Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, established in 1925, was the first municipally-owned airport in the United States. Still owned by the city, it is the 37th busiest airport in the country and serves over 12 million passengers each year with 320 flights to 80 destinations.

History: Cleveland Municipal Airport was established in 1925, the first municipally-owned airport in the country. It was renamed Cleveland Hopkins Airport after founder, William Hopkins, on his 85th birthday in 1951. The airport was later christened Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in 1964 when it added flights to Canada. Cleveland Airport was also the site of the first air traffic control tower, added in 1930

Airlines: Cleveland Hopkins Airport offers 320 daily flights to 80 destinations. The airport is a hub for Continental Airlines. In addition, the following 11 airlines operate out of Cleveland Hopkins Airport:

• Air Canada
• Northwest Airlines
• America West
• Southwest Airlines
• American Eagle
• United Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• USA3000
• Midwest Connect
• US Airways

Ground Transportation: Taxis, limousines, airport hotel shuttles, and shuttles to rental car agencies are located outside of the baggage claim area in the lower level of Cleveland Hopkins Airport. Rental car agencies include: Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, and Dollar.

In addition, Cleveland Hopkins Airport is connected to the red line of the RTA mass transit system, which connects the airport with downtown and University Circle.

Parking: Cleveland Hopkins offers hourly, daily, and long-term parking, all connected to the airport terminal by bridges and moving walkways. The lots are operated by Standard Parking. Rates for 2008 are $3/hour for the hourly lot with a $14 daily maximum and $10/day for the long term lot. The first 30 minutes are free in the hourly lot to allow visitors to pick up travelers. The lots are open 24 hours a day and are lighted and patrolled by security personnel.

Restaurants: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport offers a variety of dining options. Among them are Max and Irma's, Starbucks, and Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream.

Shopping at Cleveland Hopkins Airport: Cleveland airport has 25 retail shops as well as a host of newstands and gift shops. Among the shops are national retailers, Victoria's Secret, Johnston and Murphy, and Lids and local retailers, Cleveland Gourmet and Via News.

Security Information: All passengers departing Cleveland Hopkins Airport must be screened by security personnel. The function is handled by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The airport advises passengers to leave their luggage unlocked (so it may be searched) and to arrive at least 90 minutes in advance of their flight. Extra time may be needed for passengers using a wheelchair or those with small children. For more information on security and wait times, see www.tsa.gov.

Customs Information: All passengers arriving from outside of the United States must pass through US Customs and Border Patrol. For more information on current customs regulations, see www.cbp.gov.

Airport Services: The Airport Information Desk, located on the departure level between the Southwest Airlines counter and Security checkpoint B, is open seven days a week to assist travelers and to answer questions. In addition, there is a team of Airport Ambassadors, clad in gold jackets, who travel throughout the terminal and gates areas to assist travelers.

The airport also has numerous ATM machines, an inter-faith chapel, a business center, a US post office, and a currency exchange counter.

Hotels near Cleveland Airport
The Sheraton Airport Hotel (check rates) and the Cleveland Airport Marriott (check rates) are located with one mile of the airport. In addition, downtown hotels, such as the Ritz Carlton (check rates) and the Cleveland Renaissance Hotel (check rates) are connected to the airport terminal via RTA trains.

^{(last updated 1-24-08)}