Maryland Aviation History - Maryland Aviation Administration

History of Maryland Aviation

Maryland’s aviation history is marked by pioneering achievements and significant contributions to flight innovation. Glenn L. Martin’s establishment of an aircraft company in Middle River during the early 20th century laid the foundation for aeronautical progress in the state. Maryland played a vital role in aircraft production during both World Wars, producing noteworthy planes. The state’s legacy expanded with the creation of major airfields like Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. This history showcases Maryland’s role in military aviation, commercial flight, and aerospace research.

1784

1784 – First Manned Flight Over Baltimore

Edward Warren, at the age of 13, makes first recorded manned flight in the United States, in a balloon, over the City of Baltimore.

1784

1909

1909 – College Park Airport Begins Operations

College Park Airport begins operations. Today, it is the oldest operating airport in the United States.

1909

1921

1921 – The Opening of Logan Field

Logan Field, the first commercial aviation facility in Maryland, opens in Baltimore.

1921

1929

1929 – Airmail Service Begins

Regular airmail service begins.

1929

1930

1930 – First Passenger Service from Logan Field

Eastern Air Transport Company, now Eastern Airlines, inaugurates first scheduled passenger service from Logan Field.

1930

1946

1946 – A New Maryland Airport

Master plan for a new airport in Maryland complete. The Baltimore Aviation Commission selects 3,200-acre site in the vicinity of Friendship Church, Anne Arundel County, 10 miles south of Baltimore and 30 miles north of Washington, D.C.

1946

1947

1947 – Construction Begins

Construction on new airport begins and is officially named Friendship International Airport.

1947

Friendship dedication walking with BWI tower in background

1950

1950 – Friendship International Airport Dedication

President Harry S. Truman dedicates Friendship International Airport on June 24th. Scheduled airline service begins one month later. The airport is viewed as the most advanced in the United States.

1950

1957

1957 – Record-Breaking Transcontinental Flight

Friendship International Airport is the East Coast terminus of the record-breaking transcontinental flight by first Boeing 707 jetliner.

1957

1959

1959 – The Douglas DC-8

Federal Certification Ceremonies for the Douglas DC-8 are celebrated at Friendship International Airport.

1959

1972

1972 – MDOT Purchase of Friendship

The State of Maryland, through the Department of Transportation (MDOT), purchases Friendship International Airport from the City of Baltimore for $36 million. Under MDOT, the State Aviation Administration takes over airfield operations and grows from three employees to more than 200.

1972

1973

1973 - Baltimore/Washington International Airport

Plan to upgrade, improve and modernize all Maryland airport facilities is announced by Secretary of Transportation, Harry Hughes. The airport is renamed Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) to reflect its role as the transportation center of the region.

1973

1974

1974 – BWI Improvements

First phase of BWI modernization complete at a cost of $30 million; upgrades include: improved instrument landing capabilities and runway systems and construction of three new air cargo terminals, expanding the airport’s freight capacity to 110,000 square feet.

1974

1979

1979 – Terminal Renovations / Development Council

Passenger terminal renovation complete, the most dramatic work of the airport’s modernization. BWI more than doubles in size to 635,000 square feet, gate positions increase from 20 to 27. Total cost of project: $70 million.

BWI Development Council established to support initiatives for airport development.

1979

1980

1980 – Amtrak Rail Station Opening

BWI Amtrak Rail Station opens, serving passengers throughout the Northeast Corridor. BWI becomes first airport in the U.S. to have a rail station on airport grounds.

1980

1983

1983 – New Tower, Piedmont Hub, Pier D & A New General Aviation Center

New FAA Control Tower dedicated, doubling space for FAA tower operations. Modern radar and electronic equipment installed both in the tower and on the runway system.
BWI selected by Piedmont Airlines as hub facility. Major flight expansion by the carrier begins July 15th.
Pier D expanded from seven to 19 gates to meet Piedmont’s hub operation needs.
New General Aviation Center opens on the east side of BWI to meet the needs of private and corporate aircraft users, includes an executive terminal, parking and hangar facilities and a 3,600-foot general aviation runway.

1983

1986

1986 – Upgrades

New master plan study, a comprehensive development plan, is completed with recommendations covering airfield improvements, terminal expansion, parking, cargo buildings, noise abatement, maintenance and fire/rescue facilities.
Major replacement and upgrade begins on runway and taxiway lighting system.

1986

1987

1987 – Runway 10/28 Work

Runway 10/28 rehabilitated.

1987

1988

1988 – Pier D Opening & More Runway Work

BWI celebrates official opening of new commuter terminal and expansion of Pier D to handle growth of USAir/Piedmont hub operation.
Runway 15L/33R rehabilitated.

1988

1989

1989 – Security Enhancements & New Passenger Record

Work begins to lengthen the General Aviation runway at BWI to 5,000 feet to accommodate commercial commuter traffic.
Over and above FAA requirements, BWI enhances its security system.
BWI breaks all previous passenger traffic records, reaching more than one million passengers in a month for the first time (Aug.). Totals 10.4million passengers for the year.

1989

1990

1990 – Icelandair, I-195 & Record Growth

Icelandair begins Boeing 757 service from BWI to Iceland-Stockholm.
After five years of work, Interstate I-195 opens, connecting BWI directly to I-95, greatly improving access from the Baltimore-Washington metro area.
BWI ends year with record growth in international passengers (up 34 percent) and freight (up nearly 70 percent) over 1989 totals.

1990

1991

1991 – New Parking Garage

New, four-level parking garage, located in the front of the main terminal, opens Sept. 16th. Total cost of the project is $29 million. The garage features space for rental car facilities and 2,800 parking spaces to ease drop-off/pick-up traffic congestion.

1991

1992

1992 – Canadian Connections, International Pier & Bike Trail

Air Ontario, an Air Canada connector, begins three daily flights from BWI to Toronto. BWI becomes first area airport to offer service to three major Canadian cities.
Design work begins in October for new international pier, to include ticket counters, gates, federal processing facilities and a terminus for the light rail line from the Baltimore region.
Construction begins on the BWI Bike Trail, linking recreational resources around BWI and connecting to the Baltimore Annapolis Trail.

1992

1993

1993 – Runway Extension, Southwest & New London Service

Construction begins in June on an extension to Runway 10/28 to better accommodate long haul international traffic.
Southwest Airlines Co. selects BWI as its first East Coast gateway airport. Service begins on Sept. 15th to Cleveland and Chicago.
British Airways opens service to London’s Gatwick Airport.

1993

1994

1994 - Construction, Expansion, Record Growth

Construction starts on first de-icing pad adjacent to Runway 15R. The pad was partially completed and used for limited de-icing fluid collection during the winter of 1994-1995.
First section (4.4-miles) of the 12.6-mile BWI Bike Trail opens in July. Built largely with federal funds, the trail links community resources and employers on the East Side of the airport.
Mass Transit Administration breaks ground on multi-story-parking garage for BWI Rail Station.
BWI breaks ground on $27.6 million expansion to extend Pier C, bringing six additional domestic gate positions to the terminal. Southwest Airlines Co. signs up for all six new gate positions.
Airfield capacity at BWI boosted with completion of extension to Commercial Runway 10/28. The 10,500-foot expansion enables the airport to handle long-haul air traffic in most weather conditions.
Construction begins on $140-million international terminal to handle projected traffic increases into the 21st century. The new wing will add six gates, more ticket counter space, and expands the existing U.S. Customs and Immigration and Naturalization Service facilities.
Over 12.8 million passengers served by BWI Airport in 1994, an all-time high nearly 36 percent more than the previous year.

1994

1995

1995 - New BWI Observation Gallery and More Growth

SuperShuttle initiates ground transportation service to Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington D.C. First de-icing pad complete, accommodating simultaneous de-icing for up to five commercial jet aircraft, included is a 600,000-gallon storage tank and transmission pipeline between the de-icing pad and tank.
Construction on second de-icing pad, adjacent to Runway 15L/33, begins.
First new gates of Pier C expansion in use, renovations continue.
BWI Observation Gallery officially opens to the public with enthusiastic response to the Gallery and the Smithsonian Museum Shop.
Phase Two of the BWI Bike Trail opens to public; Tom Dixon Aircraft Observation Area, on Dorsey Road, re-opens with paved parking, rest room facilities and bike racks.
United Airlines adds daily non-stop service to San Francisco, with connections to Hong Kong, Osaka, Seoul, Taipei and Tokyo.
Total passenger traffic at BWI reaches nearly 13.2 million, eclipsing the previous mark set in 1994. The combined commercial passenger increases of 2.7 percent at BWI, in 1995, exceed the 1.4 percent growth rate reported for U.S. airline traffic nationwide, as reported by the Air Transport Association (ATA).

1995

1996

1996 - Parking & De-Icing Expansion

Southwest Airlines begins non-stop flights to Tampa and Orlando and direct service to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
BWI Parking Garage expansion project more than doubles the size of the existing garage, accommodating 5,600 vehicles.
Construction on second de-icing pad complete. The $2.5 million facility accommodates simultaneous de-icing for up to three commuter or general aviation aircraft.
Total passenger traffic at BWI tops 13.4 million, a new record for the third consecutive year.

1996

1997

1997 - New International Pier and Doppler Radar

Federal Aviation Administration brings new, Terminal Doppler Weather Radar System (TDWRS) on line. The TDWRS is better able to detect microbursts and windshear.
BWI’s new, state-of-the-art Aircraft Rescue Fire-fighting Facility opens in July, housing all aircraft rescue and fire-fighting resources in one location.
Construction completed on $1.5 million project to modify drains at Pier C. Upgrades, and two additional glycol recovery vehicles, allow collection of de-icing fluid from 13 aircraft gates.
BWI parking garage expansion project complete, providing a total of 5,600 spaces, 4,600 for public use and 1,000 spaces for rental car storage.
First moving walkways installed from the airport’s parking garage through the pedestrian tunnel, open to the public.
Frontier Airlines begins service from BWI to Denver, Colorado.
Governor William Donald Schaefer International Terminal opens. The $140 million project features Light Rail service on the lower level.
Total passenger traffic at BWI reaches more than 14 million, a new record for the fourth consecutive year.

1997

1998

1998 - More De-Icing Expansion

Southwest Airlines Co. pilot base opened at BWI, brings 200 new jobs with an estimated $42.3 million annual economic impact.
Adjacent to Runway 28, construction begins on third BWI de-icing pad.
More than 15 million passengers choose the ‘easy come, easy go’ airport, a new record for the fifth year in a row.

1998

1999

1999 - AB Renovations & Bike Trail

Runway 28 de-icing pad complete, cost: $7.4 million. The pad accommodates up to seven commercial jets. Phase II of the Runway 28 pad project will add a second 600,000-gallon de-icing fluid storage tank and construct an underground piping system to pump fluid to the tank, cost: $3.5million.
MAA announces a unique public/private partnership that will build, own and operate new Cargo Complex on the midfield of BWI.
Plans begin for renovation of Piers A and B, cost: $85.2 million. BWI project will provide more gates for the expansion of Southwest Airlines Co.
BWI hiker/biker trail complete. The 12.5-mile recreational trail is the only one of its kind in the country that encircles the property of a major commercial airport.
Southwest Airlines Co. opens first East Coast flight attendant crew base at BWI.
BWI wins International Marketing Award for its innovative and effective advertising campaign in various British media outlets
Total passenger traffic reaches more than 17.4 million, a new record for the sixth consecutive year and 16.2 percent increase over 1998 total.

1999

2000

2000 - Ghana, VISION & AEDs

Maryland and Ghanaian officials gather to celebrate Ghana Airways inaugural flight between BWI and the Ghanaian capital of Accra.
BWI’s five-year, $1.8 billion expansion and improvement VISION unveiled.
Aer Lingus, the Irish national airline, begins service from BWI Airport.
The Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) completes installation of 29 life-saving, automatic external defibrillator (AED) units throughout the BWI terminal complex.
Total passenger traffic reaches more than 19.6 million, a new record for the seventh consecutive year and 12.4 percent increase compared with 1999 totals.

2000

2001

2001 - Smart Park & AirTran

BWI named the fastest growing airport among the 30 busiest in North America.
Groundbreaking for BWI’s five-year, $1.8 billion expansion program.
BWI becomes first airport in the U. S. to implement high-tech parking guidance system, BWI Smart Park, and the only metro-area airport with technology allowing customers to prepay for parking service (Pay-and-Go).
BWI is credited with being one of the most powerful economic engines in Maryland, generating $6.5 billion and 85,000 jobs for the state’s economy.
AirTran Airways joins BWI’s list of service providers with three daily non-stop flights between BWI and Boston and three daily nonstop flights between BWI and Atlanta.
BWI serves two million passengers in a single month for the first time in July, then again in August.
Total passenger traffic reaches more than 20.4 million, a new record for the eighth consecutive year and 3.9 percent increase compared with 2000 totals

2001

2002

2002 - Paul Wiedefeld & TSA

For the second year in a row, ACI-NA data shows BWI as the fastest growing airport among the 30 busiest in North America.
Midwest Express initiates non-stop service between Milwaukee and BWI, thus becoming the fourth airline in four months to establish service at Baltimore/Washington International Airport.
Paul J. Wiedefeld named new Executive Director of the Maryland Aviation Administration. Mr. Wiedefeld, 46, previously held the position of vice-president for the engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff, Quade and Douglas, Inc., managing the company’s Baltimore Office.
BWI becomes first U.S. airport to have federal security screeners working at checkpoints and airline jetways.
Maryland Board of Public Works approves a $10.2 million contract for the construction of a customer service building within the new Consolidated Rental Car Facility at BWI.
Aer Lingus Chief Executive Officer, Willie Walsh, announces the Irish national air carrier plans to re-establish direct international service between Dublin/Shannon and BWI.
Maryland Board of Public Works approves a $3 million contract for the demolition and re-construction of Pier A to create a 31-gate continuous concourse for Southwest Airlines Co. This project signals the beginning of major terminal expansion at BWI.

2002

2003

2003 - New Rental Car Facility

Joseph Paul Malandrino, Jr. replaces Arnold Cole as the new Federal Security Director at BWI. Prior to his role at BWI, Mr. Malandrino managed the operations department at Washington Dulles-International Airport, with responsibility for airport security.
The Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) announces BWI as a winner of the 2002 Perpetual Pavement Award. To qualify for this prestigious award, a pavement must meet strict criteria and demonstrate Hot Mix Asphalt’s long-life characteristics, excellence in design, quality in construction and value to the traveling public. It also must have been constructed at least 35 years ago.
Air Tran Airways begins non-stop service between BWI and Freeport International Airport on Grand Bahama Island. This is the only service linking Grand Bahama Island to the nation’s capital.
Southwest begins transcontinental service from BWI to San Diego and San Jose.
Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. welcomes the return of Aer Lingus to BWI. The Irish national airline begins once daily round trip flight from BWI to Ireland’s Shannon and Dublin Airports.
Hooters Air celebrates inaugural flight from BWI to Myrtle Beach, S.C.
BWI earns top honors at annual Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) Excellence in Marketing and Communications Contest in the categories of Photography, Public Relations Campaigns and Television Advertising. BWI also awarded second place in the Marketing Campaigns category and third place for Color Print Advertising.
Rest and Recuperation Leave Program begins at BWI for Operation Iraqi Freedom service members and Department of Defense civilians. The program allows members on 12-month orders to take a 15-day break from the mission with free air travel to the United States and Europe.
The BWI Airport Fire and Rescue Department receives the 2003 American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Valor Award. BWI’s nomination for the national honor was based on their superb performance over a 12-month period, in 2002 and 2003, when the department responded to an airfield record of 2,726 calls.
BWI’s first of three skywalks opens to the public. The skywalk at Concourse D connects the Airport terminal with Level 6 of the Hourly Garage. The skywalk provides quick, safe and convenient access to and from the main terminal.
BWI opens $134.8 million Consolidated Rental Car Facility, centralizing the operations of eight different national rental car companies. The 47,000-square-foot customer service building and 22-acre parking garage simplifies the system of getting travelers to and from their rental cars.

2003

2004

2004 - Skywalks & Cell Phone Lot

USA 3000 and US Airways began service from BWI to Bermuda.
BWI serves as first of 115 U.S. international airports using the outgoing US-VISIT process. Designed and implemented by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology process is used to confirm the identity of travelers entering and exiting the U.S. via air travel. All international airports perform incoming US-VISIT functions; BWI is test airport for the outgoing system.
Free Arrival Waiting Area, also known as the Cell Phone Lot opens at BWI. The lot provides drivers with about 50 short-term parking spaces as they await cell phone contact from arriving travelers. The lot is an alternative that saves drivers time, while limiting traffic in front of the Airport terminal during construction.
BWI’s second skywalk opens to the public, connecting the terminal (at Concourse B) to Level 6 of the Hourly Garage. This is the second of three skywalks to be completed and opened to the public. The skywalks provide quick, safe and convenient access to and from the main terminal.
Tripling the number of parking spaces available close to the main terminal building, BWI opened the new Daily Garage. Located at MD 170 (Aviation Blvd) and Elm Road, the garage offers 8,400 spaces and was constructed with “Smart Park” technology. “Smart Park” is an automated guidance system intended to make finding a space quick and easy. At the time of opening, BWI was the only East Coast airport to mount ultrasonic sensors over each parking space to monitor the availability of spaces.

2004

2005

2005 - Thurgood Marshall, Tim Campbell & A/B Reopening

Governor Ehrlich officially dedicated the new Terminal A/B facility at BWI. The 510,000 square foot facility provides for 11 new gates for Southwest Airlines, which connect to 15 current gates on Concourse B creating a compact, 26-gate concourse facility. Terminal A/B also includes in-line baggage screening and additional passenger screening checkpoints to help expedite screening procedures. A number of new food and retail concessions are also available.
BWI’s name officially becomes Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Recognizing the achievements and the legacy of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, an exhibit chronicling his life and career is displayed on the upper level of the BWI terminal.
Transportation Secretary Robert Flanagan announces senior aviation executive Tim Campbell to lead BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. Mr. Campbell has more than 30 years of airport-management experience and was most recently the Executive Director at Salt Lake City Department of Airports.
New daily non-stop service between BWI and Mexico City begins as BWI welcomes Mexicana Airlines. From its operations hub in Mexico City, the airline flies to more than 50 destinations in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The annual economic impact from this new international service at BWI is projected to be more than $54 million.
BWI relocated the Express Service Parking (ESP) lot to a site closer and more convenient to the airport terminal.

2005

2006

2006 - BWI Voted Among Best in North America

BWI’s concessions program is heralded by Airport Revenue News with the 2006 award for Airport with the Best Concession Program. In addition to the overall award for Airport with Best Concession Program, several individual operators were recognized: Fire & Ice, Jos. A. Banks, Borders Books, and Hudson News were all singled out with their own awards in the annual competition. BAA Maryland is responsible for the subleasing, design, construction, tenant coordination, and management of the Airport’s food and retail program.
North American Airlines begins one weekly international flight to Banjul, The Gambia and continuing to Accra, Ghana. This new international air service is estimated to provide an annual economic impact of $40 million for the State of Maryland.
BWI ranked among the best North American Airports for Passenger Satisfaction. The J.D. Power and Associates and Aviation Week study ranked BWI Thurgood Marshall airport third in overall passenger satisfaction among medium-sized (10 million to 30 million passengers) airports. The study measured overall airport satisfaction based on eight specific performance factors – airport accessibility, check-in/baggage check, terminal facilities, food and beverage, retail services, baggage claim, and immigration/customs control.
BWI served as the primary repatriation site for American citizens evacuating Lebanon. During this time 19 flights carrying 4,492 repatriates arrived at BWI. The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Department of Human Resources (DHR), and BWI worked together to coordinate services provided to the repatriates arriving from Cyprus.

2006

2007

2007 - Air Carrier Airport of the Year

BWI Marshall is showcased in a list of the “Top Ten Easiest U.S. Airports To Get To” by Aviation.com. Created for business travelers, industry analysts, and aviation enthusiasts, the site ranked BWI Marshall the tenth easiest U.S. airport for access.
The food and retail concessions program at BWI Marshall is again honored by industry publication Airport Revenue News with the 2007 award for “Best Overall Concessions” in the medium-sized airport category.
20,698,967 commercial passengers flew through BWI Marshall Airport in 2006. This figure, an increase of 4.8% over 2005, represents an all-time record for passenger traffic.
The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), Airfield Lighting Committee, recognizes BWI Marshall Airport as its Air Carrier Airport of the Year. IESNA’s Airfield Lighting Committee selected BWI Marshall based on an airfield project that installed specialized lighting to enhance safety and assist in aircraft navigation.

2007

2008

2008 - Best Concession Program

BWI’s concessions program is heralded by Airport Revenue News with the 2006 award for Airport with the Best Concession Program. In addition to the overall award for Airport with Best Concession Program, several individual operators were recognized: Fire & Ice, Jos. A. Banks, Borders Books, and Hudson News were all singled out with their own awards in the annual competition. BAA Maryland is responsible for the subleasing, design, construction, tenant coordination, and management of the Airport’s food and retail program.
North American Airlines begins one weekly international flight to Banjul, The Gambia and continuing to Accra, Ghana. This new international air service is estimated to provide an annual economic impact of $40 million for the State of Maryland.
BWI ranked among the best North American Airports for Passenger Satisfaction. The J.D. Power and Associates and Aviation Week study ranked BWI Thurgood Marshall airport third in overall passenger satisfaction among medium-sized (10 million to 30 million passengers) airports. The study measured overall airport satisfaction based on eight specific performance factors – airport accessibility, check-in/baggage check, terminal facilities, food and beverage, retail services, baggage claim, and immigration/customs control.
BWI served as the primary repatriation site for American citizens evacuating Lebanon. During this time 19 flights carrying 4,492 repatriates arrived at BWI. The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Department of Human Resources (DHR), and BWI worked together to coordinate services provided to the repatriates arriving from Cyprus.

2008

2009

2009 - 10 Years of USO

20.95 million passengers flew through BWI Marshall Airport in 2009, an increase of 2.3%. BWI Marshall was one of only two major U.S. airports to show growth in 2009.
JetBlue Airways launched service at BWI Marshall Airport. The airline offered daily flights between BWI Marshall and Boston.
Cape Air began service between BWI Marshall Airport and two destinations – Hagerstown, Maryland and Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
BWI Marshall Airport established a Twitter account to provide travel information and Airport status reports to customers.
BWI Marshall Airport began the C-D Apron Reconstruction Project, a $41 million project to reconstruct and replace pavement on the aircraft ramp and taxilane located between Concourses C and D. Funding for the project included a $15 million Federal Aviation Administration grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The USO of Metropolitan Washington and BWI Marshall Airport celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the USO International Gateway Lounge. More than 600,000 military service members and their families have used the facility at BWI Marshall Airport since it opened in December 1999.

2009

2010

2010 - BWI Marshall Celebrates 60 Years

21.9 million passengers flew through BWI Marshall Airport in 2010, a new all-time annual record for passenger traffic. That figure was a 4.7% increase over 2009.
BWI Marshall Airport was named the best in the world for passenger satisfaction among airports serving 15-25 million passengers, according to the Airports Council International (ACI), Airport Service Quality survey.
BWI Marshall Airport constructed a sophisticated new inline baggage screening system. The D/E Baggage Screening and Claims Improvement project (DEBSCI) constructed a new outbound baggage security system to help accommodate future airline growth.
BWI Marshall Airport celebrated 60 years of service to residents and businesses of Maryland, and to travelers from around the world. Since its dedication as Friendship International Airport on June 24, 1950, the Airport has been a leader in commercial aviation for the State of Maryland and the entire National Capital region.
The Maryland Board of Public works approved a contract for BWI Marshall Airport to implement a comprehensive Energy Efficiency Program. The energy performance contract will generate substantial energy and operational savings. Specific energy conservation measures will include: a new 505 kW solar system on the top level of the BWI Marshall Airport Daily Garage, comprehensive lighting improvements, energy infrastructure replacement projects at the Airport’s central utility plant and main terminal building, and the installation of modern water conservation measures.