Getting You There.
ACY History
Atlantic City International Airport was originally established in 1942 as a Naval Air Station on 4,312 acres leased from Atlantic City. In 1958, the lease was transferred to what is now the Federal Aviation Administration. The property was sold to the federal government for $55,000 to provide a site for aviation test facilities but with a reverter clause, giving the city the right to buy the acreage back for the same price should the federal government cease to use it.
In 1940, the city of Atlantic City purchased 4,312 acres of land for the construction of a more modern airport to replace the Atlantic City Municipal Airport (Bader Field). Construction began in 1941 and was completed in time to meet the needs of a nation at war.
In 1942, the US. Navy leased the airport from Atlantic City and on April 24, 1943, commissioned the Naval Air Station Atlantic City (NASAC). The airport became a base for the Navy’s Fighter Training Unit, the Air Development Squadron 3, which developed and tested war strategy, and the Combat Information Center, a precursor to today’s air traffic control tower.
In 1958, the U.S. Navy decommissioned use of the airport. The airport’s lease reverted back to its original owner, Atlantic City. The city transferred the lease of all but 84 acres to the U.S. government. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operated the airport from 1958 to 1992. The city retained 84 acres where the Civil Terminal Building was constructed in 1961. The ticketing/waiting area was added in 1989.
June 1, 1992, Spirit Airlines began scheduled service between Detroit and Atlantic City International Airport (ACY). While other airlines have come and gone, Spirit still continues to offer scheduled service to residents of the south Jersey region. Other airlines that have serviced ACY include Peoples Express, Northwest Airlink, Continental Express, US Air (formerly Allegheny Airways), Delta Connection (Comair/Atlantic Southeast Airlines), AirTran, WestJet, United Express, and Air Canada.
On September 24, 1992, the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) acquired the Civil Terminal Building and 84 acres of land from the city of Atlantic City. The SJTA agreed to operate the airport as a public airport for the useful life of the airport facilities.
In May of 1996 the terminal was expanded, and a second floor was added to the terminal including six boarding gates.
April 1998 the FAA William J Hughes Technical Center (FAATC) transferred operational control of the airport to the SJTA. At the same time, the FAATC also entered a fifty-year lease with the SJTA for approximately 2,200 acres – including all runways, taxiways, and commercial airport aprons, as well as development and environmental mitigation areas.
Growth continued at ACY over the next few years and in 2003 over one million passengers passed through the terminal. In June 2004, a 300-seat holding room and new administrative offices were completed.
Passenger growth at ACY created a necessity to expand parking. In 2008, a 1,400-space parking garage was completed, housing all car rental agencies, and providing convenient parking just steps from the terminal. The 6-story garage increased ACY’s parking capacity to 3,872 total spaces.
ACY was the first airport to install passenger exit lane portals in 2009. The exit portals create a barrier between the sterile and nonsterile sides (screened passengers vs. the public).
A 75,000 square foot terminal expansion was completed in 2012. The project included a new Federal Inspection Station for processing international flights. Other improvements with this project were additional loading bridges/gates, baggage carousel enhancements and additional retail space.
Funding through an FAA grant enabled ACY to open a 40,700 square foot Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) station in July 2013. The ARFF station replaced a facility that was built in 1965 and significantly improved emergency staff’s ability to respond to structural, aircraft, motor vehicle and medical emergencies. As part of the Atlantic County mutual aid network, the ARFF provides emergency assistance to surrounding communities.
June 2022 American Airlines and its partner Landline began motorcoach service between ACY and PHL. This new innovative service opened up a world of connectivity for passengers while still keeping the local airport convenience of parking, check-in, and security.
Today ACY comprises more than 5,000 acres and is a shared-use airport. The aviation complex includes the FAA’s William J Hughes Technical Center, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Laboratory, the Federal Air Marshal Training Facility, Air National Guard 177th Fighter Wing “Jersey Devils”, and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City. The airport is also adjacent to the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park.
