Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains region.
Opened
1937
Location
Alcoa/Knoxville, United States
McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is the primary commercial airport serving Knoxville, Tennessee, and the surrounding East Tennessee region. Located in Alcoa, near Maryville, it sits approximately 12 miles south of downtown Knoxville and serves millions of passengers annually.
The airport is named after Lieutenant Colonel Achieved McGhee Tyson, a World War I aviator from Tennessee who was killed in action in 1919. It is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority and has undergone significant expansion and modernization over the decades.
TYS serves as a convenient gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the United States, making it a key regional hub for tourism and business travel in East Tennessee.
Terminals
The airport operates a single terminal building with a centralized ticketing and baggage area and multiple concourses for domestic departures.
Getting to & from
Ground transportation options include rental cars, taxis, ride-share services, and hotel shuttles, with no direct rail or bus transit link to downtown Knoxville.
Airlines here
Major airlines serving TYS include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Allegiant Air.
Notable facts
- ›Named after World War I aviator Lt. Colonel Achieved McGhee Tyson, who died in 1919.
- ›Located in Alcoa, Tennessee, approximately 12 miles south of downtown Knoxville.
- ›Serves as a key access point to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- ›The Tennessee Air National Guard's 134th Air Refueling Wing shares the airfield.
- ›The airport has a runway length of approximately 9,000 feet, accommodating larger commercial aircraft.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
