of the building did not allow for physical expansion of the ticketing area. To accommodate additional airlines, ticketing counters were constructed on the sides of the lobby in areas that previously held lounges and retail.[48] In contrast, the North Terminal was constructed with future expansion in mind.

Spirit Airlines, which operated out of many of the gates once used by Northwest, made few upgrades to the gate areas in those parts of the terminal. The Northwest Airlines display boards near check-in counters at each gate remained in place, with the Northwest logos removed, and a Spirit information board simply affixed over the old signage.

On September 10, 2008, The Detroit News reported that Smith Terminal itself will not be demolished due to the airport authority offices remaining on the upper floors. However, the Detroit Free Press of October 9, 2008, stated that maintaining the terminal in its present condition would cost upwards of $4 million annually in utilities, a sore spot for airlines at DTW who foot the bill, in part, through airport landing fees; the airlines were hoping for a greater cost savings once the Smith and Berry Terminals were decommissioned.[49] On May 20, 2009, the airport authority formally voted to totally vacate the Smith Terminal, while retaining and renovating the Berry Terminal for its offices.[47]

Discussions were also raised regarding proposed construction of a new structure to house the Airport Authority offices and Airport Police, with a preliminary price tag of $31.5 million.

James M. Davey Terminal

The Davey Terminal was built in 1966 and was first known as "Terminal 2" or the "North Terminal". Designed by the firm of Smith, Hinchman and Grylls, it was said to be the largest post tensioned building in the world. Tapering cruciform columns around the perimeter and curved beams supported five large concrete roof panels. The lack of columns allowed maximum flexibility in the interior space. The spaces between the roof panels and exterior columns were filled with glass to allow abundant natural light into the building.[50] It was renamed the "J. M. Davey Terminal" in 1975 in honor of former airport manager James M. Davey. It originally contained three concourses labeled C to E, as well as a Host Hotel which later was rebranded Marriott.[17] In the early 1980s, a separate ticketing area was constructed to the north of the Davey Terminal, along with Concourses F and G to eventually accommodate Northwest Airlines' regional jet fleet.

Over time, the terminal and added concourse began showing its age due to its layout and poor maintenance, hastened further by increased aircraft traffic, which it was not designed to handle efficiently. Despite this, more gates were added to Concourse C in a short-term expansion project in the early 1990s, making it 26 gates in length. This concourse was considered the worst by most travelers due to its long distance from the center of the terminal, and for its length.

The Davey Terminal was originally the principal base of operations for Republic Airlines, which merged with Northwest Orient Airlines to become Northwest Airlines in 1986. Upon relocation of Northwest operations to the McNamara Terminal, the Davey Terminal was mothballed for three years before demolition of the ticketing area and Concourse G began October 17, 2005, to prepare for the North Terminal project. All concourses of the Davey Terminal and adjoining Marriott hotel, except gates 1 to 11 of Concourse C, were subsequently demolished in 2005–06 (the remaining gates were in use by Spirit Airlines until the new North Terminal (now Evans Terminal) opened on September 17, 2008).[17]

Ground transportation

The airport is accessible from I-94 via Merriman Road (exit 198), which is the nearest entrance to the Evans Terminal, and from I-275 via Eureka Road (exit 15), which is closer to the McNamara Terminal. Both entrances and the terminals are connected by John D. Dingell Drive, an expressway completed in 1999 and named after the longtime Congressman.[51] Cell phone lots are located near both entrances.[52]

Free shuttle buses are available between the two terminals, and also connect to the Green parking lots. Rental car companies provide their own shuttles, as do private offsite parking lots and most hotels in the airport's vicinity.

Public transit

Metro Airport is accessible by public transit, served by the RTA's Detroit Air Xpress (DAX), an express bus to downtown Detroit; and SMART's FAST Michigan, a limited-stop bus route connecting the airport to Detroit and Dearborn, with connections to the region's wider transit network.[53] [54]

Two local bus routes, operated by SMART, also serve the airport: route 125, to communities in the Downriver region of southern Wayne County, serving both terminals; and route 280, to downtown Romulus and other suburbs in western Wayne County, serving only the Evans Terminal.[55]

Transit to Ann Arbor, Brighton, and East Lansing is available with the Michigan Flyer, an intercity bus operated by Indian Trails in partnership with TheRide.[56] Service to destinations in southern Ontario, Canada, including Windsor and London, is offered by Robert Q Airbus, a private operator.[57]

Transit buses board from the Ground Transportation Center at the Evans Terminal, and from the departures drop-off area at McNamara.[58]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from DTW (February 2023 – January 2024)[59]
RankCityPassengersCarriers
1Atlanta, Georgia875,000Delta, Frontier, Spirit
2Orlando, Florida712,000Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
3New York-LaGuardia, New York507,000American, Delta, Spirit
4Las Vegas, Nevada503,000Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
5Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas458,000American, Delta, Spirit
6Denver, Colorado448,000Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United
7Los Angeles, California446,000Delta, Spirit
8Tampa, Florida390,000Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
9Ft. Lauderdale, Florida390,000Delta, Spirit
10Phoenix, Arizona387,000American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
Busiest international routes from DTW (October 2021 – September 2022)[60]
RankAirportPassengersCarriers
1Amsterdam, Netherlands347,856Delta
2Paris–Charles de Gaulle, France314,063Air France, Delta
3Cancún, Mexico306,594Delta, Frontier, Spirit
4Toronto–Pearson, Canada153,619Air Canada, Delta
5Frankfurt, Germany145,448Delta, Lufthansa
6Seoul–Incheon, South Korea130,620Delta
7Montréal-Trudeau, Canada128,873Air Canada, Delta
8London–Heathrow, United Kingdom115,796Delta
9Mexico City–Benito Juárez, Mexico72,619Delta
10Munich, Germany50,340Delta

Airline market share

Top airlines at DTW
(May 2022 – April 2023)[61]
RankAirlinePassengersMarket Share
114,871,000 57.13%
22,900,000 11.14%
3SkyWest Airlines2,335,000 8.97%
41,729,000 6.64%
5American Airlines1,051,000 4.04%
6Others3,144,000 12.08%

Annual traffic

Year!scope="col"
PassengersYearPassengersYearPassengers
199528,298,215200536,383,514201533,440,112
199627,408,666200635,972,673201634,401,254
199730,732,871200736,013,478201734,701,497
199830,803,158200835,135,828201835,236,676
199933,967,819200931,357,388201936,769,279
200035,535,080201032,377,064202014,105,007
200132,631,463201132,406,159202123,610,765
200232,477,694201232,242,473202228,160,572
200332,738,900201332,389,544202331,453,486
200435,229,705201432,513,555

Accidents and incidents

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Airport Statistics 2023. Wayne County Airport Authority. 2023. February 9, 2024.
  2. effective March 21, 2024.
  3. Web site: DTW airport data at skyvector.com . August 23, 2022 . skyvector.com.
  4. Web site: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Delta News Hub. January 13, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160107201617/http://news.delta.com/detroit-metropolitan-wayne-county-airport. January 7, 2016. live.
  5. Web site: Annual Report for the period ending 12/31/11. Spirit Airlines. February 23, 2012. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131002113457/http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ABEA-5PAQQ9/2263488451x0xS1498710-12-8/1498710/filing.pdf. October 2, 2013. dead.
  6. Web site: Press Room: Facts. Wayne County Airport Authority. January 10, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130120085438/http://www.metroairport.com/about/facts.asp. January 20, 2013. mdy-all.
  7. Web site: Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Twin Bay Boeing 747 Hangar. Walbridge Construction. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130713083908/http://www.walbridge.com/projects/detroit-metropolitan-airport-twin-bay-boeing-747-hangar. July 13, 2013. live.
  8. Web site: Travel Tips & Security Information: FAQ-Directions. Wayne County Airport Authority. January 10, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090224061017/http://www.metroairport.com/information/faq.asp#directions. February 24, 2009. mdy-all.
  9. News: Detroit Tops Airport Satisfaction Study. Agnes. Pawlowski. CNN. February 24, 2010. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203050922/http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/02/24/airport.satisfaction.study/index.html. February 3, 2014. live.
  10. Web site: Abdel-Baqui . Omar . DTW ranked No. 1 for customer satisfaction in survey . Detroit Free Press . September 25, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190925181351/https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2019/09/25/dtw-detroit-metropolitan-wayne-county-airport-customer-satisfaction/2438946001/ . September 25, 2019 . live .
  11. Web site: DTW named best airport in North America for customer satisfaction . September 20, 2023 .
  12. News: Meyer. Zlati. This week in Michigan history: Detroit's airport is dedicated. September 3, 2014. Detroit Free Press. August 31, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140902102209/http://www.freep.com/article/20140831/NEWS06/308310045/michigan-history-detroit-airport-dedication. September 2, 2014. live.
  13. Web site: Detroit-area aerial pics. Wayne State University. September 14, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20150214163925/http://claslinux.clas.wayne.edu/photos/ap_index.htm. February 14, 2015. live.
  14. News: Republic will make Metro its major hub . Christoff . Chris . Detroit Free Press. October 18, 1984. A-3. newspapers.com . April 22, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180423033732/https://www.newspapers.com/image/99140047/. April 23, 2018. live.
  15. Web site: DTW WORLDGATEWAY 20TH ANNIVERSARY . Northwest Airlines History . April 10, 2022 . April 13, 2022.
  16. News: Airline offers link to flight to Tokyo. Battle Creek Enquirer. April 11, 1987. 6B. newspapers.com. April 22, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180423033951/https://www.newspapers.com/image/206106104/. April 23, 2018. live.
  17. Web site: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport Chronological History. Wayne County Airport Authority. January 10, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090204183543/http://metroairport.com/about/history.asp. February 4, 2009. mdy-all.
  18. News: Northwest Airlines Artifacts Soar in Value. Ellen. Creager. USA Today. May 16, 2011. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20121029230355/http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2011/05/Northwest-Airlines-artifacts-soar-in-value/47213888/1. October 29, 2012. live.
  19. Lufthansa Launches Curbside Check-In Service at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Wayne County Airport Authority. January 10, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120722183324/http://www.metroairport.com/uploads/docs/NR_LH_Curbside_Launch.pdf. July 22, 2012. mdy-all.
  20. Web site: Detroit Metro Airport sees most passengers in decade . April 3, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190403154505/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2019/02/05/detroit-metro-airport-sees-most-passengers-decade/2780738002/ . April 3, 2019 . live.
  21. News: Cardenas. Edward. Metro Airport Welcomes Its First Boeing 787 Flight. May 13, 2015. WWJ-TV News. December 1, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518085434/http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2014/12/01/metro-airport-welcomes-its-first-boeing-787-flight-video/. May 18, 2015. live.
  22. Web site: Delta feeder airline shuttering Detroit crew base . Lauren . Abdel-Razzaq . . April 3, 2015 . July 3, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160207065956/http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2015/04/03/compass-airlines-detroit-crew/25242429/ . February 7, 2016 . live.
  23. Web site: SMART Unveils New Service! . Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation . December 27, 2018 . January 4, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180203041842/https://www.smartbus.org/About/News/ArtMID/707/ArticleID/271/SMART-Unveils-New-Service . February 3, 2018 . dead.
  24. News: Reindl. JC. Detroit Metro Airport to get new hangar, 80 jobs. June 27, 2015. Detroit Free Press. June 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150630091013/http://www.freep.com/story/money/2015/06/26/spirit-airlines-new-detroit-metroro-hangar/29331767/. June 30, 2015. live.
  25. Web site: Icelandic budget airline WOW Air ceases operations, grounding flights in Detroit . March 28, 2019 . April 3, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190403154507/https://www.crainsdetroit.com/transportation/icelandic-budget-airline-wow-air-ceases-operations-grounding-flights-detroit . April 3, 2019 . live.
  26. Web site: Turkish Airlines Broadens U.S. Presence with Launch of 13th U.S. Gateway in Detroit . November 13, 2023 . August 9, 2024 . live.
  27. Web site: Detroit . June 23, 2022 . www.delta.com . en.
  28. Web site: Keraghosian. Greg. January 21, 2016. Airports You'll Enjoy Being Stranded at During Winter Storm Jonas. Yahoo!. October 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181011034339/https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/airports-youll-enjoy-being-stuck-in-during-the-012236080.html. October 11, 2018.
  29. Web site: May 31, 2018. Osaka Kansai International Airport. Skyscanner. October 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181011031434/https://www.skyscanner.com.hk/hk/en-gb/hkd/airports/kix/osaka-kansai-international-airport.html. October 11, 2018.
  30. Web site: McNamara Terminal Map. Wayne County Airport Authority. January 10, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090227160326/http://metroairport.com/pdf/maps/mcnamara_gates_map.pdf. February 27, 2009. mdy-all.
  31. Detroit (DTW) McNamara Terminal Northwest World Gateway Baggage Handling System. BNP Associates. January 10, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130315142337/http://www.bnpassociates.com/pdf/baggage_security/detroit_dtw_mcnamara.pdf. March 15, 2013. dead. mdy-all.
  32. News: New, Faster Baggage Screening. Nathan. Hurst. The Detroit News. March 20, 2009. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140522130910/http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20090320/BIZ/903200380. May 22, 2014. live.
  33. Web site: Privacy Impact Assessment for the Airport Access Authorization To Commercial Establishments Beyond The Screening Checkpoint (AAACE) Program. Department of Homeland Security. April 5, 2007. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120524143627/https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_pia_tsa_hotel.pdf. May 24, 2012. live.
  34. Web site: Water Feature. Wayne County Airport Authority. August 30, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150905090936/http://www.metroairport.com/TravelerInfo/GeneralInfo/CoolStuff/WaterFeature.aspx. September 5, 2015. live.
  35. Book: Kelly. Natalie. Jost. Zetzsche. Found in Translation: How Language Shapes Our Lives and Transforms the World. Penguin Books. October 2, 2012. 978-1101611920. Back in the 1980s, waves of Japanese businessmen started to arrive in Detroit[...]one local hotel, part of the Sheraton chain, was lucky enough to have an employee, Izumi Suzuki, who spoke Japanese[...]Eventually, she and some colleagues translated all of the signs that appear in the more modern airport that Detroit boasts today,[...]. August 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20160928003241/https://books.google.com/books/about/Found_in_Translation.html?id=1Glkd3p3ZxkC. September 28, 2016. live.
  36. Web site: McNamara Terminal Restaurants, Shops and Services. Wayne County Airport Authority. January 10, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130202094244/http://www.metroairport.com/services/mcnamara.asp. February 2, 2013. mdy-all.
  37. Web site: The McNamara Tunnel, Detroit Airport. Marcus. Wuebker. JimOnLight.com. November 18, 2008. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120506213736/http://www.jimonlight.com/2008/11/18/the-mcnamara-tunnel-detroit-airport/. May 6, 2012. live.
  38. Web site: Northwest Airlines Passenger Tunnel: 2001–present . ColorKinetics . April 13, 2022.
  39. News: Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) has variety of new food choices. Guy. Gordon. November 23, 2015. WDIV News. August 4, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20151126233109/http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/detroit-metro-airport-dtw-has-variety-of-new-food-choices/36617650. November 26, 2015. live.
  40. Web site: Alert: System Unavailable : Delta Air Lines . August 9, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191019065624/https://www.delta.com/us/en/airports/united-states/detroit-sky-club-airport-map . October 19, 2019 . live .
  41. Web site: Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Gensler. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120526075355/http://www.gensler.com/#projects/1. May 26, 2012. live.
  42. Web site: April 5, 2022 . Metro Airport Renames North Terminal in Warren Evans' Honor . June 3, 2022 . The Michigan Chronicle . en-US . April 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220417164751/https://michiganchronicle.com/2022/04/05/metro-airport-renames-north-terminal-in-warren-evans-honor/ . dead .
  43. News: Detroit Metropolitan Airport Calls Off Plan to Sell Naming Rights. Bill. Shea. Crain's Detroit Business. July 27, 2010. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20170807233659/http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20100726/FREE/100729916/detroit-metropolitan-airport-calls-off-plan-to-sell-naming-rights. August 7, 2017. live.
  44. Web site: North Terminal Restaurants, Shops and Services. Wayne County Airport Authority. January 10, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130202094239/http://www.metroairport.com/services/NorthTerminal.asp. February 2, 2013.
  45. Detroit Metro Airport's North Terminal Named 'Build Michigan' Winner. February 1, 2010. redOrbit. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131225191928/http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1816293/detroit_metro_airports_north_terminal_named_build_michigan_winner/. December 25, 2013. live.
  46. Web site: DTW: Lufthansa Business Lounge . August 9, 2019 . LoungeBuddy . https://web.archive.org/web/20190809140321/https://www.loungebuddy.com/DTW/lufthansa-business-lounge-north-terminal-QjSoIBFa8M%3Fbooking_date%3D08-09-2019%26source%3Dhomepage . August 9, 2019 . live.
  47. News: Berry Terminal at Detroit airport gets new life. Crain's Detroit Business. Associated Press. May 20, 2009. January 10, 2013.
  48. Web site: Smith Terminal Map. Wayne County Airport Authority. January 10, 2013.
  49. News: Memories of Smith Terminal Not Fond. Mary Frances. Masson. Detroit Free Press. September 17, 2008. January 10, 2013.
  50. Book: Mattingly–Meyer. Katherine. Martin–McElroy. C.P.. W. Hawkins Ferry, Hon A.I.A.. Detroit Architecture A.I.A. Guide Revised Edition. 1980. Wayne State University Press. 0-8143-1651-4.
  51. Web site: Maps and Directions. Wayne County Airport Authority. January 10, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090217213117/http://metroairport.com/maps/drivingmap.asp. February 17, 2009. mdy-all.
  52. Web site: Cell Phone Waiting Area . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120215053445/http://www.metroairport.com/uploads/docs/cell_lots.gif . February 15, 2012 . January 10, 2013 . Wayne County Airport Authority .
  53. Web site: Express bus service links Detroit's downtown to airport . Detroit News . December 28, 2017 . January 5, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180112125005/http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2017/12/28/express-bus-service-detroit-airpot/108971720/ . January 12, 2018 . live .
  54. Web site: SMART . Ride Smart-Fast . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180831123410/https://www.smartbus.org/ridesmart-fast . August 31, 2018 . October 8, 2018 . www.smartbus.org . en-US.
  55. Web site: September 12, 2022 . System Map . Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation.
  56. Web site: Oppenhuizen . Clay . February 24, 2022 . Michigan Flyer, Expanding Connections in Mid-Michigan, Turns 15 . East Lansing Info.
  57. Web site: Pickup Locations . Robert Q.
  58. Web site: Public Transportation . March 25, 2024 . Wayne County Airport Authority . en.
  59. Web site: Detroit, MI: Detroit Metro Wayne County (DTW) . May 7, 2024 . Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
  60. Web site: International_Report_Passengers Department of Transportation - Data Portal. July 26, 2021. data.transportation.gov.
  61. Web site: Detroit, MI: Detroit Metro Wayne County (DTW) . www.transtats.bts.gov . Bureau of Transportation Statistics . July 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130316070333/http://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=DTW&carrier=FACTS . March 16, 2013 . live.
  62. Book: Faith, Nicholas. 1996. Black Box: Why Airline Safety Is No Accident. Motorbooks International. Osceola, Wisconsin. 157–158. 978-0-7603-0400-6. registration. November 20, 2015.
  63. News: 9 Killed in Detroit Plane Crash. Chicago Tribune. March 5, 1987. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130315142410/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-03-05/news/8701170950_1_northwest-airlines-crew-members-detroit-plane-crash. March 15, 2013. live.
  64. Web site: Accident Description: Northwest Airlines Flight 255. Aviation-safety.net. August 16, 1987. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20121024200139/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19870816-2. October 24, 2012. live.
  65. Web site: The Crash. Flight255memorial.com. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20121107172350/http://www.flight255memorial.com/thecrash.html. November 7, 2012. live.
  66. Web site: Accident Description: Northwest Airlines Flight 1482. Aviation-safety.net. December 3, 1990. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20110315041543/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19901203-1. March 15, 2011. live.
  67. Web site: Accident Description: Northwest Airlines Fight 299. Aviation-safety.net. December 3, 1990. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20110103081531/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19901203-2. January 3, 2011. live.
  68. Web site: Accident Description: Comair Flight 3272. Aviation-safety.net. January 9, 1997. January 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20110625024451/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19970109-0. June 25, 2011. live.
  69. Web site: Ranter. Harro. ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A320-212 N357NW Detroit-Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, MI (DTW). live. March 30, 2021. aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network. https://web.archive.org/web/20050318023039/http://aviation-safety.net:80/database/record.php?id=20010317-1 . March 18, 2005 .
  70. News: U.S. Security for Air Travel Under New Scrutiny. NBC News. December 28, 2009. January 10, 2013.