Louisville is a historically rich, culturally vibrant, and economically bustling city in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The city has emerged as a popular destination for tourists, and business travelers.
Regarding transportation facilities, Louisville features various airports in its vicinity offering regular commercial flights to several domestic and international destinations.
In this informative guide, we will explore all airports in Louisville City including the primary Louisville International Airport (SDF), and other smaller general aviation airports.
If you’re a frequent flyer or want to explore the aviation industry of Louisville, this article is for you. So, stay till the end!
Table of Contents
What are the major airports in Louisville?
Louisville International Airport (SDF) is the only primary international airport in the city of Louisville that facilitates commercial passenger, and cargo flights to various destinations.
Bowman Field (LOU) is another airport in Louisville however, it is a small general aviation airport that serves private flights, and corporate aviation operations.
Now, let’s explore these airports in detail.
Louisville International Airport (SDF)
Louisville Int’l Airport (ICAO: KSDF, IATA: SDF, FAA LID: SDF) is the primary international airport located in Jefferson County, Louisville. The airport is owned, and operated by Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA).
Louisville International Airport is also known as Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in honor of the boxer, and Louisville native Muhammad Ali.
SDF Airport is situated at an elevation of 501 ft (153 m) AMSL and serves Louisville Metropolitan Area. It is also the primary hub for cargo carrier UPS Airlines.
SDF Airport Infrastructure
Louisville Int’l Airport covers a total area of 1,500 acres, and features three concrete runways with the designation: RWY 17R/35L, RWY 17L/35R, and RWY 11/29.
| SDF RUNWAYS | LENGTH | SURFACE |
| RWY 17R/35L | 11,887 ft (3,623 m) | Concrete |
| RWY 17L/35R | 8,579 ft (2,615 m) | Concrete |
| RWY 11/29 | 7,250 ft (2,210 m) | Concrete |
The airport infrastructure holds a main commercial terminal which is known as The Jerry E. Abramson Terminal. There are two Concourses at the terminal: Concourse A, and Concourse B.
The terminal building is made up of two floors. You can find the baggage claim section, ground transportation, and other basic terminal facilities on the first floor whereas ticketing, passenger drop-off, and Concourse entry are available on the second floor.
Concourse A
- Gates – A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, A8, A9, A10, A11, A12, A14, and A15
- Airlines – Allegiant Air (A10), Delta Air Lines (A1, A3, and A5), Frontier Airlines (A11), United Airlines (A14, and A15), and Spirit Airlines (A6).
- Shopping Options – CNBC Express, TODAY, Louisville Slugger, Churchill Downs, Kentucky Bourbon Trail, 24-Hour Flower Center, and Brooks Brothers.
- Food Options – The Local Rustic Market, Chili’s Bar and Grill, Book and Bourbon Southern Kitchen, The Comfy Cow, Starbucks, and KFC
Concourse B
- Gates – B2, B4, B5, B6, B9, B11, B15, B16, B16A, B17, B18, B18A, and B19
- Airlines – American Airlines (B4, B6, B16, and B18), Southwest Airlines (B15, and B17), and Breeze Airways (B9).
- Shopping Options – WAVE3 News
- Food Options – Coals Artisan Pizza, Smashburger, and Farmers Market
Terminal Facilities & Services offered by SDF Airport
- Charging Stations (AC Outlets & USB Ports)
- Full-Service Bank, and Currency Exchange
- Information Booth
- Complimentary Wireless Internet Service
- Foreign Language Interpretation Information Booth
- Lost & Baggage
- USO Louisville Metro
- Pet Relief Area
- Transportation Security Administration
- ATM Locations
- Mother’s Room
- Automatic Electronic Defibrillator
- All Gender & Family Restroom
- Airport Parking Facility
- Food & Shopping Options
- Ground Transporation
- Rental Car Center, and more.
Airlines at Louisville International Airport (SDF)
The major commercial airlines operating flights out of SDF airport are Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines.
The cargo carriers at the airport are UPS Airlines, Air Cargo Carriers, Ameriflight, FedEx Express, and SkyLink Express.
| AIRLINES AT SDF AIRPORT | DESTINATIONS |
| Allegiant Air | Austin (AUS), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Orlando Sanford (SFB), Punta Gorda (PGD), and St. Petersburg/Clearwater Seasonal Routes: Charleston (CHS), Destin/Fort Walton Beach (VPS), Las Vegas (LAS), Myrtle Beach (MYR), New Orleans (MSY), Savannah (SAV), and Sarasota (SRQ) |
| American Airlines | Boston (BOS), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Miami (MIA), New York (LGA), Philadelphia (PHL), and Washington D.C. Reagan (DCA) |
| Breeze Airways | Charleston (CHS), New Orleans (MSY), San Francisco (SFO), Tampa (TPA), and Raleigh-Durham–Beginning May 19, 2023 (RDU) |
| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta (ATL), Detroit (DTW), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (LGA), and Boston–Beginning May 8, 2023 (BOS) |
| Southwest Airlines | Baltimore (BWI), Chicago Midway (MDW), Dallas Love (DAL), Denver (DEN), Fort Myers (RSW), Houston Hobby (HOU), Las Vegas (LAS), Orlando (MCO), Phoenix (PHX), and Tampa (TPA) Seasonal Route: Fort Lauderdale (FLL) |
| Spirit Airlines | Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), and Orlando (MCO) |
| Sun Country Airlines | Minneapolis (MSP) – Beginning May 4, 2023 |
| United Airlines | Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), and Washington Dulles (IAD) |
SDF Airport Travel Tips
Here are some important travel tips you can follow to enhance your travel experience at Louisville International Airport (SDF).
- You are always recommended to arrive early so that, you get enough time for check-in, security screening, and reaching the boarding gate on time. SDF Airport advises passengers to arrive 1.5 hours prior to their domestic flight, and 2 hours for an international flight.
- If you are in dilemma on how to reach Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, you can find various ground transportation services including rental cars, hotel courtesy vans, limousines, cabs, ride-sharing services (Lyft and Uber), and shuttle buses.
- If you arrive at the airport in your private vehicle and require parking space, you can find various parking spaces on-site, and off-site. You can also book parking spaces online by visiting the airport’s website.
- The available check-in options at the SDF Airport are online check-in, airline check-in desks, and self-service kiosk check-in.
- Always remember to carry important documents such as an ID, Passport, and visa (if required).
- Ensure you are following TSA policies on carry-on, and checked baggage. Also, you need to check the baggage policy of your respective airline so that, your travel won’t be disrupted due to oversized, and overweight baggage.
If you are traveling with your pets, make sure you are following the pet travel policies of the respective airlines. For detailed information on pet travel policies, you can refer to the following articles.
- American Airlines Pet Travel Policy
- Delta Air Lines Pet Travel Policy
- Frontier Airlines Pet Travel Policy
- JetBlue Pet Travel Policy
- Southwest Airlines Pet Travel Policy
- Spirit Airlines Pet Travel Policy
- United Airlines Pet Travel Policy
Bowman Field (LOU)
Bowman Field (ICAO: KLOU, IATA: LOU, FAA LID: LOU) is a general aviation reliever airport for Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF). The airport is located 5 miles southeast of downtown Louisville and is operated by Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA).
Bowman Field is situated at an elevation of 546 ft (166 m) AMSL and serves Lousiville City with general aviation operations. It covers a total area of 426 acres (172 ha), and features two asphalt runways: RWY 6/24 (4,326 ft. long), and RWY 15/33 (4,579 ft. long).
The airport serves general aviation traffic, including private and corporate aircraft, as well as some military operations.
Major Airports near Louisville
Besides SDF, and LOU airport, there are several airports near Louisville including international airports, and small general aviation airfields.
| AIRPORTS NEAR LOUISVILLE | DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE | ESTIMATED DRIVING TIME |
| Clark Regional Airport (JVY) | 9.8 miles | 14 minutes |
| Madison Municipal Airport (IMS) | 46.4 miles | 55 minutes |
| Elizabethtown Regional Airport (EKX) | 50.2 miles | 49 minutes |
| Capital City Airport (FFT) | 51.2 miles | 51 minutes |
| Freeman Municipal Airport (SER) | 54.2 miles | 58 minutes |
| Blue Grass Airport (LEX) | 71.2 miles | 1 hour 9 minutes |
| Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) | 96.6 miles | 1 hour 28 minutes |
| Indianapolis International Airport (IND) | 122 miles | 1 hour 53 minutes |
| James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY) | 164 miles | 2 hours 31 minutes |
Conclusion on Airports in Louisville
As we come to the end of this informative blog, we discovered two main airports in Louisville which are Louisville International Airport (SDF), and Bowman Field (LOU).
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is the primary commercial airport in the region that offers flights to various destinations operated by major carriers including Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines.
Bowman Field (LOU) is a general aviation reliever airport for SDF that serves private, and corporate aircraft.
If you are traveling to Louisville, there are several tips to keep in mind. Firstly, it is essential to arrive at the airport with enough time to clear security and check-in, especially during peak travel times. Secondly, travelers should consider their transportation options to and from the airport, including rental cars, taxis, ride-sharing services, and public transportation.
FAQs on Airports in Louisville
Does Louisville have 2 airports?
Yes, Louisville Airports features 2 airports which are Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF), and Bowman Field (LOU). SDF is the primary commercial airport in the region whereas LOU is the general aviation reliever airport.
What airport do you fly into for Louisville KY?
If you’re flying to Louisville KY, the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is the best airport to land at. This airport is served by a total of 8 commercial airlines connecting the region to several destinations.
Why is Louisville Airport called SDF?
Louisville International Airport is called SDF because it was originally named Standiford Field after Dr. Elisha David Standiford, a local businessman and aviation pioneer. The airport was renamed Louisville International Airport in 1985, but the SDF code remained in use for historical reasons and to maintain consistency with other airports that had already been assigned three-letter codes.
What airlines fly out of Louisville KY?
Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines are the major airlines flying out of Louisville KY.
