Airports in Hamilton County, Tennessee: Private, Municipal, Regional(All)

Hamilton County Airport Directory – Connecting Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, and Rural Communities

Hamilton County, Tennessee, is anchored by the bustling city of Chattanooga and a patchwork of smaller towns and unincorporated neighborhoods such as Hixson, Ooltewah, Middle Valley, and the scenic ridge communities of Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain. The county’s aviation network centers on a single commercial gateway—Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA)—while a handful of general‑aviation fields provide supplemental access for private pilots, flight schools, and emergency services. This directory compiles every publicly accessible airport facility that serves Hamilton County, details the distances from key population centers, and explains the range of passenger, cargo, and general‑aviation services available to residents and businesses.

Airport Serving Hamilton County: Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA)

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, located at 5600 West 9th Street in the western part of the city, sits roughly 7.5 miles east of downtown Chattanooga and 9 miles southeast of the Ooltewah census‑designated place. The airport occupies 1,500 acres and features a primary runway 8,000 feet long (08/26) capable of handling narrow‑body jets and midsize cargo aircraft. In 2022, CHA recorded 1.62 million passenger enplanements, ranking it among the top ten non‑hub airports in the United States. Commercial carriers include Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Allegiant Air, offering nonstop service to hubs such as Atlanta (ATL), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), and seasonal leisure destinations like Orlando (MCO) and Denver (DEN). The airport also hosts a full‑service Fixed‑Base Operator (FBO) operated by Signature Flight Support, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance facility for private international flights, and a dedicated cargo terminal used by FedEx Express and UPS Airlines.

Hamilton County Airport Locations and Proximity to Key Communities

Distance calculations are based on the most direct driving routes using state highways and the I‑24 corridor. The table below summarizes the mileage from each major community to the commercial airport and to the two public‑use general‑aviation fields that remain within the county borders:

• Chattanooga (city center) – 7.5 mi to CHA; 12 mi to Hixson Airport (5M1); 10 mi to Lookout Mountain Airpark (5M2).
• Ooltewah – 9 mi to CHA; 6 mi to Hixson Airport; 8 mi to Lookout Mountain Airpark.
• Hixson (unincorporated) – 4 mi to CHA; 2 mi to Hixson Airport; 5 mi to Lookout Mountain Airpark.
• Middle Valley – 5 mi to CHA; 3 mi to Hixson Airport; 6 mi to Lookout Mountain Airpark.
• Signal Mountain – 12 mi to CHA; 9 mi to Hixson Airport; 3 mi to Lookout Mountain Airpark.
• Lookout Mountain (community) – 10 mi to CHA; 7 mi to Hixson Airport; 1 mi to Lookout Mountain Airpark.

These distances illustrate that virtually every resident of Hamilton County lives within a 15‑minute drive of at least one airport facility, a factor that supports both business logistics and personal travel.

Airport Services in Hamilton County: Passenger, Cargo, and General Aviation

Beyond scheduled airline service, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport offers a suite of ancillary services that benefit Hamilton County’s economy. The cargo terminal processes an average of 12,000 tons of freight annually, with FedEx Express operating daily Boeing 757 freighters and UPS Airlines flying nightly 767‑300Fs. The airport’s General Aviation (GA) terminal supports over 150 based aircraft, ranging from single‑engine Cessnas to corporate jet fleets. Flight training schools such as ATP Flight School and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Aviation Science program use CHA’s runway and FBO resources to train the next generation of pilots. The on‑site TSA checkpoint, rental car center, and complimentary Wi‑Fi enable seamless connections for travelers from the county’s rural districts.

Hamilton County Airport Office and Government Oversight

The governing body for the commercial facility is the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority (CMAA), whose main office occupies Suite 100 in the airport’s Administration Building at 5600 West 9th Street. The CMAA handles lease negotiations, capital improvement projects, and community outreach programs such as the “Fly Hamilton County” air‑show partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). For general‑aviation fields, the Hamilton County Aviation Division, part of the County’s Public Works Department, maintains Hixson Airport (5M1) and Lookout Mountain Airpark (5M2). Their office, located at 2100 East 4th Street in the unincorporated community of Hixson, provides pilot licensing assistance, runway lighting maintenance, and emergency medical transport coordination with the Hamilton County Health Department.

How Many Airports Are in Hamilton County? A Detailed Count

Official FAA records list three public‑use aviation facilities within Hamilton County’s boundaries:

1. Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) – the only commercial service airport, offering passenger, cargo, and extensive GA capabilities.
2. Hixson Airport (5M1) – a public‑use, single‑runway (3,500 ft) field primarily supporting private pilots, flight‑training operations, and occasional air‑taxi services.
3. Lookout Mountain Airpark (5M2) – a privately owned, public‑use airstrip nestled on the western slope of Lookout Mountain, favored by scenic‑flight operators and helicopter tours.

In addition, the CMAA maintains a dedicated heliport on the airport’s northeast perimeter for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and law‑enforcement helicopters. No other commercial or public‑use airports exist within the county, making CHA the central hub for all scheduled airline traffic.

Future Development Projects Shaping Hamilton County Aviation

The CMAA has outlined a ten‑year master plan that includes extending runway 08/26 by 500 feet to accommodate larger wide‑body aircraft, constructing a new concourse with additional jet bridges for Allegiant’s expanding leisure routes, and installing a solar‑panel array capable of generating 5 MW of renewable energy for airport operations. Parallel to these capital projects, Hamilton County’s Aviation Division is seeking federal grant funding to upgrade the lighting system at Hixson Airport, improve runway surface drainage, and add a GPS‑based instrument approach that will enable all‑weather operations for GA pilots. Lookout Mountain Airpark’s owners have submitted a noise‑abatement study to the FAA, aiming to balance increased tourism‑flight demand with the preservation of the mountain’s residential character.

Collectively, these initiatives are designed to keep Hamilton County’s airport network competitive, safe, and responsive to the growing travel and freight needs of both the Chattanooga metropolitan area and its surrounding rural communities.

Frequently Asked Questions — Hamilton County Airport Services

What is the nearest commercial airport for residents of Ooltewah in Hamilton County?

Ooltewah residents travel to Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA), which is located approximately 9 miles southeast of the Ooltewah CDP via TN‑58 and I‑24. The drive typically takes 15‑20 minutes, and the airport offers nonstop service to major hubs such as Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Chicago.

How many airports are located in Hamilton County, Tennessee, and what types of services do they offer?

Hamilton County hosts three public‑use aviation facilities: Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA), the county’s sole commercial airport with passenger, cargo, and general‑aviation services; Hixson Airport (5M1), a 3,500‑foot GA field supporting private pilots, flight‑training schools, and air‑taxi operations; and Lookout Mountain Airpark (5M2), a privately owned airstrip used for scenic‑flight tours and helicopter activity. In addition, the CMAA maintains a heliport for medical‑evacuation and law‑enforcement helicopters.

Where is the Hamilton County airport office for Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, and what services are provided there?

The Hamilton County airport office is the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority’s main headquarters, located at 5600 West 9th Street, Suite 100, Chattanooga, TN 37404. The office handles airline lease negotiations, passenger‑service initiatives, cargo‑terminal operations, and community outreach programs such as the annual “Fly Hamilton County” air‑show.

Can residents of the unincorporated community of Middle Valley use an airport within Hamilton County without leaving the county?

Yes. Middle Valley is only about 5 miles from Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and roughly 3 miles from Hixson Airport (5M1). Both facilities lie within Hamilton County, allowing residents to access commercial flights, cargo services, and general‑aviation amenities without crossing county lines.

What cargo and freight airlines operate out of Hamilton County's Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport?

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport hosts daily cargo operations by FedEx Express, which operates Boeing 757‑200 freighters, and UPS Airlines, which runs nightly 767‑300F flights. In addition, the airport’s freight terminal accommodates regional carriers such as ABX Air and Mountain Air Cargo for time‑critical shipments to and from the southeastern United States.