9 of America’s Most Charming Airports

Not each airport must be a hectic, chaotic expertise. You shouldn’t have to face in lengthy traces solely to dig deep into your funds for an overpriced, bland meal and maybe find yourself sprinting to your gate.

Whereas some individuals rightfully detest airports, FinanceGrabber has rounded up a set of 9 U.S. airports which are fulfilling to spend time in. Some are like a comfy espresso store, whereas others have retro vibes that harken again to the golden age of aviation. These airports had been chosen for a number of causes, a few of which could embody their unbeatable views, distinctive facilities, charming environment — or a mix of all of it.

However FinanceGrabber additionally included key particulars that may affect the airport expertise, together with on-time arrivals price, based mostly on Bureau of Transportation Statistics knowledge between February 2022 and February 2023. For comparability, the nationwide common on-time arrivals price is 76.98%.

To qualify for this listing, airports additionally needed to have fewer than 1.5 million arriving passengers in 2022. To place that into perspective, America’s largest airport by arriving passengers — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide — had greater than 37 million arriving passengers in 2022.

The info is sorted by the variety of arriving passengers in 2022, additionally based mostly on BTS knowledge, from most to least.

On-time arrivals price: 78.9%.

Whole 2022 passengers (departing): 1.3 million.

Whole 2022 passengers (arriving): 1.3 million.

Airways served: Delta Air Strains, Hawaiian Airways, Southwest Airways.

Lengthy Seaside Airport is the oldest airport in California, and it nonetheless largely maintains the artwork deco model there when it was inbuilt 1941. As we speak, the avant-garde work of structure is a acknowledged historic landmark. And whereas lots of the unique options have been preserved, resembling a mosaic masterwork incorporating greater than 1,000,000 hand-cut tiles, there are additionally trendy touches.

A sprawling, post-security outside house makes it attainable to reap the benefits of Southern California’s sunshine earlier than departure. Most eateries are an extension of Lengthy Seaside’s native meals scene, such because the airport outpost of Candy Jill’s Bakery — well-known for its cinnamon rolls.

On-time arrivals price: 78.2%.

Whole 2022 passengers (departing): 981,807.

Whole 2022 passengers (arriving): 970,728.

Airways served: Alaska Airways, Allegiant Air, American Airways, Avelo Airways, Delta, JetBlue Airways, Southwest, Solar Nation Airways, and United Airways.

Bozeman Yellowstone Worldwide Airport has cozy mountain vibes, designed with pure wooden and stone. Gaze on the crackling fire inside, or benefit from the picturesque views of the mountain exterior.

On-time arrivals price: 77.23%.

Whole 2022 passengers (departing): 756,726.

Whole 2022 passengers (arriving): 761,652.

Airways served: Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, Solar Nation, and United.

Asheville is thought for its vibrant artwork scene, and that extends to Asheville Regional Airport. Inside, you would possibly hear a live performance pianist acting on the airport’s grand piano or a reside musical efficiency by native faculties, choral teams or folks musicians. There’s additionally an artwork gallery that includes rotating, curated paintings displays by native effective artists.

Although small, the airport is rising: The airport says it noticed a 29% improve in 2022 passengers over 2021 — and that 2022 marked the best variety of passengers ever served in a single yr for the airport.

Santa Barbara, California

On-time arrivals price: 78.9%.

Whole 2022 passengers (departing): 505,104.

Whole 2022 passengers (arriving): 503,645.

Airways served: Alaska, American, Southwest, and United.

Santa Barbara Municipal Airport is adorned with Mediterranean-style colourful tiles, rustic lanterns, trendy artwork and exquisite Spanish murals, reflecting the distinctive structure all through the town. There’s additionally a small outside seating space for aircraft recognizing and having fun with the landscaping of native vegetation, resembling purple sage, magenta bougainvillea and lemon bushes.

The airport is rising, having “skilled a quicker than predicted operational restoration” within the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, in accordance with a press release from the airport. A lot of that was pushed by the addition of Southwest, which started service in Santa Barbara in 2021 with routes together with Las Vegas and Denver.

The airport additionally has a mini museum on Santa Barbara’s aviation historical past, together with images of actor James Dean with a 356 Speedster race automobile — as his final drag race was on the airport.

On-time arrivals price: 78.4%.

Whole 2022 passengers (departing): 351,977.

Whole 2022 passengers (arriving): 338,015.

Airways served: Alaska, American, Delta, Solar Nation, and United.

Positioned inside Grand Teton Nationwide Park on the base of the Teton mountain vary, Jackson Gap Airport has spectacular views.

The airport affords customary companies like a restaurant, market and reward store, however right here’s one thing notably charming: the Teton County Library Bookshelf. You may take a guide with you or depart a guide for the following customer.

Cozy as much as the fireside or unfold out on one of many branded picket benches, representing the ranching households in Jackson Gap for generations.

On-time arrivals price: 79.8%.

Whole 2022 passengers (departing): 254,263.

Whole 2022 passengers (arriving): 250,777.

Airways served: Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, and United.

Cherry Capital Airport’s structure and design are impressed by the famend architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s works, with particulars like copper lighting fixtures, stone wainscoting and stained glass. The welcome space, full with a stone fire, feels extra like a lodge than an airport.

On-time arrivals price: 80.1%.

Whole 2022 passengers (departing): 125,641.

Whole 2022 passengers (arriving): 125,994.

To get to and from the airport and the precise metropolis of Ketchikan, you’ll seemingly find yourself boarding a ferry. The five-minute experience on the water solely provides to the charming expertise of Ketchikan Worldwide Airport, situated on Gravina Island.

West Tisbury, Massachusetts

On-time arrivals price: 76.7%.

Whole 2022 passengers (departing): 66,698.

Whole 2022 passengers (arriving): 67,464.

Airways served: American, Cape Air, Delta, and JetBlue.

The airport terminal is inbuilt the identical Cape Cod model discovered throughout the island of Martha’s Winery, right down to its cedar shingles. Look out the window as you’re taking off and land for aerial views of the island’s seashores and lighthouses.

It’s centrally situated in the midst of the 100-square-mile island. And for these staying in Edgartown, you would possibly even take the bus, because it’s only a three-minute experience to the basic New England seaport village.

On-time arrivals price: 61.7%.

Whole 2022 passengers (departing): 5,999.

Whole 2022 passengers (arriving): 6,016.

Airways served: Solar Nation.

Positioned within the coronary heart of the Ozark Mountains, Branson Airport captures the broader spirit of Branson, which is thought for its reside leisure, lakes, museums and historic downtown. The airport has a wild west vibe, that includes facades of a saloon and sawmill, plus an actual babbling creek inside.

You probably have time earlier than going by safety, you would possibly seize a meal at Branson Jet Middle, which affords outside patio eating adjoining to a placing inexperienced. And whereas Bass Professional Retailers is mostly recognized for its huge dimension, there’s additionally a comparatively tiny Bass Professional Retailers Basic Retailer contained in the airport.

(High photograph courtesy of Blake Bronstad, Santa Barbara Airport)