CLE! Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport, the Midwest Flurry! (Airport Analysis #2)
Exploring Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport: A Pioneer in Aviation Innovation and Hub Evolution
Welcome to the second official issue of our airport analysis series. Today, we're focusing on Cleveland-Hopkins (ICAO code: CLE). We happen to be focusing on Cleveland-Hopkins not simply because it was my home airport for ten years, but because CLE has pioneered numerous innovations that are now commonplace among U.S. airports. Its location, much like the previous airport in this series, San Diego, has also given Cleveland-Hopkins a unique level of importance on the federal, state, and municipal levels.
CLE is the primary airport serving northern Ohio and much of the Upper Midwest, despite Ohio also being home to other major airports, including Cincinnati and the state capital of Columbus. Located between the Greater Cleveland suburbs of Berea and Brooklyn Heights, in the outer suburb of Brook Park, the airport sits approximately 8.7 miles southwest of downtown Cleveland in the Hopkins neighborhood, which was known as Riverside until 2015.
Cleveland-Hopkins covers 1,717 acres in Brook Park's Hopkins neighborhood and has three standard U.S.-style runways. Unlike San Diego, however, it does not have an EMAS arrestor system for aircraft. Hopkins and San Diego are actually similar in geographic size.
One of NASA's ten designated field research sites, the Glenn Research Center, is located on airport grounds, although it is not airport property, as NASA is a federal agency funded through U.S. tax revenues.
Pioneering Innovations
I wasn't exaggerating when I mentioned that Cleveland-Hopkins has been at the forefront of innovation. CLE was the first airport to feature an air traffic control tower (ATC) and a two-level terminal design separating arrivals from departures. Both innovations are now ubiquitous at nearly every airport in the United States and at many airports around the world. In fact, FAA regulations now require airports of a certain size and traffic volume to maintain an air traffic control tower.
Cleveland-Hopkins was also the first airport in North America to be directly connected to a rail transit line. It remains linked to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority's Red Line through a station located beneath the terminal, allowing passengers to access departures via a short escalator or elevator ride.
Another innovation pioneered at CLE was the now-standard split-level terminal architecture that separates arrivals from departures and check-in areas. Contrary to the marketing at the time, this design was not originally intended for passenger convenience. Instead, it was developed to improve operational efficiency, security, and employee workflow. Nevertheless, passengers embraced the concept once it opened, and airports around the world soon adopted similar layouts.
Airline History
Cleveland-Hopkins served as a hub for United Airlines from the post-World War II era until the mid-1980s. After United relocated its hub operations, Continental Airlines moved in, becoming the airport's dominant carrier throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
In 2010, United and Continental merged under the United name, resulting in Cleveland once again becoming a United hub. However, in 2014, United discontinued its Cleveland hub operations. Even so, the airline continues to maintain flight attendant and pilot bases, as well as maintenance facilities, at the airport and remains CLE's largest carrier by passenger volume.
United established what was then its easternmost domestic hub in Cleveland after World War II. The airline maintained the hub until the mid-1980s, when it shifted operations to Washington-Dulles International Airport (ICAO code: IAD) in Chantilly, Virginia. In later years, Washington-Dulles would be joined by hubs in Newark and satellite operations in New York-LaGuardia and Boston.
Following United's departure, Continental expanded significantly in Cleveland. USAir also increased service and became the airport's dominant carrier from 1987 through the early 1990s. USAir later evolved into US Airways, which merged with American Airlines in 2013.
In 1999, Cleveland-Hopkins completed an $80 million expansion that included the construction of Concourse D. Ironically, that concourse now sits vacant. It was built to accommodate Continental Express, now operating as United Express, and Continental Connection, a brand that no longer exists.
On November 10, 2010, shortly after the United-Continental merger was approved, CEO Jeff Smisek remarked during a speech in Cleveland that "Cleveland needs to earn its hub status every day," adding that profitability would determine whether the combined airline retained the hub.
At its peak, United served 68 destinations from Cleveland. Ultimately, that was not enough to preserve the hub. United gradually reduced capacity in Cleveland following the merger, reductions that had already begun in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
On February 1, 2014, United announced that it would close its Cleveland hub, stating that the operation "hasn't been profitable for over a decade." The airline reduced daily departures by more than 60 percent, closed Concourse D, and consolidated remaining operations in Concourse C.
However, United remains contractually obligated to pay the airport, and therefore the City of Cleveland, approximately $1,112,482 per month in rent for Concourse D through 2027.
That point bears repeating: United is still required to pay more than $1.1 million each month for an unused satellite concourse under the terms of its lease agreement.
The new Cleveland Browns stadium is expected to occupy part of the surrounding airport property, while Concourse D is slated for demolition as part of future airport enhancements between late 2026 and early 2027. Phase 1 of the redevelopment is tentatively scheduled for completion by 2032. To use a colloquial expression, it is going to be a tight squeeze.
Low-Cost Carriers
When United ended hub operations at CLE in 2014, it closed Concourse D but retained its lease obligations. Even in 2026, United remains Cleveland-Hopkins' largest carrier despite the growing presence of low-cost carriers.
With the shutdown of Spirit Airlines, United effectively closed the metaphorical door on further low-cost carrier expansion at CLE. Most low-cost carriers, with the exception of Allegiant Air, Sun Country, and Southwest Airlines, have shifted their focus to Akron-Canton Airport, where gate rental costs are generally lower. Sun Country's future presence may also change following its proposed merger with Allegiant.
Recent Service Additions
In May 2023, Aer Lingus launched nonstop service between Cleveland and Dublin using Airbus A321LR aircraft, with Airbus A321XLR service expected in the future. It remains Cleveland's only nonstop transatlantic route to Europe.
On March 18, 2026, Avelo Airlines announced that, under a renewed contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), it would inaugurate service at Cleveland-Hopkins beginning June 19, 2026, to support renewed deportation flight operations.
The "Hopkins" Moniker
For context, the airport was named after its founder, former Cleveland City Manager William R. Hopkins. The city officially dedicated the airport to him on his 82nd birthday in 1951, twenty-six years after the airport's founding.
Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport turns 101 years old this month.
Airport Layout
Cleveland-Hopkins consists of a single two-level passenger terminal completed in 1978 and renovated in 2016. The airport has four concourses, three of which are currently active while one remains vacant. There are three security checkpoints, one serving each active concourse. After clearing security, passengers can move freely between Concourses A, B, and C.
Concourse A houses Frontier, Spirit, charter operations, and all international arrivals. Delta Air Lines also uses it for overflow parking and sports charters. It contains the airport's Federal Inspection Services customs and border protection facility. Originally known as the North Concourse, it opened in 1957 and was rebuilt between 1978 and 1979.
Concourse B serves Delta and Southwest. Originally called the West Concourse, it was constructed in 1954 as the airport's first extension pier and rebuilt and expanded from 1982 to 1983.
Concourse C houses Air Canada Express, Alaska, American, JetBlue, and all United operations except international arrivals, which continue to be processed through Concourse A. Originally known as the South Concourse, it opened in 1969 and underwent renovations in 1992.
Concourse D has remained vacant since 2014, when United consolidated operations into Concourse C. Built in 1999, it is connected to Concourse C through an underground walkway. Although capable of handling larger aircraft such as the Boeing 737, it exclusively accommodated regional aircraft during its years of operation. Concourse D contains 12 jet bridge gates and 24 ramp-loading positions.
CLEvolution Program
In 2022, the airport began discussions surrounding a $2 billion renovation initiative. Plans include expanding security and check-in areas, improving the checked baggage inspection system, enlarging gate waiting areas, and adding eight new gates to accommodate future growth.
Under the CLEvolution Program, Concourses A and C will be renovated, Concourse B will be rebuilt, and a new concourse will replace Concourse D. The program's first phase currently has an anticipated completion date of 2032, coinciding with the opening of the new Browns stadium, although an earlier "soft opening" as early as 2028 has been discussed.
On-Airport Facilities
Cleveland-Hopkins remains home to United Airlines crew and maintenance bases, remnants of its former status as a major United hub.
The airport also hosts one of only five kitchens worldwide operated by Chelsea Food Services, a subsidiary of United Airlines.
Cleveland Airmall, a division of Germany-based Fraport operated through Fraport USA, manages the airport's retail and dining operations. Current tenants include Johnston & Murphy, Great Lakes Brewing Company, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum Store, Bar Symon, and Sunglass Hut.
Ordinarily, I would not list an airport's individual shops and restaurants. However, Cleveland-Hopkins has relatively few retail and dining options compared with similarly sized airports, making it easy to mention them all. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum Store functions more as an advertisement for the downtown museum than a major retail destination, while Bar Symon remains the airport's only full-service, sit-down family-style restaurant.
Thank you so much for joining us for this installment of Brooke In The Air Travel. You can read and learn even more by visiting our blog at brookeintheairtravel.net.
