FACTS

Want to know more about Gerald R. Ford International Airport? We've compiled a list of interesting facts for your information.

Passenger Airlines
Gerald R. Ford International Airport is served by six passenger airlines with more than 100 daily scheduled nonstop flights to and from 15 major market destinations.

Approximately 5,500 travelers pass through Gerald R. Ford International Airport each day.

Nearly two million passengers traveled through Gerald R. Ford International Airport in 2007.

Takeoffs and landings in 2007 totaled more than 101,000 - an average of over 275 a day.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport is the 85th busiest commercial airport in the nation and the second busiest airport in Michigan.

Cargo
There are three cargo airlines located at Gerald R. Ford International.

Approximately 252,000 pounds of air cargo pass through Gerald R. Ford International Airport each day...that's more than 126 tons per day!

More than 91 million pounds of air cargo passed through Gerald R. Ford International Airport in 2007.

Size
The airport covers nearly 3,200 acres (over five square miles), an area almost as large as the city of Grandville and a bit larger than East Grand Rapids.

There is over 12 miles of fence surrounding the perimeter of the airport property. That's enough to stretch from the airport to downtown Grand Rapids!

The airport's passenger terminal building is just over 240,850 square feet; with over 170,000 square feet open to the public.

There are two concourses and 13 gates in the passenger terminal building.

Airfield
The airport operates three runways: a 150-ft. wide - 10,000-ft. main East/West runway; a 100-ft. wide - 5,000-ft. parallel East/West runway; and a 150-ft. wide - 8,501-ft. North/South runway.

There are 1,550,000 square yards of pavement on the airfield.

There is enough concrete used at the airport to build a two-lane road (10 inches thick) from Grand Rapids to the Mackinac Bridge.

There are 2,000 acres of grass to mow around the airfield. This is the equivalent of 1,515 football fields - including the end zones!

In an "average winter" we remove 83,700,000 cubic feet of snow from the airfield. That's enough to fill 20,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools!

Parking
The airport provides 4,750 public parking spaces.

Nearly 525,000 cars parked at the airport in 2007. That's approximately 1,400 vehicles exiting the public parking facilities each day.

General Information
Gerald R. Ford International Airport is managed and operated by the Kent County Department of Aeronautics.

The Kent County Aeronautics Board is a six-member body appointed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners with responsibility for policy setting and general oversight of the airport.

More than 2,000 people work at the airport, the majority being employed by airport tenants.

Replacement value of the airport, its property, and facilities is estimated at $550,000,000.

The airport has its own police, fire, and maintenance departments.

The airport generates over $500 million annually in economic activity throughout its West Michigan 13-county service area.

The airport is financially self-supporting and requires no funding from property taxes, general funds, or special taxes. Airport operations and improvements generate local net airport revenue, rather than spend valuable tax dollars.

GFIA's capital requirements are met through various sources including earned surpluses, revenue bonds, passenger facility charges, and grants under the federal Airport Improvement Program and the Michigan state aviation grant program. Operational requirements are met through rates and charges assessed to airport tenants and airport patrons for the use of airport services and facilities.