Quad Cities International Airport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Quad Cities International Airport
IATA: MLI ICAO: KMLI FAA LID: MLI WMO: 72544
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Rock Island County
Operator	Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County
Serves	Quad Cities, Eastern Iowa, Western Illinois
Location	Moline, IL
Elevation AMSL	590 ft / 180 m
Coordinates	41°26′55″N 90°30′27″W / 41.44861°N 90.50750°W / 41.44861; -90.50750
Map
FAA airport diagram
Runway
Runway Length Surface ft m 9/27 10,002 3,049 Concrete 13/31 7,301 2,134 Asphalt 5/23 5,016 1,529 Concrete
Statistics
Passengers (2017) 665,691 Aircraft operations (2021) 28,181 Based aircraft (2021) 85
Source: FAA

The Quad Cities International Airport is a public airport in Rock Island County, Illinois. It is located about 3 miles (5 km) south of Moline, Illinois. In 2012, it was named "Illinois Primary Airport of the Year."

This airport serves the Quad Cities area. This includes cities like Davenport, Iowa and Bettendorf, Iowa in Iowa. It also serves Moline, Illinois in Illinois. Even though it's called "International," it doesn't have regular international passenger flights. It's called international because it has a special office for U.S. Customs. This allows international cargo and private planes to land there.

The airport is also very close to the Quad-City Seaplane Base. This base is on the Rock River.

Airport History: How It Grew

The land where the Quad Cities International Airport now stands was once called Franing Field. It was chosen as a great spot for flying because it was flat and open. The airport became famous early on. It was a key stop for the first flight across the whole country in 1919.

Famous Visitors and Early Flights

On August 18, 1927, about 10,000 people came to Moline. They wanted to see Charles Lindbergh and his famous plane, the Spirit of St. Louis. He was on a tour to promote flying for everyone. Later, in 1929, Phoebe Omlie set a flying record above the airport. She flew a Velie Monocoupe, which was the only airplane ever made in Moline. You can still see this plane hanging in the airport terminal today!

Building the Airport Authority

In 1947, a group called the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County was created. This happened after seven local areas voted to start it. This group helps manage and run the airport.

Growing Passenger Numbers

The airport started counting passengers in 1957. That year, nearly 60,000 people flew in or out. The airport was updated a lot in the 1960s. They added places for baggage, a restaurant, and boarding areas.

A brand new airport building was finished in 1985. It cost $11 million. This new building allowed more airlines to use the airport. The number of airlines grew from two to seven between 1979 and 1986.

Terminal building

Modern Updates and Changes

In 2001, the airport building had a big makeover. They added two new areas for planes (concourses). They also made the baggage claim area bigger and added new shops and restaurants. This project doubled the size of the terminal.

In 2014, a larger U.S. Customs and Border Protection office opened. This office helps international passengers who arrive on private planes. It has rooms for checking passports and other needs.

On March 30, 2021, the airport announced another big update. This project will cost between $20 million and $40 million. It will make the ticketing area modern and larger. Other plans include:

• A wider security screening area.
• An indoor and outdoor garden with a water feature.
• Modern seating with places to charge electronics.
• Solar panels outside over the parking area.

At the same time, the airport changed its name from "Quad City International Airport" to "Quad Cities International Airport." They also got a new logo. These updates are set to begin in 2023.

Passenger Records

The airport had its busiest year in 2007. Almost 1 million passengers (966,142) flew in or out that year. This was a new record!

Current destinations from Quad Cities International Airport

Airport Facilities: What's There?

The Quad Cities International Airport is very large, covering over 2,000 acres (about 810 hectares). It has three runways for planes to land and take off:

• Runway 9/27: This is the longest at 10,002 feet (3,049 meters). It's made of concrete and has an Instrument Landing System (ILS).
• Runway 13/31: This one is 7,301 feet (2,134 meters) long and is made of asphalt and concrete.
• Runway 5/23: This runway is 5,016 feet (1,529 meters) long and is made of concrete.

The airport can handle almost any type of aircraft, even in bad weather. This is thanks to its long runways, ILS, and bright lights. Airport officials believe it could even handle the huge Airbus A380 plane.

Runway Improvements

The longest runway, 9/27, was rebuilt in 2011. This big project cost $34 million. It included new pavement and other improvements. A temporary runway was used during construction. This temporary runway is now a taxiway for planes.

In 2022, the airport started another project to change its layout. This plan will make runway 5/23 shorter and add a new taxiway. The FAA is paying for this $10 million project.

Air Traffic Control

The airport's first air traffic control tower was on top of the old terminal building. The current tower is on the south side of the airport. It is open every day from early morning until late at night. When the tower is closed, air traffic is controlled remotely from Aurora, Illinois.

International Services

The airport is called "international" because it has a special customs service. This allows international cargo and private planes to come and go. There are also offices for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These offices help process international passengers. The airport has space to grow its cargo services too.

Airport Services: What Can You Do?

Art gallery

The airport building has many services for travelers. You can find a full-service restaurant called Air Host Restaurant. There's also a bar, a gift shop, and a shoe shine service.

Art and Information

An art gallery is located near the security checkpoint. It shows art from local and regional artists. There is also a visitor information center. This center helps passengers find local tourist spots and get directions. Free wireless internet (Wi-Fi) is available throughout the airport.

Beyond Security

After you go through security, you'll find more options. There's a snack bar, a lounge, and a coffee shop. Concourse B has a CNBC News and Gift Shop. For frequent flyers, there's a special lounge called Destination Points. You can also find work stations to use your computer and charge your devices.

Hotels and Transportation

There are two hotels right on the airport property. A Hampton Inn & Suites opened in 2006, and a Holiday Inn Express opened in 2014. If you are picking someone up, there's a cell phone waiting area. This helps reduce traffic around the airport. A central place for rental cars opened in 2014.

Airlines and Destinations

Atrium between the concourses

A Concourse

Baggage claim

Statistics: Popular Routes

Busiest domestic routes out of MLI
(Jan.–Dec. 2020)

Rank	Airport	Passengers	Carriers
1	Chicago-O'Hare, Illinois	44,740	American, United
2	Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas	29,240	American
3	Atlanta, Georgia	25,350	Delta
4	St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida	9,370	Allegiant
5	Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona	9,000	Allegiant
6	Orlando/Sanford, Florida	7,680	Allegiant
7	Las Vegas, Nevada	7,430	Allegiant
8	Denver, Colorado	5,510	United
9	Punta Gorda, Florida	4,450	Allegiant
10	Detroit, Michigan	3,880	Delta

Ground Transportation: Getting To and From the Airport

You can get to the airport using public transportation. Quad Cities MetroLINK provides bus service. Route 20 runs daily from downtown Moline to the airport.

Images for kids

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  A Velie Monocoupe airplane in the terminal

See also

In Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional Quad City para niños