View source for Tulsa International Airport

{{Redirect|Tulsa Airport|the general aviation airport|Tulsa Riverside Airport}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox airport
| name                = Tulsa International Airport
| image               = Tulsa International Airport logo.svg
| image-width         = 250
| image2              = Tulsa International Airport - Oklahoma.jpg
| image2-width        = 250
| IATA                = TUL
| ICAO                = KTUL
| FAA                 = TUL
| type                = Public/military
| owner               = City of Tulsa
| operator            = Tulsa Airport Authority
| hub                 = * [[Omni Air International]]
| location            = [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], U.S.
| coordinates         = {{coord|36|11|54|N|95|53|17|W|display=inline,title}}
| elevation-f         = 677
| elevation-m         = 206
| website             = {{URL|https://flytulsa.com/}}
| image_map           = FAA diagram of Tulsa International Airport (TUL).jpg
| image_map_caption   = FAA diagram
| mapframe            = yes
| mapframe-zoom       = 9
| mapframe-wikidata   = yes
| r1-number           = 18L/36R
| r1-length-f         = 10,000
| r1-length-m         = 3,048
| r1-surface          = [[Concrete]]
| r2-number           = 18R/36L
| r2-length-f         = 6,101
| r2-length-m         = 1,860
| r2-surface          = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| r3-number           = 8/26
| r3-length-f         = 7,376
| r3-length-m         = 2,248
| r3-surface          = Concrete
| stat-year           = 2024
| stat1-header        = Aircraft operations
| stat1-data          = 106,041
| stat2-header        = Based aircraft
| stat2-data          = 133 (2023)
| stat3-header        = Passengers
| stat3-data          = 3,247,670
| stat4-header        = Total cargo (lbs.)
| stat4-data          = 104,585,143
| footnotes           = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]],<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=TUL|use=PU|own=PU|site=19283.*A}}, effective August 7, 2025.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://flytulsa.com/news/tulsa-international-airport-reports-record-passenger-numbers-for-2023|title=Tulsa Int'l Airport Reports Record Passenger Numbers In 2023, Highest Since 2008|website=flytulsa.com|accessdate= April 12, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://flytulsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Monthly-Stat-Dec-Website.pdf|title=Tulsa Int'l Airport Operating Statistics for 2024|website=flytulsa.com|accessdate= February 6, 2025}}</ref>
}}

'''Tulsa International Airport''' {{Airport codes|TUL|KTUL|TUL}} is a civil-military airport five miles (8&nbsp;km) northeast of [[Downtown Tulsa]], in [[Tulsa County, Oklahoma|Tulsa County]], [[Oklahoma]], United States. It was named '''Tulsa Municipal Airport''' when the city acquired it in 1929;<ref name="TPC-Transportation">[http://www.tulsapreservationcommission.org/history/transportation/ Tulsa Preservation Commission "Transportation (1850–1945)."] Retrieved January 14, 2011.</ref> it received its present name in 1963.<ref name="Cantrell" /> While Tulsa International Airport only serves domestic destinations, it is still an international airport since it has customs and border patrol facilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nonstop Destinations |url=https://flytulsa.com/travel/flights/nonstop-destinations/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Fly Tulsa |language=en}}</ref>

The [[138th Fighter Wing]] of the [[Oklahoma Air National Guard]] is based at the co-located '''Tulsa Air National Guard Base'''.<ref name="138ANG-History">138th Fighter Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard – History. Accessed January 27, 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.138fw.ang.af.mil/history/index.asp |title=138th Fighter Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard - History |access-date=2011-01-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319035843/http://www.138fw.ang.af.mil/history/index.asp |archive-date=March 19, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The airport is the global maintenance headquarters for [[American Airlines]].<ref name="AMR-Tulsa">{{cite web|url=http://www.aa.com/i18n/amrcorp/corporateInformation/facts/americanairlinesgroup.jsp|title=American Airlines Group Website. April 2014. Accessed July 27, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424193041/http://www.aa.com/i18n/amrcorp/corporateInformation/facts/americanairlinesgroup.jsp|archive-date=April 24, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

During World War II Air Force Plant No. 3 was built on the southeast side of the airport, and [[Douglas Aircraft]] manufactured several types of aircraft there. After the war this facility was used by Douglas (later [[McDonnell Douglas]]) and [[Rockwell International]] (later [[Boeing]]) for aircraft manufacturing, modification, repair, and research.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/afp-3.htm|title=Air Force Plant 3 – Tulsa, OK|author=John Pike}}</ref> [[Spirit AeroSystems]] currently builds commercial airline parts for Boeing aircraft<ref name="Spirit AeroSystems">[[Spirit AeroSystems]]</ref> in part of the building and [[IC Bus]] Corporation assembles school buses in the other part.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icbus.com/ICBus/|title=ICBus – IC Bus – Leading School Bus Manufacturer|access-date=January 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131203610/http://www.icbus.com/ICBus/|archive-date=January 31, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Spirit AeroSystems also builds Boeing wing and floor beam parts and Gulfstream wing parts in a facility on the east side of the airport, just north of runway 26.<ref name="Spirit AeroSystems"/>

The [[Tulsa Air and Space Museum]] is on the northwest side of the airport.

==History==
[[Duncan A. McIntyre]], an early aviator and native of New Zealand, moved to Tulsa in 1919. His first airport was located at Apache and Memorial and opened August 22, 1919.<ref name="Thoburn">Thoburn, Joseph & Wright, Muriel. Oklahoma A History of The State and Its People, Vol. 4, Page 461</ref> He moved and established a private airport on an 80-acre tract at the corner of Admiral Place and Sheridan Avenue. '''McIntyre Field''' had three hangars to house 40 aircraft and a beacon for landings after sundown.<ref name="Jones">Jones, Kim. [https://books.google.com/books?id=I3pPigZPE9cC&dq=Air+Force+Plant+No.+3+tulsa&pg=PA8 Aviation in Tulsa and Northeastern Oklahoma]. 2009. {{ISBN|978-0-7385-6163-9}}. Available through Google Books. Retrieved January 17, 2011.</ref>

McIntyre evidently closed his airport during the 1930s and merged it with R. F. Garland, a Tulsa oil man and owner of the Garland Airport at 51st and Sheridan Road for $350,000. He ran the airport and became the president of the new venture.<ref name="Tulsa World">{{cite news |title=Tulsa Airport Firms Merged|newspaper=[[Tulsa World]]|date=October 31, 1931}}</ref> This airport would later become the Brown Airport (after a number of owners and names including the commercial airport before it moved to 61st and Yale). In 1940, McIntyre accepted a position with [[Lockheed Corporation]] and moved to California.<ref>{{cite web |title=Duncan McIntyre: Father of Tulsa Aviation|url=http://www.tulsagal.net/search/label/McIntyre|work=Tulsa Gal|date=March 23, 2010|access-date=January 20, 2011}}</ref>

[[Charles Lindbergh]] landed at McIntyre Field on September 30, 1927. He had been persuaded to visit Tulsa by [[William G. Skelly]], who was then president of the local Chamber of Commerce, as well as a booster of the young aviation industry. In addition to being a wealthy oilman and founder of [[Skelly Oil Company]], Skelly founded [[Spartan Aircraft Company]]. Lindbergh had already landed at [[Will Rogers World Airport|Oklahoma City Municipal Airport]], [[Bartlesville, Oklahoma|Bartlesville]] Municipal Airport and [[Muskogee, Oklahoma|Muskogee's]] [[Hatbox Field]]. All of these were superior to the privately owned McIntyre Field. Lindbergh pointed this out at a banquet given that night in his honor.<ref name="GTR-Lindbergh" />

===Opening===
The initial municipal airport was financed with a so-called "stud horse note", a [[promissory note]] like those used by groups of farmers or horse breeders who would collectively underwrite the purchase of a promising [[stud (animal)|stud]] horse. The note would be retired with the stud fees paid for use of the horse. In the case of the Tulsa airport, the note would be paid from airport fees.<ref name="GTR-Lindbergh">{{cite news|title=Lucky Lindy Lands and Tulsa Airport Takes Off|first=Chuck|last=Cantrell|url=http://www.gtrnews.com/greater-tulsa-reporter/1805/lucky-lindy-lands-and-tulsa-municipal-airport-takes-off|newspaper=GTR Newspapers|date=May 14, 2007|access-date=January 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711132438/http://www.gtrnews.com/greater-tulsa-reporter/1805/lucky-lindy-lands-and-tulsa-municipal-airport-takes-off|archive-date=July 11, 2011|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Using this vehicle, Skelly obtained signatures from several prominent Tulsa businessmen who put up $172,000 to buy {{convert|390|acre|ha|abbr=off}} for a municipal airport.<ref name="GTR-Lindbergh"/> It opened July 3, 1928. The city of Tulsa purchased the airport, then named Tulsa Municipal Airport, in 1929, and put its supervision under the Tulsa Park Board.<ref name="TPC-Transportation" /> Charles W. Short was appointed Airport Director in 1929, and remained in this position until 1955.<ref name="DMAFR">{{cite web|title=Davis-Monthan Aviation Field Register Tulsa, OK Municipal Airport|url=http://www.dmairfield.org/places/tulsa_ok/index.html|work=Davis-Monthan Aviation Field|access-date=January 17, 2011}}</ref>

The first terminal building was a one-story wood and tar paper structure that looked like a warehouse. The landing strips and taxiways were mown grass. Still, it handled enough passengers in 1930 for Tulsa to claim that it had the busiest airport in the world. The Tulsa Municipal Airport handled 7,373 passengers in February 1930 and 9,264 in April. This outpaced [[Croydon Airport]], [[Berlin Tempelhof Airport]], and [[Paris Le Bourget Airport]] for those months.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hangar One Hangs It Up|first=D. R.|last=Stewart|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=030503_Bu_E1_Hanga|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014130748/http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?articleID=030503_Bu_E1_Hanga|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 14, 2012|newspaper=[[Tulsa World]]|date=May 3, 2003|access-date=April 12, 2011}}</ref> [[Braniff Airways]] stopped at Tulsa on its original route between Chicago and Wichita Falls,<ref>{{cite web|title=Braniff timetable, March 10, 1931|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/bn31/bn31-2.jpg|website=Timetableimages.com|access-date=8 February 2016}}</ref> and [[Trans World Airlines|TWA]] stopped at Tulsa on its original route between Columbus and Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web|title=TWA timetable, February 1931|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/tw/tw3102/tw3102-2.jpg|access-date=8 February 2016}}</ref> Later in the 1930s, Tulsa became a stop on the [[American Airlines]] Chicago-Dallas route.<ref>{{cite web|title=May 1939 timetable|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/aa39/aa39-2.jpg|website=Timetableimages.com|access-date=11 November 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Tulsa International Airport entrance.jpg|thumb|Tulsa International Airport entrance, 2007; photo by Luis Tamayo]]

In 1932 the city opened a more elegant [[Art Deco]] terminal topped with a control tower, designed by Frederick V. Kershner, a lead architect working for [[Leon B. Senter]]. The structure was masonry with rounded corners, resulting in a futuristic appearance. Charles Short decorated the inside walls with a collection of early aviation photographs.<ref name="Coffey">{{Cite web|url=https://gtrnews.com/tulsa-international-airport-designed-by-robert-lawton-jones-and-inspired-by-mies-van-der-rohe-is-an-architectural-gem/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601231417/https://gtrnews.com/tulsa-international-airport-designed-by-robert-lawton-jones-and-inspired-by-mies-van-der-rohe-is-an-architectural-gem/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 1, 2021|title=Tulsa International Airport, Designed by Robert Lawton Jones and Inspired by Mies Van Der Rohe, is an Architectural Gem – GTR Newspapers}}</ref>

Although many Tulsans had concluded that the 1932 terminal was inadequate to serve the rapidly-growing city by the mid-1950s, the 1932 building served until Tulsa had to construct a new terminal, east of the old facility. The new terminal would be designed by noted architect Robert Lawton Jones, who later said that his design was inspired by [[Mies van der Rohe]]{{efn|Jones, a principal of the design firm Murray Jones Murray, had previously moved to Tulsa to oversee the firm's work on the new Tulsa Civic Center.<ref name="Coffey"/>}}  Terminal design work began in November 1958 and the completed building opened November 16, 1961;<ref name="Cantrell" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tulsaarchitecture.com/architects/jones.shtml|title=Robert Lawton Jones, FAIA – Tulsa Foundation for Architecture|access-date=June 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323073448/http://www.tulsaarchitecture.com/architects/jones.shtml|archive-date=March 23, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> on August 28, 1963, the facility was renamed Tulsa International Airport.<ref name="Cantrell">{{cite news|title=City and Airport Long Time Partnership Continues|first=Charles|last=Cantrell|url=http://www.gtrnews.com/greater-tulsa-reporter/2999/city-and-airport-long-time-partnership-continues|newspaper=GTR Newspapers|date=July 14, 2008|access-date=July 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929173301/http://www.gtrnews.com/greater-tulsa-reporter/2999/city-and-airport-long-time-partnership-continues|archive-date=September 29, 2011|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="Jones"/> The 1932 terminal was demolished in 1969 to make way for a runway expansion project.
In January 1928 Skelly bought the Mid-Continent Aircraft Company of Tulsa and renamed it the [[Spartan Aircraft Company]]. It first built a two-seat biplane, the [[Spartan C3]] at its facility near the new airport. Later it would also build a low-wing cabin monoplane as a corporate aircraft, and the NP-1, a naval training plane used in World War II. In 1929 Spartan established the [[Spartan School of Aeronautics]] across Apache street from the new Tulsa airport to train fliers and support personnel. The Spartan School was activated by the U. S. Army Air Corps ([[United States Department of War|USAAC]]) on August 1, 1939, as an advanced civilian pilot training school to supplement the Air Corps' few flying training schools. The Air Corps supplied students with training aircraft, flying clothes, textbooks, and equipment. The Air Corps also put a detachment at each school to supervise training. Spartan furnished instructors, training sites and facilities, aircraft maintenance, quarters, and mess halls.<ref name="OHS-Spartan">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Spartan Aircraft Company|url=http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/S/SP005.html|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture|publisher=Oklahoma State University|access-date=January 25, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018205541/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/S/SP005.html|archive-date=October 18, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===World War II===
The [[138th Fighter Wing]] of the [[Air National Guard]] was organized at the Tulsa Airport in 1940 as the 125th Observation Squadron, then renamed when it deployed overseas during World War II. It is still based at TUL.<ref name="138ANG-History"/>

On January 4, 1941, the [[United States Department of War|War Department]] announced that [[Tulsa, Oklahoma|Tulsa]] would be the site of a $15 million plant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cdm15020.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16063coll1/id/8318|title=Tulsa Int'l Airport...The Airport Brashness Built :: Tulsa and Oklahoma History Collection |website=cdm15020.contentdm.oclc.org|access-date=2017-08-07}}</ref> The Federal Government built Air Force Plant No. 3 on the east side of the airport. The plant was operated by Douglas Aircraft Corporation to manufacture, assemble and modify bombers for the USAAF from 1942 to 1945; production was suspended when World War II ended.<ref name="GlobalSecurity">{{cite web |title=Military – Air Force Plant No. 3 – Tulsa, OK|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/afp-3.htm|work=Global Security Website}}</ref>

===Postwar===
In 1946 American Airlines acquired two former Air Force hangars to start a maintenance and engineering base at Tulsa Municipal Airport.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Arnold|first1=Kyle|title=Tulsa's Aerospace History|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/americanairlines/tulsa-s-aerospace-history/article_90a56a4e-d90b-55ed-8eb4-9622ba6b8aa6.html|access-date=11 November 2014|work=Tulsa World|date=June 29, 2014}}</ref>  In 1947, when transcontinental flights made at least one stop, American had nonstops from Tulsa to San Francisco and Los Angeles.<ref name="TUL79">{{cite web|title=Airlines and Aircraft Serving Tulsa Effective November 15, 1979|url=http://www.departedflights.com/TUL79intro.html|access-date=11 November 2014}}</ref>

Air Force Plant No. 3 was reactivated in 1950 to produce the [[Boeing B-47 Stratojet]] and later the [[Douglas B-66 Destroyer]].<ref name="GlobalSecurity" /> 

The April 1957 OAG shows 20 weekday departures on American, 18 Braniff, 6 Continental, 6 Central and 4 TWA. American had a DC-7 nonstop to New York, but westward nonstops didn't get past Oklahoma City, Wichita and Dallas.<ref name="TUL79" />

In the late 1960s [[McDonnell Douglas]], the successor to Douglas Aircraft Corporation, continued to use Air Force Plant No. 3 for aircraft maintenance. [[Rockwell International]] leased part of the plant to manufacture aerospace products. <ref name="GlobalSecurity" />

In 1967 the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust (TAIT) was established as a [[United States trust law|public trust]] to build, operate, and maintain airport facilities for the city of Tulsa. TAIT has no authority to levy taxes and depends on airport revenues to repay airport-related debts.  TAIT is independent of the city, but all board members are appointed by the [[Mayor of Tulsa]] and confirmed by the [[Government of Tulsa, Oklahoma|City Council]]. In October 1978 TAIT leased Tulsa International Airport and other city aviation facilities (other than police and fire [[heliport]]s) to the city of Tulsa acting through the Tulsa Airport Authority (TAA), which agreed to disburse all airport-related income to TAIT. In 1979 the airport was also served by [[Frontier Airlines (1950-1986)|Frontier Airlines]], Scheduled Skyways and [[Texas International Airlines]].<ref name="TUL79" /> In July 1989, a lease amendment gave daily airport operation and maintenance responsibility to the TAA.<ref name=tait2011>{{cite web |url=https://www.sai.ok.gov/olps/uploads/tulsa_airport_improvement_trust_2011_audited_financials0.pdf#:~:text=NATURE%20OF%20BUSINESS%20-%20The%20Tulsa%20Airports%20Improvement,of%20Tulsa%20%28the%20%22City%22%29%20as%20its%20sole%20beneficiary. |title=Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust (A Component Unit of the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma) Financial Report June 30, 2011 and 2010 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=5 December 2011 |website=www.sai.ok.gov |publisher=Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref>{{rp|13}}

McDonnell Douglas terminated its lease of Air Force Plant No. 3 in 1996.<ref name="GlobalSecurity" /> [[Boeing]] bought Rockwell International's aerospace business in 1996, and took over much of the facility for aerospace manufacturing.<ref name="Jones" />

The [[Tulsa Air and Space Museum]] (TASM) was established in 1998 on the northwest side of the airport.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tulsa Air and Space Museum|url=http://www.yelp.com/biz/tulsa-air-and-space-museum-tulsa|work=Yelp|access-date=January 28, 2011}}</ref> The museum added the James E. Bertelsmeyer Tulsa [[planetarium]] in 2006.

In December 2000 TAIT guaranteed a loan to [[Great Plains Airlines]] in cooperation with the Tulsa Industrial Authority (TIA), the [[Bank of Oklahoma]] and the city of Tulsa.<ref name=tait2011/>{{rp|30}} The TIA mortgaged Air Force Plant No. 3 for $30 million, which was loaned to Great Plains, and TAIT agreed to purchase the property if the airline defaulted.<ref name=tw_settlement>{{cite news |last=Tyrrell |first=Paul |date=31 August 2020 |title=Settlement reached in long-running legal battle over failed Great Plains Airlines |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/settlement-reached-in-long-running-legal-battle-over-failed-great-plains-airlines/article_9414e895-0ccc-51e2-acc0-c65bfca5299b.html |work=[[Tulsa World]] |location=Tulsa, Oklahoma |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> Great Plains went bankrupt in January 2004 and was unable to repay $7.1 million of the loan, but the loan guarantee was deemed to violate [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) policies prohibiting an airport authority from subsidizing a particular airline, and when the Bank of Oklahoma tried in June 2004 to collect the debt, TAIT declined to purchase the property from the TIA. The TIA promptly sued TAIT for violating the agreement and later added the city of Tulsa to the lawsuit in June 2008. The parties tried to settle the suit in August 2008 by repaying the TIA with $7.1 million of city funds, but this was challenged by a taxpayer group in a ''[[qui tam]]'' action, and the settlement was deemed illegal in October 2011 by the [[Oklahoma Supreme Court]].<ref name=tait2011/>{{rp|30–31}} The TIA and the Bank of Oklahoma then sued TAIT for breach of contract in March 2013, seeking $15.6 million ($7.1 million in 2004 plus interest). The dispute was finally settled on 31 August 2015 with TAIT agreeing to pay $1.56 million to the TIA and the Bank of Oklahoma's parent company and $125,000 to the Tulsa Regional Chamber.<ref name=tw_settlement/>

===2010-Pre COVID-19===
[[Allegiant Air]] began service in 2013 to [[Orlando Sanford International Airport|Orlando/Sanford]]. In 2015 Allegiant also began service to [[McCarran International Airport|Las Vegas]], [[Los Angeles International Airport]], and [[St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport|St. Petersburg/Clearwater]] in 2015. TUL also saw a completed terminal renovation in 2015. Allegiant Air has had routes come and go such as New Orleans, Baltimore, and Nashville. [[Frontier Airlines]] returned once again in 2018 after pulling out of TUL a decade prior and began year-round service to [[Denver International Airport]]. Frontier also has been a victim of short lived routes in this timeframe such as Washington Dulles, San Jose (CA), Orlando, and San Diego. Former Regional Carrier Via Air served TUL with nonstop service to Austin from 2018 to 2019. [[American Airlines]] reunited  year-round service to [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]] in April 2019 after the route was cut in the late 2000s. Allegiant Air began seasonal service to [[Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport|Destin/Fort Walton Beach]] in June 2019. During this time frame Runway construction took place along with the return of a jet bridge to gate B9 for Frontier's return.

===COVID-19===
COVID-19 affected TUL like any other airport during the timeframe. New service on Allegiant Air to San Diego and Nashville along with a new Southwest Airlines seasonal service to Baltimore were all slated to start in the summer of 2020. Nashville was attempted but did poorly as expected considering the circumstance. Ultimately, the route was cut in August 2020. Tulsa International Airport rebounded very well from COVID-19 thus leading to many new routes and aircraft upgrades. The first began with [[American Airlines]] adding nonstop service to [[Phoenix Sky Harbor]] in November 2020 to attract leisure travel, this route was very successful, therefore, the route turned into a year-round service just a few months after flights began. Startup low-cost carrier [[Breeze Airways]] began service to TUL as the airport scored Breeze as one of their first 15 cities with nonstop service to [[Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport|New Orleans]], [[San Antonio International Airport|San Antonio]], and [[Tampa International Airport|Tampa]], flights began in the summer of 2021. [[American Airlines]] began a surge at Tulsa International Airport adding four new destinations within one year, nearly doubling their network with new services to [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]], [[Miami International Airport|Miami]], [[LaGuardia Airport|New York–LaGuardia]], and  [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]]. This was huge for TUL as many unserved markets were reunited at long last. Unfortunately, Tulsa did have some miscues to complement the new services. Breeze Airways discontinued service to [[Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport|New Orleans]] and [[San Antonio International Airport|San Antonio]] in November 2021. Allegiant Air also attempted service to [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]] but was unsuccessful as the route was discontinued a little over a month after beginning. Allegiant Air began new seasonal service to [[Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport|Phoenix/Mesa]] and [[Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport|Sarasota]] in November and December 2021 respectively. Southwest Airlines launched two new routes for the first time in four years with service to [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]] to complement American Airlines and the return of [[Midway International Airport|Chicago–Midway]] as Southwest served MDW till 2015 from Tulsa. Breeze Airways launched non-stop service to [[Nashville International Airport|Nashville]] in June 2022 and will add [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]] in March 2023.

==Facilities==
The airport covers {{convert|4360|acre|ha|0}} and has three paved [[runway]]s:<ref name=FAA /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/airport/TUL/Tulsa-International-Airport|title=TUL airport data at skyvector.com|website=skyvector.com|access-date=September 1, 2025}}</ref>
* 18L/36R: {{convert|10,000|x|200|ft|m|abbr=on}}, surface: grooved concrete
* 18R/36L: {{convert|6,101|x|100|ft|m|abbr=on}}, surface: grooved asphalt
* 8/26: {{convert|7,376|x|150|ft|m|abbr=on}}, surface: grooved concrete

As of August 31, 2023, the airport had 86,011 aircraft operations, average 235 per day: 40% commercial airline, 18% air taxi, 27% general aviation, and 15% military. 133 aircraft were based at the airport: 47 single-engine, 15 multi-engine, 46 jet, 3 [[helicopter]] and 22 military.<ref name=FAA />

[[File:TUL Tower.jpg|thumb|Control tower at Tulsa International Airport, June 2021]]

===Terminals===
The airport has a smaller regional terminal with newly renovated concourses. Concourse A, which houses Allegiant, American and Delta, has 11 departure gates: A1 through A11. Currently, seven of those are in use. Concourse B, opened in 2012, has ten gates, but only seven have jet bridges. Southwest and United use Concourse B.

In 2010, a renovation of the 1960s-era terminal began. The renovations were designed by [[Gensler]] and [[Leidos|Benham Companies]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Airport Renovation Bid OK'd|first=D. R.|last=Stewart|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=45&articleid=20100716_46_EE12_Themil868135&allcom=1|newspaper=[[Tulsa World]]|date=July 16, 2010|access-date=July 5, 2012}} {{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Concourse B (home to Southwest and United) underwent a $17.9 million renovation between September 7, 2010<ref>{{cite news|title=Renovated Airport Concourse Modern, Brighter|first=D. R.|last=Stewart|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=298&articleid=20110622_298_0_Withar520766|newspaper=[[Tulsa World]]|date=June 22, 2011|access-date=July 5, 2012}} {{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and January 18, 2012,<ref>{{cite news|title=Tulsa Airport West Concourse Opens After Construction|first=D. R.|last=Stewart|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=45&articleid=20120119_45_E1_CUTLIN752572|newspaper=[[Tulsa World]]|date=January 19, 2012|access-date=July 5, 2012}} {{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> including major HVAC replacement along with the more noticeable design changes. These changes include sky lights and raising the somewhat low ceilings in the concourse area, improved passenger waiting areas and gate redesigns. Concourse A (home to Allegiant, Delta, American and US Airways before its merger with American) subsequently underwent renovation and upgrades which were completed in 2015.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Tulsa International Airport to Begin Concourse B Renovation|url=http://www.tulsaairports.com/filesRecentNews/Concourse_B_Press_Release-TAA.pdf|work=Tulsa Airport Authority|date=July 15, 2010|access-date=February 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124135240/http://www.tulsaairports.com/filesRecentNews/Concourse_B_Press_Release-TAA.pdf|archive-date=January 24, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flintco.com/our-work/projects/tulsa-international-airport-concourse-a/|title=Tulsa International Airport Concourse A|first=Flintco|last=LLC|website=Flintco}}</ref>

===American Airlines Maintenance Facility===
[[File:AA Tul Base Hangar.jpg|thumb|A hangar for single aisle aircraft repair at the American Airlines Maintenance Base at Tulsa International Airport. An MD-80 being worked on next to a Boeing 737]]

TUL is the headquarters for all Maintenance and Engineering activities at [[American Airlines]] worldwide,{{efn| American Airlines uses the acronym MRO to designate this facility.<ref name="questia">[https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1P2-2164228/american-airlines-maintenance-hub-in-tulsa-moves Dobberstein, John. "American Airlines' Maintenance Hub in Tulsa Moves toward Profitability with Vision 2025 Funds." ''Journal Record'' March 9, 2006.] Accessed November 14, 2016.</ref>}} and is the maintenance base for the airline's fleet of [[Airbus A320 family]], [[Boeing 787]] and [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737]] aircraft – a combined total of nearly 800 airplanes. It employs over 5,000 people, with the majority as licensed aircraft and jet engine mechanics. According to the company, it is one of the largest private employers in Oklahoma.<ref name="AMR-Tulsa" />

While many other major domestic airlines (e.g., United, Northwest and US Air) were closing their maintenance facilities and outsourcing the work to major contractors in the early 2000s, American consolidated these activities at the MRO. The airline vowed to make the center as cost-effective as private centers and attract some of this work from other airlines as well. AA won major cost concessions from its own employees, pledged to relocate all its Boeing 737 heavy maintenance work to Tulsa, along with its work on the GE CFM-56 engine work. It also contains a wheel-and-brake overhaul facility and composite repair center.<ref name="questia"/>  AA received $22 million in funding from Tulsa's Vision 2025 program that helped it buy machines, tooling and test equipment that only original-equipment manufacturers previously had. This funding helped it get contracts for maintenance work from Synergy Aerospace for F100 aircraft; Aeroserve, for JT8 engine work; GE Aviation Materials, for work on CF6-80 engines; Omni Air International and Vulcan Flight Management for work on Boeing 757 aircraft; and Aero Union for work on A300 landing gear.<ref name="questia"/>

The MRO occupies about {{convert|260|acre|km2}} and {{convert|3300000|sqft|m2}} of maintenance "plant" at the Tulsa Airport. Each year, the base performs major overhaul work on about 80% of American's fleet. It also does aircraft maintenance for other carriers on a contract basis.<ref name="AMR-Tulsa" />

On 28 February 2020, American Airlines announced an investment of half billion US dollars for the MRO base that will include two new hangars, including a 193,000-square-foot facility big enough to hold six narrow-body planes, such as a Boeing 737, or two larger planes.

===Lufthansa Technik Component Services===
Lufthansa Technik Component Services LLC (LTCS), a subsidiary of [[Lufthansa Technik]] AG, is headquartered at Tulsa Airport. LTCS provides maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services to airlines. The Tulsa location includes the departments of Production and Product Development Engineering, the department of Finance and Controlling as well as Human Resources Management, Strategic Purchasing and a Customer Service team. The workshops and various department occupy an area of {{convert|72000|ft2|m2}}.<ref>[http://www.lht-component-services.com/about-us Lufthansa Technik Component Services] Retrieved May 11, 2014.</ref>

==Public transportation==
MetroLink Tulsa operates public transport service to the main terminal via Route 201[https://www.metrolinkok.org/bus_routes/pine-memorial/] Monday through Saturday, with 45 minute frequency on weekdays and 65 minute frequency on Saturdays.

===Departures / arrivals===
Although generally single-level, the entry section of the airport has separate departure and arrival curbs; the inner Apache Drive for departures and outer Airport Drive for arrivals. Baggage claim carousels are located on Airport Drive on the Arrival upper-level curb. TIA has six baggage carousels in service. Currently American Airlines, Delta, and Allegiant on carousels 1, 2, and 3, and Southwest, United, and Frontier are 4, 5, and 6.

==Airlines and destinations==
===Passenger===
<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport or the airline itself are not independent sources. -->
{{Airport destination list
| [[Alaska Airlines]] | [[San Diego International Airport|San Diego]], [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]] (both begin March 18, 2026)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://liveandletsfly.com/alaska-airlines-new-routes-2026/ | title=Alaska Airlines Expands West Coast Network With 13 New Routes, Two New Cities, And More Hawaii Flights|accessdate=October 24, 2025}}</ref>
<!-- -->
| [[Allegiant Air]] | [[McCarran International Airport|Las Vegas]], [[Orlando Sanford International Airport|Orlando/Sanford]] <br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport|Destin/Fort Walton Beach]],{{cn|date=May 2025}} [[St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport|St. Petersburg/Clearwater]]{{cn|date=May 2025}}
<!-- -->
| [[American Airlines]] | [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]], [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]]
<!-- -->
| {{nowrap|[[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]]}} | [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]], [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]], [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Miami International Airport|Miami]], [[LaGuardia Airport|New York–LaGuardia]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]]
<!-- -->
| [[Delta Air Lines]] | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]]
<!-- -->
| {{nowrap|[[Delta Connection]]}} | [[LaGuardia Airport|New York–LaGuardia]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport|Salt Lake City]]
<!-- -->
| {{nowrap|[[Frontier Airlines]]}} | [[Denver International Airport| Denver]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2025/07/22/frontier-announces-15-new-routes/|title=Frontier Announces 15 New Routes|last=Vasile|first=Zach|work=Airline Geeks|date=July 22, 2025|access-date=July 22, 2025}}</ref>

| {{nowrap|[[Southwest Airlines]]}} | [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]], [[Midway International Airport|Chicago–Midway]], [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love]], [[Denver International Airport|Denver]], [[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby]], [[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas]], [[Nashville International Airport|Nashville]],<ref name="WNApril25">{{cite web |title=SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHTS AVAILABLE TO BOOK THROUGH EARLY JUNE 2025 |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-airlines-flights-available-to-book-through-early-june-2025-302258187.html |access-date=27 September 2024}}</ref> [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]], [[St. Louis Lambert International Airport|St. Louis]] (ends March 6, 2026)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newson6.com/story/68a0983d3aa39fe5c9ad8222/southwest-airlines-ending-nonstop-tulsa-to-st-louis-flights|title=Southwest Airlines ending nonstop Tulsa to St. Louis flights|last=Dowers|first=Graham|work=Newson6.com|date=August 18, 2025|access-date=August 26, 2025}}</ref>
<!-- -->
|{{nowrap|[[Sun Country Airlines]]}}|'''Seasonal:''' [[Cancún International Airport|Cancún]], [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]] (both begin May 21, 2026)<ref>https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/10/28/3175624/0/en/Sun-Country-Airlines-Extends-Booking-Schedule-Through-Summer-2026.html</ref>
<!-- -->
| [[United Airlines]] | [[Denver International Airport|Denver]], [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]]
<!-- -->
| [[United Express]] | [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]], [[Denver International Airport|Denver]], [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]]
}}

{| class="collapsible uncollapsed" style="border:1px #aaa solid; width:50em; margin:0.2em auto"
|-
! Destinations map
|-
|{{Location map+ |United_States |width=800 |float=center
|caption=Destinations from Tulsa International Airport <br /> {{font color | red | Red}} = Year-round destination <br />{{font color | green | Green }} = Seasonal destination <br /> {{font color | blue | Blue }} = Future destination
|places=
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=36.1988 |long=-95.8839 |position=left |label=<div style="position:relative; top:-5px;"><small>'''Tulsa'''</small></div>|caption=|mark=Airplane_silhouette.svg|marksize=15 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=36.083697|long=-115.153873|position=top|label='''<small>[[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=28.775502|long=-81.243443|position=right|label='''<small>[[Orlando Sanford International Airport|Orlando/Sanford]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=28.4240|long=-81.3099|position=right|label='''<small>[[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | mark = Green pog.svg |United_States |lat=30.4954|long=-86.5498|position=right|label='''<small>[[Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport|Destin/Fort Walton Beach]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | mark = Green pog.svg |United_States |lat=27.906783|long=-82.691860|position=left|label='''<small>[[St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport|St.Petersburg]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=33.941381|long=-118.408619|position=left |label='''<small>[[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=32.896944 |long=-97.038056 |position=left |label=<small>'''{{nowrap|[[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]]}}'''</small>|label_size=80 |marksize=7}}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=32.847978|long=-96.851250 |position=right|label='''<small>[[Dallas Love Airport|Dallas–Love]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=35.213889|long=-80.943056 |position=right|label='''<small>[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=41.974186|long=-87.907783|position=left|label='''<small>[[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=33.436921|long=-112.011667|position=top|label='''<small>[[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=33.63666 |long=-84.428056 |position=right |label='''<small>[[Atlanta Airport|Atlanta]]</small>''' |label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=40.789836|long=-111.979632|position=top|label='''<small>[[Salt Lake City International Airport|Salt Lake City]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=39.855193|long=-104.673849|position=right|label='''<small>[[Denver International Airport|Denver]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=29.654751|long=-95.279002|position=left|label='''<small>[[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=38.742392|long=-90.365545|position=left|label='''<small>[[Lambert–St. Louis International Airport|St. Louis]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=29.990140|long=-95.336792 |position=right|label='''<small>[[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |mark = Red pog.svg |United_States |lat=36.126667|long=-86.681944 |position=right|label='''<small>[[Nashville International Airport|Nashville]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | mark = Red pog.svg|United_States |lat=30.266666 |long=-97.733330 |position=top |label=<small>'''{{nowrap|[[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]]}}'''</small>|label_size=80 |marksize=7}}
{{Location map~ | mark = Blue pog.svg |United_States |lat=38.851242|long=-77.0436389448177|position=right|label='''<small>{{nowrap|[[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]]}}</small>'''|label_size=80|marksize=7}}
{{Location map~ | mark = Red pog.svg |United_States |lat=25.761681 |long=-80.191788 |position=bottom|label='''<small>[[Miami International Airport|Miami]]</small>'''|label_size=85 |marksize=7}}
{{Location map~ | mark = Red pog.svg |United_States |lat=38.851242|long=-77.0436389448177|position=right|{{nowrap|[[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]]}}'''|label_size=80|marksize=7}}
{{Location map~ | mark = Red pog.svg |United_States |lat=33.3070|long=-111.6687|position=right|label='''<small>[[Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport|Phoenix/Mesa]]</small>'''|label_size=85 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=40.64 |long=-73.78 |position=right |label=<small>'''{{nowrap|[[LaGuardia Airport|New York–LaGuardia]]}}'''</small>|label_size=85 |marksize=7}}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=41.786111 |long=-87.7525 |position=right |label=<small>'''{{nowrap|[[Midway International Airport|Chicago–Midway]]}}'''</small>|label_size=85 |marksize=7}}
{{Location map~ | mark = Blue pog.svg |United_States |lat= 47.4484|long=-122.3086 |position=right|label='''<small>[[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport|Seattle]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | mark = Blue pog.svg |United_States |lat= 32.7329|long=-117.1897 |position=left|label='''<small>[[San Diego International Airport|San Diego]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | mark = Blue pog.svg |United_States |lat=44.881944|long=-93.221667 |position=left|label='''<small>[[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
}}
|}

===Cargo===
{{Airport destination list
| [[Ameriflight]] | [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]]
<!-- -->
| [[DHL Aviation]] | [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]], [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport|Cincinnati]]
<!-- -->
| [[FedEx Express]] | [[Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport|Fort Worth/Alliance]], [[Memphis International Airport|Memphis]], [[Will Rogers World Airport|Oklahoma City]],  [[Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport|Wichita]]
<!-- -->
| [[UPS Airlines]] | [[Louisville International Airport|Louisville]], [[Will Rogers World Airport|Oklahoma City]], [[Ontario International Airport|Ontario]]
}}

==Statistics==

===Top 10 destination airports===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%"
|+ '''Busiest domestic routes from TUL (September 2024 – August 2025)'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=ghY&Nv42146_anzr=g7y5n,%20bX:%20g7y5n%20V06r40n6v10ny&pn44vr4=SNPgf|title=Tulsa, OK: Tulsa International (TUL)|work=[[Bureau of Transportation Statistics]]|access-date=April 1, 2025}}</ref>
|-
! Rank
! City
! Passengers
! Carriers
|-
| 1
| {{flagicon|Texas}} [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas]]
| 278,340
| American
|-
| 2
| {{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Denver International Airport|Denver, Colorado]]
| 198,230
| Southwest, United
|-
| 3
| {{flagicon|Georgia (U.S. state)}} [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta, Georgia]]
| 136,890
| Delta
|-
| 4
| {{flagicon|Texas}} [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental, Texas]]
| 116,870
| United
|-
| 5
| {{flagicon|Illinois}} [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois]]
| 111,310
| American, United
|-
| 6
| {{flagicon|Arizona}} [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona]]
| 98,890
| American, Southwest
|-
| 7
| {{flagicon|Texas}} [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love, Texas]]
| 98,410
| Southwest
|-
| 8
| {{flagicon|North Carolina}} [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte, North Carolina]]
| 82,640
| American
|-
| 9
| {{flagicon|Nevada}}[[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas, Nevada]]
| 80,650
| Allegiant, Southwest
|-
| 10
| {{flagicon|Texas}} [[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby, Texas]]
| 74,630
| Southwest
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%"
|+ '''Largest Airlines at TUL <br>(December 2022 – November 2023)'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=ghY&Nv42146_anzr=g7y5n,%20bX:%20g7y5n%20V06r40n6v10ny&pn44vr4=SNPgf|title=Tulsa, OK: Tulsa International (TUL)|work=[[Bureau of Transportation Statistics]]|access-date=March 2, 2024}}</ref>
|-
!Rank
!Airline
!Passengers
!Share
|-
|1
| [[Southwest Airlines]]
|1,131,000
|36.28%
|-
|2
| [[American Airlines]]
|534,000
|17.14%
|-
|3
| [[SkyWest Airlines]]
|364,000
|11.68%
|-
|4
| [[Delta Air Lines]]
|242,000
|7.75%
|-
|5
| [[Envoy Air]]
|200,000
|6.41%
|-
|
| Other
|647,000
|20.75%
|-
|}

===Annual traffic===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''Annual passenger traffic (enplaned + deplaned) at Tulsa International Airport<br />(2007 – present)'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tulsaairports.com/about-tait/air-service-stats |title=Air Service Stats|publisher=tulsaairports.com}}</ref>
! Year
! Passengers
!
! Year
! Passengers
|-
| 2007||3,300,422||||2017||2,865,824
|-
| 2008||3,261,560||||2018||3,048,357
|-
| 2009||2,888,858||||2019||3,053,532
|-
| 2010||2,846,588||||2020||1,332,433
|-
| 2011||2,794,751||||2021||2,316,751
|-
| 2012||2,740,338||||2022||2,887,560
|-
| 2013||2,733,510||||2023||3,144,567
|-
| 2014||2,840,324||||2024||'''3,247,670'''
|-
| 2015||2,816,967||||||
|-
| 2016||2,810,537||||||
|}

==Non-aviation facilities==
===Industrial land development===
In 2008, Tulsa Airport Authority began a new industrial land development project. Aerospace is one of the Oklahoma's largest industry clusters with 400 companies that directly or indirectly employ more than 143,000 people with a payroll of $4.7 billion and an industrial output of $11.7 billion. Tulsa is ranked eighth nationally for the size of its aerospace engines manufacturing cluster and 20th for its defense-related cluster.

TUL's central location in the south is easily accessible by a multi-modal transportation network. With a total of {{convert|4000|acre|km2}} and 14,000 on-airport employees, Tulsa is a large center of aviation activity. Six sites totaling over {{convert|700|acre|km2}} of real estate will be developed. Each of the sites can be divided into smaller lots to meet any organization's individual needs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Industrial Land Development|url=http://www.tulsaairports.com/index.cfm?id=44|work=Tulsa Airport Authority|access-date=July 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620103321/http://www.tulsaairports.com/index.cfm?id=44|archive-date=June 20, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===HP Enterprise Services building===
[[File:HP Tulsa Penguin.jpg|thumb|right|250px|HP Penguin sculpture]]

The HP Enterprise Services (formerly [[Electronic Data Systems|EDS]]) building hosting some of [[Sabre (computer system)|Sabre]]'s datacenter servers is located at the Tulsa Airport. The company applied a reflective material on the roof to reduce heat gain, thereby reducing the air conditioning power consumption.<ref>{{cite news |title=IT & Network Infrastructure: HP Green Data Center Vision Offers Eco-Friendly Power, Cooling Technology|first=Jeffrey|last=Burt|url=http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Infrastructure/HP-Green-Data-Center-Vision-Offers-Eco-Friendly-Power-Cooling-Technology-613238/|work=eWeek.com|date=October 14, 2009|access-date=August 29, 2011}}</ref> In front of this building is a 6-foot sculptured penguin, given to the company as part of [[Tulsa Zoo#Sculptures|a local art campaign]] by the [[Tulsa Zoo]].

==Accidents and incidents==
* June 10, 1950: a [[USAF]] [[Douglas C-47]] lost power on takeoff and crashed into an aviation school barracks. Three men were injured, one fatally.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19500610-0|title=43-48477|wikibase=no}}</ref>
* January 6, 1957: [[American Airlines Flight 327]], a [[Convair CV-240]], struck trees 3.6 miles north of the airport and slid some 540 feet. One person was killed out of the 10 on board.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19570106-0|title=N94247|wikibase=no}}</ref>
* January 8, 1965: The pilots of [[Central Airlines]] Flight 168, a Convair CV-240, diverted to Tulsa and performed an intentional [[belly landing]] after repeated unsuccessful attempts to lower the [[landing gear]]. The aircraft was substantially damaged but the nine passengers and three crew were not significantly injured.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Airliner Lands with Wheels Up |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AMNEWS&req_dat=1000BC63AFF86032&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A0F99DDB671832188%2540EANX-NB-0FF3DB861F849130%25402438770-0FF3DB862D5D6983%25401-0FF3DB877AF22447%2540Airliner%252BLands%252Bwith%252BWheels%252BUp |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |location=Dallas, Texas |agency=United Press International |date=January 9, 1965 |access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=78646&key=0 |title=NTSB Aviation Accident Final Report FTW65A0069 |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]|access-date= November 5, 2019}}</ref>
* September 15, 1987: [[Eastern Air Lines]] Flight 216, a [[Boeing 727]] carrying 55 passengers and 7 crew, was seriously damaged in a [[hard landing]]. The aircraft was inspected by mechanics at the American Airlines Tulsa maintenance base and cleared to fly; it was then flown to Kansas City and Chicago with passengers, only to be removed from service after skin wrinkles in the [[fuselage]] were noticed. An American Airlines official later said that the Tulsa mechanics erred in their inspection. The accident was attributed to the pilot's decision to disregard a hazardous weather advisory and land in severe winds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20001213X32134&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=FA |title=NTSB Aviation Accident Final Report MIA87FA248 |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]|access-date= November 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Broyles |first=Gil |title=Wrinkles in Jet's Skin Overlooked |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AMNEWS&req_dat=1000BC63AFF86032&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED3CF5D4AAD9FDF |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |location=Dallas, Texas |date=September 19, 1987 |access-date=November 7, 2019 |quote="Our current thinking is that we erred,' said David Kruse, vice president of American's Maintenance and Engineering Center at Tulsa International Airport.}}</ref>
* February 22, 1991: A [[Mitsubishi MU-2|Mitsubishi MU-2B-60]], registration number N274MA, rolled over and crashed in a steep inverted dive after takeoff; the three occupants were killed. Investigators found the right-hand propeller [[Propeller (aeronautics)#Feathering|feathered]], the left [[Spoiler (aeronautics)|spoiler]] deployed, and the [[Flight control surfaces#Control trimming surfaces|rudder trim]] control in the neutral position; emergency procedures for the MU-2 dictated that after an engine is shut down, rudder trim should be applied "as soon as possible" to prevent spoiler deployment. The accident was attributed to the shutdown of one engine for unverified reasons, the failure of the pilot to maintain [[minimum control speeds|V<sub>MCA</sub>]], and the pilot's improper emergency procedure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20001212X16451&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=FA |title=NTSB Aviation Accident Final Report FTW91FA043 |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]|access-date= November 7, 2019}}</ref>
* December 28, 1992: A [[Beechcraft Musketeer#Model 24 Sierra|Beechcraft C24R Sierra]], registration number N3809Q, struck trees during an [[Instrument Landing System]] approach at night in low visibility, killing the pilot and two passengers. The accident was attributed to "The pilot's disregard of and descent below the published [[decision height]]. Factors were his failure to maintain proper [[glide path]] and [[localizer]] alignment."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20001211X16156&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=FA |title=NTSB Aviation Accident Final Report FTW93FA061 |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]|access-date= November 7, 2019}}</ref>
* November 25, 1994: [[UPS Airlines]] Flight 732, a [[Boeing 757|Boeing 757-24APF]], sustained severe structural damage in a [[tailstrike]] on landing. There were no injuries to the two pilots. The accident was attributed to the failure of the pilot to maintain [[V speeds#Regulatory V-speeds|V<sub>REF</sub>]] and an improper [[landing flare]]. The aircraft was subsequently repaired and placed back in service.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20001206X02604&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=LA |title=NTSB Aviation Accident Final Report FTW95LA055 |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]|access-date= November 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19941125-1 |title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 757-24APF N314UP Tulsa International Airport, OK (TUL) |publisher=Aviation-safety.net |access-date=November 7, 2019}}</ref>
* October 27, 1995: A [[Beechcraft Travel Air|Beechcraft B95 Travel Air]], registration number N9943R, overran Runway 36L on takeoff and struck a tree and railroad tracks, killing the pilot and sole occupant. Investigators attributed the accident to the pilot's failure to remove the flight control [[gust lock]]s during the [[preflight inspection]], and the pilot's subsequent failure to abort the takeoff.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20001207X04684&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=FA |title=NTSB Aviation Accident Final Report FTW96FA030 |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]|access-date= November 7, 2019}}</ref>
* July 10, 2010: A [[Cessna 421]], registration number N88DF, experienced a double engine failure and crashed on approach, killing the two pilots and single passenger. The aircraft was low on fuel, but the pilot did not declare an [[Mayday|emergency]], and accepted a landing clearance on Runway 18R despite being significantly closer to 18L. The accident was attributed to "The pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning and management in-flight, which resulted in total loss of engine power due to [[fuel exhaustion]]. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's use of performance-impairing medications."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20100711X15942&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=FA |title=NTSB Aviation Accident Final Report CEN10FA382 |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]|access-date= November 7, 2019}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
* Manning, Thomas A. (2005), ''History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002''.  Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas {{OCLC|71006954|29991467}}
* Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), ''Locating Air Force Base Sites, History’s Legacy'', Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC. {{OCLC|57007862|1050653629}}
* Gregory, Carl E.  (2002), ''Making Lazy Circles in the Sky A History of Tulsa Aviation 1897 to 2000'' {{ISBN?}}

==External links==
* [https://www.tulsaairports.com/Tulsa International Airport] (official site)
* [http://www.dmairfield.org/places/tulsa_ok/index.html Davis-Monthan Aviation Field Register – Tulsa Municipal Airport" Website showing historical photos of Tulsa Airport]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170924093441/http://capstarbase.org/ Starbase Composite Squadron – Civil Air Patrol]
* [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraft_genericsearch=&airlinesearch=&countrysearch=-+Tulsa+-+Int.+%28Municipal%29+%28TUL+%2F+KTUL%29&specialsearch=&daterange=&keywords=&range=&sort_order=datestamp+desc&page_limit=15&thumbnails=&searchSubmit=Searching%2C+please+wait.../ Aircraft photos at Tulsa International Airport]
* {{FAA-diagram|00432}}
* {{US-airport|TUL}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Transportation in Tulsa, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Airports in Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1928]]
[[Category:1928 establishments in Oklahoma]]