GREATER BUFFALO
INTERATIONAL AIRPORT




A linen postcard of Buffalo's terminal building in the late 1940s or early 1950s.

Buffalo Municipal Airport constructed its new terminal in 1938 as part of a Works Project Administration grant to develop the airfield. The building was formally opened May 11, 1939. In its opening configuration, the terminal consisted of two two-level wings flanking a six-story control tower. Passengers waited in a central departure lounge and boarded their aircraft through ground-level gates along a fenced patio area. The photo above gives an idea of the building's layout.

After World War II the building continued to serve as the sole passenger facility, although by the 1950s conditions were becoming crowded. The airlines serving Buffalo - American, Eastern, United, Mohawk and Allegheny - had grown their operations, and newer, larger aircraft like the DC6 and DC7 demanded much more space on the apron.


An American Airlines propliner parked at the BUF terminal in the early 1950s. An expansion program in 1954 would dramatically alter this view.

Airport officials began a major expansion program in 1953 to address this growth. When completed in 1954-1955, a modern new two-level concourse had been added to the front of the original administration building. A new second-level restaurant and large departure lobby were also included in the design; passengers waited here, then walked along the concourse and descended to ground level to board their flights. The expansion project also extended the aircraft apron, providing a total of 11 aircraft parking positions.


A view of BUF in the late 1950s, showing the new passenger concourse added in 1955.

The dust from the 1955 expansion had barely settled before officials were again preparing to add to the terminal. Another project in 1961 extensively renovated the original 1939 terminal and added a second concourse for American Airlines. This pier extended north across the apron from the main terminal block. Also in 1961, a modern new control tower was constructed alongside the existing tower, which was then removed.


The new control tower that was built atop the original terminal in 1961.

By 1970 the Buffalo terminal consisted of four parts: the original 1939 structure, housing ticketing and baggage claim; the West Concourse (United, Allegheny) and East Concourse (Mohawk), both built in 1955; and the North Concourse (American, Eastern), built in 1961.


Two shots taken at BUF during 1968. The first shows an American 727-200 parked on the North Concourse; the second shows a slew of Mohawk aircraft, with the East Concourse in the background. Photos by Bill Armstrong

During the early 1970s, city officials were wrangling with local residents over the construction of a new airport located far outside the city. This idea was later dropped, but in 1971 a second terminal building was constructed as an 'interim' measure until the new airport could be opened. Known as the West Terminal, it was equipped with nine jetway loading bridges for use by Allegheny and Eastern Airlines. (Allegheny had merged with Mohawk that year to become BUF's largest single carrier.)

Despite the addition of the West Terminal, it was obvious the original facility - now called the East Terminal - needed major expansion. Between 1975 and 1977 the building was enlarged significantly. Jetway loading bridges were added along most of the gates, and two new ticket lobbies (one for American and one for United) were built south of the existing terminal. These were linked by a new second level bridge to the 1939 structure, which was renovated into a baggage claim facility.


A two-panel postcard showing the West (left) and East (right) Terminals at BUF in the 1970s.
Courtesy of Jim Kruggel


The main entrance of the then-new West Terminal in the late 1970s.


Three views of the newly-expanded East Terminal in the late 1970s, showing the ticket lobby expansion and elevated connection to the existing building.


Looking across the apron towards the Buffalo terminal in the late 1970s, with the edge of the West Terminal at right and the East Terminal in the background.


A diagram of BUF in 1981, showing the West Terminal and 1977 additions to the East Terminal.
From a United Airlines services guide courtesy of Tom Moore

As the 1980s dawned, BUF found itself being served by more and more airlines, including Piedmont, Empire, People Express and Republic. Airport officials found themselves once more searching for more gate and terminal space. A master plan study was initiated to determine whether the existing terminals should be renovated once more or if a new airport should be constructed elsewhere.


A sketch of the BUF terminal area in 1985 shows how constrained the two buildings were by runways and hangars. Drawing by James Kruggel


A view of the East Terminal in 1987, showing the various extensions added over the years.
Reprinted from Airport World magazine


Two more maps of Buffalo, this time from 1987 and 1988. Note the number of new airlines added since 1981.Second map by James Kruggel

The Master Plan study was completed in 1991. It ultimately found that it was no longer economical to expand or renovate the East Terminal. Instead, it recommended purchasing the former American and United maintenance hangars adjacent to the facility and building a "new" East Terminal there. Airport officials also decided that the West Terminal, which was built to last only ten years but was now more than 20 years old, would be removed to make way for a completely new terminal complex.


A postcard showing the BUF terminal area in its final configuration in the late 1980s. A USAir 737 and two Eastern DC9s are parked at the West Terminal in the foreground. Courtesy of Juan Garcia


Satellite views of the East (right) and West (left) terminals in 1995, just as construction on the new terminal was getting underway.

The first 15-gate phase of the new BUF terminal was completed November 3, 1997. The East and West Terminals were demolished almost immediately, to allow the new terminal's concourse to be expanded to 25 gates. Today all traces of the former terminals are gone.


An aerial view of BUF in 1998. The West and East Terminal sites are visible, although the buildings have been demolished. Work is underway to extend the concourse of the new terminal (at center) across the old terminal sites. Photo by Skypic.com

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