Honolulu International Airport the principal aviation gateway of the City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii and identified as one of the busiest airports in the United States. Honolulu International Airport is the second busiest port in Hawaii following Honolulu Harbor.
Opened in March 1927 as John Rodgers Airport, Honolulu International Airport is the principal hub of Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Airlines the two largest Hawaii-based airlines. Both airlines offer flights between the various airports of the Hawaiian Islands and also serve the continental United States.
Honolulu International Airport is host to major United States and international flagship commercial carriers with direct routes to American, Asian, and Pacific Rimdestinations.
Honolulu International Airport is part of a centralized state structure governing all of the airports and seaports of Hawaii. The official authority of HonoluluInternational Airport is the Governor of Hawaii. He or she appoints the Director of the Hawaii State Department of Transportation who has jurisdiction over the Hawaii Airports Administrator.
Honolulu International Airport has four major runways. The principal runway designated 8R/26L, also known as the Reef Runway, is the world's first major runway constructed entirely offshore. Completed in 1977, the Reef Runway is a designated alternate landing site for the NASA space shuttle program in association with Hickham Airforce Base, which shares Honolulu International Airport's airfield operations.
In addition to the four paved runways, Honolulu International Airport has two designated offshore runways designated 8W/26W and 4W/22W for use by seaplanes.
On March 24, 2006, Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle unveiled a $2.3 billion modernization program for Honolulu International Airport over a 12-year period. The plan involves implementing short-term projects within the first five years to improve passenger service and increase security and operational efficiencies. These include upgrades to the passenger terminals, ticket counters, baggage screening operations, runways and airport aprons, airport infrastructure such as air conditioning, restroom facilities, elevators, escalators, electrical systems, drains and sprinkler systems.
In addition, the plan incorporates improvements to comply with federal regulations on storm water systems, runway safety, perimeter security and crash fire safety. Long-term improvement projects include increasing the airports’ capacity and enhancing convenience and efficiency. These projects include constructing additional gates, ramp space and passenger loading bridges, increasing holding room capacity, and expanding public parking facilities.