KNOXVILLE MCGHEE-TYSON FIELD




A linen postcard showing the TYS terminal shortly after its completion in the late 1920s or early 1930s.

McGhee-Tyson Field, Knoxville's main commercial airport, opened its new terminal at some point between 1925 and 1935. Like most terminal buildings of the day (see Little Rock for an example) it was laid out simply - a main lobby with ticket counters and passenger waiting, topped by offices and a control tower.


A view of the TYS terminal in 1939. Note the airfield does not yet have paved runways, and that passengers parked their cars along the traffic circle in front of the building.

After World War II ended, Knoxville became the main airport for eastern Tennessee, and became an important stop on the route networks for several carriers. In the 1950s, TYS was served by American, Capital (acquired by United in 1961), Piedmont, Delta and Southern. The terminal was expanded at some point during this period, adding a new upper-level ticket lobby and departure lounge. A curved boarding arcade was added along the terminal frontage, accessed by stairs from the new upper-level lobby.

At the same time, a new dedicated baggage claim hall was built on the east side of the terminal, connected to the existing structure by an enclosed walkway.


A view of TYS in 1955 shows the additions made to the terminal in the 1940s and 1950s. The original building is now three stories tall across its entire length. The entire building has been expanded to the northwest, including new passenger lobbies, a viewing gallery, and a replacement control tower.


An aerial view of TYS in 1955, showing the new outdoor boarding arcade and the baggage claim hall (in the center right of the photo.)

Small jet aircraft like the Boeing 727 and Douglas DC9 began arriving in the mid-1960s, necessitating yet another terminal expansion. The original building was demolished and replaced with a modern new lower-level entrance lobby. A restaurant, coffee shop and concession space were included in the new ground-level lobby, which was connected to the upper-level ticket lobby by escalators.


A view of TYS in 1965, with the new lower-level lobby complete (on the site of the original terminal). In the background are the additions made in the 1940s and 1950s.


Another view of TYS, showing the modern addition that replaced the original structure in the 1960s.


A diagram of the TYS terminal from 1971. From a United Air Lines services guide

Despite the additions, by the late 1960s airport officials were planning an all-new terminal on a site to the southwest of the existing facility. Construction began in 1971 and it was opened to passengers in early 1974.

In its final configuration, the TYS terminal consisted of the main lower-level lobby, which led upstairs to the ticket lobby and departure lounge.. Aircraft parked along the covered boarding arcade; there were no jetbridges.


A diagram of TYS from 1977, showing the new 1974 terminal (at left) and the old terminal area on the right. Map courtesy of Tom Moore

For many years the terminal remained standing due to the air traffic control tower on its top level. When a new tower was completed in the early 1980s, however, the building was razed, and the site was redeveloped as a general aviation center.


A satellite view of the old TYS site in the late 1990s. The building is gone, although its apron and former traffic circle are still visible.

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