Toledo Express Airport (IATA: TOL, ICAO: KTOL, FAA LID: TOL) is a joint civil-military airport in Swanton and Monclova townships 10 mi (16 km) to the west of Toledo in western Lucas County, Ohio, United States. The airport opened in 1955 as a replacement to then Toledo Municipal Airport located southeast of Toledo. TOL is near the crossing of State Route 2 and Interstate 80/90 (Ohio Turnpike Exit 52).
TOL is used by passenger and cargo airlines, general aviation, and is home to the Ohio Air National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing. The airport is a secondary airport for Detroit Metropolitan â€" Wayne County Airport and the surrounding region, including as a primary diversion point for aircraft arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The airport is operated by the Toledoâ€"Lucas County Port Authority on a lease agreement from the City of Toledo. The airport also serves as headquarters and ground cargo hub for BX Solutions.
In 2015, Toledo Express recorded its third straight year of passenger growth reaching 179,911.
Facilities
Toledo Express Airport covers 2,345 acres (949Â ha) and has two runways:
- Runway 7/25: 10,599 x 150Â ft (3,231 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
- Runway 16/34: 5,599 x 150Â ft (1,707 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
Aircraft use
- 91 aircraft are based at TOL: 21 military aircraft, 22 single engine and 22 multi engine airplanes, and 26 jet airplanes.
- In 2008 the airport averaged 149 operations per day: 35% transient general aviation, 24% air taxi, 18% commercial, 14% local general aviation, and 9% military.
Structures
- 81-acre air ramp on the south side of the airport used for air cargo, storage, ground shipping and also aircraft diversions.
- 8-gate domestic passenger terminal on the north side of the airfield.
- Common use air cargo and cold storage building on the north side of the airfield by the terminal.
- 5000 sq. ft. Customs facility to handle inbound international flight crews, passengers and cargo opened in April 2016.
Passenger services
Terminal
Toledo Express has one passenger terminal with 9 gates of which three (Gates 3, 4, and 5) in the central part of the terminal are primarily used on a daily basis. The terminal features an east wing that comprises one upper level gate (Gate 2) and two lower level gates (Gates 1 and 1A). The ground level gates are capable of supporting up to 5 total aircraft at once combined. The oldest part of the terminal is the western wing, which comprises Gates 6 through 8 (originally 5 through 7); these are rarely used. During the terminal upgrades that introduced a new gate area for Gate 4 and a brand new Gate 5, the original Gate 5 was renumbered to Gate 6. Previous Gate 6 (now 7) is inoperative and no longer has a jetbridge attached to it; previous Gate 7 (now 8) remains a stairwell to ramp-level boarding.
The terminal is mostly original from the 1950s, but several upgrades have taken place. This includes the remodeling and construction of the east wing as well as the new central gate area.
Terminal features
The terminal has two levels with the passenger waiting area, beyond security, on the upper level. In that area the passengers have access to a food court and bar on the second level. There is also a children's play area. Prior to security there is a gift shop near the front entrances of the terminal near the airline ticket counters. Baggage claim is on the lower level on the east side of the terminal with two baggage carousels. The rental car counters are located between the arrivals waiting area and the baggage claim. Free wireless (Wi-Fi) is available terminal wide.
2013 true market study results
The Port Authority commissioned a true market study of the Toledo catchment area to determine opportunities for air service development. The study found 510,000 people are within 30 minutes of Toledo Express. The total catchment area encompasses 981,000 residents. The actual passengers per day each way for the Toledo market is 3,241, of which TOL only captures 5.7%. Detroit Metro captures the most of 64.3%, with the remaining traveling to other airports in Cleveland and Columbus. There are also 372 international passengers per day, of which Toledo captures only 2.8%.
Delta Air Lines is the largest airline in the Toledo market area, capturing 44% of the traffic, United Airlines is second with 12.4%, and American Airlines (the only legacy airline serving TOL directly) with 10.3%.
Top markets according to the report
- Orlando (MCO) / Sanford (SFB) is the largest market with 259 daily passengers with only 36 retained, or 13.9% of the market.
- Miami (MIA) / Fort Lauderdale (FLL) / West Palm Beach (PBI) came in second with 206 daily passengers and only 3 retained.
- Las Vegas (LAS) was third with 197 daily passengers and only 1 passenger retained each day.
- Chicago (ORD / MDW) has 174 daily passengers and had 28 passengers retained each day for 16% of the market.
- Tampa (TPA) / St. Petersburg (PIE) produced 152 daily passengers with 41 of those retained or 27% of the market.
- Phoenix (AZA / PHZ)
- Fort Myers (RSW) / Punta Gorda (PGD)
- New York City (LGA / JFK) / Newark (EWR)
- Los Angeles (LAX) / Burbank (BUR) / Ontario (ONT) / Orange County (SNA)
- Washington DC (DCA / IAD) / Baltimore (BWI)
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
Cargo
Ground transportation
Taxi and shuttle service
Taxi service at the airport is currently contracted to A1 Accurate Limousine and Airport Service. While other taxi operators are available in Toledo, none are currently able to stage at the airport.
Car rental companies
Toledo Express is currently served by Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National.
Parking lots
The airport offers two parking lots: short term and long term. Both are located on the north side of the airport and offer covered walkways to the passenger terminal. The parking lot is operated by Republic Parking Systems and it is also a partner of the Thanks Again rewards program.
Government and military operations
The airport is also home to Toledo Air National Guard Base and the 180th Fighter Wing (180 FW), an Air Combat Command (ACC)-gained unit of the Ohio Air National Guard.
Toledo ANGB consists of a Federal enclave of 135.4 acres (0.548Â km2) leased by the Department of Defense for the State of Ohio and the Ohio Air National Guard, housing combat-ready F-16C Fighting Falcon jet fighters and associated Air National Guard support units. Physical facilities consist of 3 administrative, 13 industrial and 7 services building (including hangar facilities), totaling nearly 322,000 square feet.
There are 21 military aircraft based at TOL, supported by 290 full-time Air Reserve Technician (ART) and Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) personnel. Over 600 additional part-time Traditional Air National Guardsmen round out the balance of the 180 FW, capable of deploying worldwide to meet Air Force and combatant commander requirements as part of the Air Reserve Component of the U.S. Air Force. Concurrently, the 180 FW also provides traditional National Guard state support roles in the event of local and state emergencies to the Governor of Ohio.
Airport based businesses and organizations
Fixed-base operators
- Grand Aire operates as a fixed-based operator on the northwest side of the airport.
- National Flight Services operates as a fixed-based operator on the north side of the airport, and also as an engine overhaul and aircraft maintenance facility.
- TOL Aviation operates as a fixed-based operator on the north side of the airport.
Aerospace companies
- Toledo Jet Center is a business jet maintenance and avionics services company that specializes in the Cessna Citation aircraft series.
- BD Aero Works is an aircraft charter and maintenance provider.
- Quick Flight is an airline services company offer handling services at over 30 airports across the country for both above- and below-wing services. The company's headquarters is located just west of the airport in Swanton.
Corporate hangars
- Toledo Express is used for several Toledo area companies as a base for their corporate aircraft. These companies include Owens-Illinois and Owens-Corning.
- Promedica Air houses its air ambulances at Toledo Express.
Toledoâ€"Lucas County Port Authority
Toledoâ€"Lucas County Port Authority:
- President â€" Paul Toth
- Airport Manager â€" Stephen Arnold
- Manager of Airport Administration â€" Linda Friend
- Receptionist/Administrative Secretary â€" Joyce Amborski
- Operations Specialist â€" Dan Spaugy
- Operations Specialist â€" Kyle Garris
Education
- Toledo Public Schools operates a training center at the airport.
Cargo Development Zone and Joint Economic Development District
In 2013, the Port Authority backed a plan collect income tax from businesses and employees on property at the airport owned by the Port Authority and other entities that sign on to the agreement. The income tax would be distributed to an airport fund in addition to the participating communities of the city of Toledo and Monclova and Swanton townships. The airport fund would take 55% of the first $500,000, 52.5% of the next $250,000, and declining from there. If revenues are over $1.5 million, the airport would see roughly 24.12% according to reports. A Port Authority Airport Committee meeting also stated that the City of Toledo's share would also be redirected back to the airport fund boosting revenues.
The Cargo Development Zone is an area on the south side of the airport to the south of Runway 7â€"25, west of Runway 16â€"34, and north of US-20A. The site features onsite customers and a foreign trade zone. The development area will also provide access to the 78-acre air cargo ramp.
History
Scheduled passenger airline service
- Efforts to build a modern airport started shortly after World War II, when civic leaders realized that Toledo Municipal Airport (today's Toledo Executive Airport) was inadequate to the demands of the coming postwar aviation boom. A number of locations were proposed and discarded until 1952, when a consortium of six major Toledo companies â€" Libbey-Owens-Ford, Owens-Illinois, Owens-Corning Fiberglas, Champion Spark Plug, Electric Auto-Lite, and Willys-Overland â€" acquired the site of Toledo Express Airport west of Toledo and sold the land to the city at cost.
- The airlines moved to the new airport around 1955; the April 1957 Official Airline Guide (OAG) lists thirteen weekday departures operated by United Airlines, six by Trans World Airlines (TWA), six by Delta Air Lines, four by Eastern Air Lines and four by Capital Airlines.
- By November 1979, seven different airlines were operating mainline jet service from the airport according to the OAG. These air carriers along with the jet aircraft types they flew from Toledo as well as respective nonstop destinations served in the fall of 1979 are as follows:
- Air Florida: Boeing 737-200 â€" Washington, D.C. National Airport (DCA)
- Delta Air Lines: Boeing 727-200, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 â€" Atlanta, GA (ATL), Cincinnati, OH (CVG), Dayton, OH (DAY)
- Eastern Air Lines: Boeing 727-200, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50 â€" Columbus, OH (CMH) with one stop direct service to Miami, FL (MIA) and Tampa, FL (TPA)
- Frontier Airlines (1950-1986): Boeing 737-200 â€" Detroit, MI (DTW) with one stop direct service to Denver, CO (DEN)
- Trans World Airlines (TWA): Boeing 727-100, Boeing 727-200 â€" St. Louis (STL)
- United Airlines: Boeing 727-100, Boeing 727-200, Boeing 737-200 â€" Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD), Cleveland, OH (CLE), Denver, CO (DEN)
- USAir: British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 â€" Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)
- At this same time in 1979 according to the OAG, Air Wisconsin and Comair were both serving the airport as independent commuter air carriers with Air Wisconsin flying Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner commuter propjets nonstop to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Detroit (DTW) while Comair was operating Piper Navajo twin prop commuter aircraft nonstop to Cincinnati (CVG).
- February, 1985 â€" Piedmont Airlines (1948-1989) was operating direct, daily one stop Boeing 727-200 jet service between the airport and San Francisco (SFO) via Dayton, Ohio (DAY).
- January 8, 1989 â€" American Eagle Airlines operating on behalf of American Airlines began nonstop service between Toledo Express and Chicago O'Hare with four daily flights. By December 1989, American Eagle was operating five nonstop flights every weekday between Chicago and the airport with ATR-42 turboprops while United Express operated by Air Wisconsin was flying four round trips every weekday between Chicago and Toledo, three with Fokker F27 turboprops and one with a British Aerospace BAe 146-200 jet. According to the OAG, other airlines and aircraft serving Toledo at the end of 1989 included:
- Continental Express operated by Britt Airways: Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia â€" nonstop commuter turboprop service to Cleveland, OH (CLE) Continental Express' last flight, to CLE, was to end on March 1. 2001
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- Delta Air Lines: Boeing 727-200, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 â€" nonstop service to Atlanta, GA (ATL) and Fort Wayne, IN (FWA)
- Delta Connection operated by Comair: Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner â€" nonstop commuter turboprop service to Cincinnati, OH (CVG) On March 13, 2011, Delta Air Lines' last flight from Toledo, a Delta Connection CRJ flight to MSP, was operated. Northwest Airlines also operated from the airport until its acquisition by Delta.
- Northwest Airlink operated by Mesaba Airlines: Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner â€" nonstop commuter turboprop service to Detroit, MI (DTW)
- USAir: Boeing 727-200, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 â€" nonstop service to Dayton, OH (DAY) and Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)
- USAir Express: British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31 â€" nonstop commuter turboprop service to Dayton, OH (DAY) and Indianapolis, IN (IND)
- 1997 is the busiest year in Toledo Express' history. 679,841 fly out of KTOL. Much of the growth is attributed to AirTran Airways offering low cost jet flights to Orlando, Florida.
- March 13, 2012 â€" Direct Air suspended operations from the airport. The charter carrier was subject to Chapter 7 liquidation on April 12, 2012.
- December 5, 2012 â€" Allegiant Air announces new twice weekly service from Toledo Express and Punta Gorda, FL replacing previous suspended service by Direct Air.
- December 12, 2012 â€" Sierra West Airlines, a cargo air carrier, signed a 30-year lease to open a new aircraft and crew base at Toledo. The airline announced it would lease a 17,555 sq. ft. hangar formerly used by BD Aeroworks.
Burlington Air Express / BAX Global hub
Toledo Express served as the main North American hub for DB Schenker, which acquired BAX Global, an international air cargo company, from 1993 until September 2011. DB Schenker leased a 300,000-square-foot (30,000Â m2) warehouse facility with direct access to the runways at Toledo Express. They operated approximately 20 flights on average (with a peak of 42) per night from across the United States. Toledo Express was the 22nd busiest cargo hub in North America in 2009 with 241,472 tons handled. The facility is now home to the headquarters of BX Solutions, a ground logistics and shipping company started up by former BAX Global employees with plans to re-establish the former domestic BAX Global ground and eventually air networks.
Accidents and incidents
- On October 29, 1960, a chartered plane carrying the Cal Poly football team, hours after a loss to Bowling Green State University, crashed on takeoff at the Toledo Express Airport. Eighteen of the forty-eight people on board were killed, including sixteen players, the team's student manager, and a Cal Poly football booster.
- In the early morning hours of February 15, 1992 an Air Transport International Douglas DC-8-63F cargo jet (tail number N794AL), operating for Burlington Air Express as Flight 805, crashed 3 miles north of the runway into a wheat field just after executing its second missed approach. All four crew members perished and the aircraft, carrying mostly computer parts was completely destroyed. The cause of the crash is listed as "spatial disorientation" by the captain.
- December 15, 2006 â€" Security heightened when Toledo Express Airport noted there was a bomb threat. A note that was found in the commuter aircraft simply put it as 'bomb' and that was enough for the airport to take the necessary precautions. They later learned there was no explosives on board of the aircraft.
- January 12, 2007 â€" A bomb threat was called to 911 on a cell phone that American Eagle Flight 4359 flying out of the Toledo Express Airport had a bomb on board. This caused Toledo officials to heighten security at the airport. The plane had pushed away from the terminal and was getting ready to take off for Chicagoâ€"O'Hare when the 911 call was made at around 10:30 a.m. The plane had 30 passengers and three crew members on board, and no injuries were reported. The plane had sat isolated on a runway for about an hour before the fire trucks and other vehicles approached. The FBI and city fire officials did not know whether the caller was the one making the threat. The FBI are continuing to determine who sent the call in, but they also determined later in the day that the bomb threat was a hoax. American Eagle is a regional service for American Airlines.
- January 16, 2007 â€" A second bomb threat within four days at the Toledo Express Airport had been declared another hoax. The bomb threat was sent through e-mail to the airport.
Northeast blackout of 2003 and other notable diversions
During the afternoon of August 14, 2003, Toledo Express served as a primary diversion point for Detroit Metro and Northwest Airlines. During that time Toledo accepted 6 DC-9-30s, 4 Saab 340s and 2 CRJ-200s. Passengers were deplaned and bused to Detroit for the remainder of their trip. The aircraft remained in Toledo until power was restored.
During the time when Northwest maintained the hub at Detroit Metro, Toledo Express served as the primary diversion point for inbound aircraft including international arrivals. The airport has accepted, on numerous occasions, the diversions of 747s, DC-10s, DC-9s, and A320s.
Toledo Express has also accepted diversions for other airports in the regional including both Chicago O'Hare and Midway if a suitable alternative isn't available closer. During a significant fog event in 2004 that caused ground stops in the Chicago area, American Eagle diverted 4 ERJ-145s to Toledo and ATA (American Trans Air) diverted a Boeing 757-200 operating from Washington National to Midway.
Failed commercial start-up attempts
Toledo has had a few air service announcements made that never materialized or were dropped prior to being operated.
Previous passenger air service history
Since opening in 1955, Toledo Express Airport has served many airlines over the course of history. Airline service prior to 1955 was operated from present day Toledo Executive Airport formerly known as Toledo Municipal Airport and Toledo Metcalf Airport.
- *Carrier continues to serve other destinations.
- Referenced New Articles:,
References
External links
- Toledo Express Airport (official site)
- Toledoâ€"Lucas County Port Authority (official site)
- Fly Toledo / Northwest Ohio Aviation Council
- 180th Fighter Wing, Ohio Air National Guard (official site)
- Toledo Express Airport (ANG) (GlobalSecurity.org)
- Resources for this airport:
- AirNav airport information for KTOL
- ASN accident history for TOL
- FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
- NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
- SkyVector aeronautical chart for KTOL
- FAA current TOL delay information
- FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective October 12, 2017