Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport is a public airport located within the City of Rochester, southwest of Downtown, in Monroe County, New York, United States. It is owned and operated by Monroe County. The airport is home to the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, part of the 42nd Infantry Division.

History Early history Baker Field A 1910 newspaper article cited "a site near Scottsville Road", along with the Baker Farm in Genesee Valley Park, as possible locations for "airships" to fly from Rochester to Toronto.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, June 8, 1910 The Baker Farm was located south of the original Genesee Valley Park, and was donated to the Parks Department of the City of Rochester in 1908.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, January 31, 1908 The golf course at Genesee Valley Park was extended to include the Baker Farm in 1914.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, May 1, 1914 During World War I, the Baker Farm area of the park, renamed "Baker Field", was used for military purposes. The United States School of Aerial Photography had been created at Kodak Park in Rochester, and Baker Field was the airfield associated with the project.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, December 25, 1918 Military use of the field ceased in 1918.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, April 9, 1919 Baker Field continued to be used as an airfield for a year or two thereafter,Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, June 19, 1919Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, August 19, 1919 but flood conditions made it unsuitable for airfield use in the long run.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, August 2, 1919

Britton Field The site of the Greater Rochester International Airport, originally known as Britton Field, was used for aviation purposes as early as 1919. The Rochester Aircraft Corporation launched its first passenger flight from Britton Field August 18, 1919. The Curtiss JN-4 was piloted by Earl F. Beers. At the time, the only way to get to the field was either by car or by taking the Genesee Street trolley line to the end, and walking the remaining distance. Beers, a Rochester aviation pioneer, urged the local government to purchase Britton Field for a municipal airport.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Beers obituary), July 30, 1927Medina Daily Journal, July 27, 1927 In 1919, Beers offered passenger flights out of Britton Field, charging $1.00 per minute.Geneva Daily Times, November 7, 1919

Britton Field hosted the United States Flying Circus, consisting of six planes, in September 1919.Oswego Daily Palladium, September 12, 1919 Dozens of planes landed in Britton Field as part of an aviation race across the United StatesRochester Democrat and Chronicle October 9, 1919, and October 10, 1919 and back again.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, October 11, 1919, and October 15, 1919 The race was won by Lt. Belvin Maynard, "The Flying Parson", who arrived in Rochester, from Buffalo, at 10:30 AM October 18, 1919. His flight from Buffalo's Curtiss Field to Britton Field, a distance of 70 miles, in 22 minutes. He continued to Binghamton before finishing the race at Mineola at 1:50 PM that afternoon.Batavia Daily News, October 18, 1919 Britton Field was the scene of more competition when a pair of Rochester fliers and two from Syracuse raced between the two cities later in 1919, in a contest sponsored by the Rochester Aero Club and the Syracuse Aero Club. The Rochester newspaper reported that the two Rochester planes beat the combined flying time of the Syracuse pair by 15 seconds.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, November 29, 1919

Purchase of the field as a "municipal aviation station" was authorized by the Rochester City Council in December 1919The Fredonia Censor; December 19, 1919Monroe County Mail, December 25, 1919 The Rochester Aircraft Corporation proposed passenger service out of Britton Field across Lake Ontario to Toronto in 1920.Buffalo Daily Palladium, February 17, 1920 "Young" Sparks, of Bradford, PA., demonstrated the early art of parachuting, by leaping from a plane from 2,100 feet, in an aerial field day at Britton Field in 1921.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, September 25, 1921 The United States Army considered Britton Field as a possible site for an airship mooring mast in 1924.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, June 8, 1924

In the 1920s Eastman Kodak Company and the United States Army used Britton Field as landing field for the testing of Kodak's aerial photography experiments.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, November 25, 1925 The Fokker monoplane "Josephine Ford", flown by Commander Richard Byrd over the North Pole, was exhibited at Britton Field in October 1926, part of a nationwide tour intended to stimulate interest in aviation. During the Rochester exhibition, an unlicensed pilot, Charles Teleska, crashed his own plane.Corning Evening Leader, October 12, 1926

The Colonial Air Transport Company, forerunner to American Airlines, developed plans in 1926 to run daytime flights from Boston to Chicago, stopping at Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, and Cleveland. An intersecting route from New York City to Montreal would cross at Albany, allowing for passenger transfers. The new route would carry passengers, mail and merchandise. Night flights were planned as soon as lighted fields were available.Buffalo Evening News, September 29, 1926Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, November 25, 1926 The Rochester Flying Club was formed that Fall, intending to keep Britton Field open to all aviation, and to start construction of a hangar and other improvements.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, November 28, 1926

Charles Lindbergh flew The Spirit of St. Louis into Britton Field July 29, 1927, as part of an air tour of New York State. He was greeted by 75,000, according to newspaper reports. He stayed an hour and proceeded on to Buffalo.Jamestown Evening Journal, July 29, 1927 (Associated Press report)Geneva Daily Times, July 22, 1927 In the summer of 1927, the Rochester Community Players used Britton Field as one of the backdrops of their silent movie, "Fly Low Jack and The Game". The movie was written, directed, acted and produced by amateurs of the theater company, showcasing the new Cine-Kodak 16mm home movie system.Rochester Evening Journal and Post Express, June 30, 1927

The first woman in Western New York to receive a pilot's license, Geraldine Grey of Buffalo, trained at Britton Field under the direction of William Dunlap in 1928.Buffalo Courier Express, February 18, 1928

Present terminal building 1988-1992 expansion project: new terminal

In 1988 Monroe County approved a $109 million plan to replace the terminal with an entirely new two-level facility with a second-level approach road and parking garage. The new facilities were built in stages on the exact site, between 1989 and 1992 and designed by HNTB and built by Wilmorite, Inc.

2006-2008 terminal improvements In 2006, Monroe County consolidated the separate security checkpoints at each concourse, to one central security checkpoint. Monroe County argued that this arrangement, although it would close the terminal's large concessions atrium and airfield views to non-passengers, would be more efficient and save money.

Airport events at-large Southwest Airlines replaced AirTran's service at the airport after its acquisition by the airline in 2013.

In 2014, New York State Police established a base for its aviation unit at the Monroe County Regional Traffic Operations Center on airport property, already a station for that agency. At least two helicopters, previously based out of Batavia and Syracuse, were moved to consolidate operations and reduce costs. This unit services Western and Central New York, including Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.

In October 2018, Air Canada ended its service to Rochester from Toronto, leaving the airport without any international flights.

In May 2021, Frontier Airlines started new service to Orlando from Rochester. In 2023, Frontier ended all operations at the airport.

Renaming efforts

On August 12, 2020, Monroe County legislators confirmed that the airport would be renamed in honor of Douglass.

Airfield The airport covers at an elevation of . It has three runways - a primary runway, a general aviation runway, and a crosswinds runway: FAA data effective February 20, 2025. 4/22: , asphalt 7/25: , asphalt 10/28: , asphalt

Airlines and destinations Passenger

Passenger destinations map

Airlines and terminal

Greater Rochester International Airport has a two concourse terminal in the north of the airfield. The terminal is owned and operated by The Monroe County Airport Authority (MCAA). This terminal has two concourses, each with two stories. The top level of the terminal is home to shops, restaurants, bathrooms, and all gates. The bottom level is home to offices, ground service equipment, and US Customs and Immigration. The terminal has a total of twenty-one gates with ten gates in concourse A and eleven gates in concourse B. Both concourses have been named after somebody famous from Rochester. Concourse A is named after Frederick Douglass and concourse B is named after Susan B. Anthony.

Cargo

Greater Rochester International Airport has a cargo terminal in the northwest corner of the airfield. The terminal is operated by USAirports.

Statistics Top destinations

+ Busiest domestic routes from ROC (January 2025 - December 2025) Rank City Passengers Carriers 1 Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois 183,800 American, United 2 Baltimore, Maryland 148,880 Southwest 3 Atlanta, Georgia 140,770 Delta 4 New York–JFK, New York 135,380 Delta, JetBlue 5 Charlotte, North Carolina 109,600 American 6 Detroit, Michigan 83,210 Delta 7 Orlando, Florida 78,220 Southwest, Spirit 8 Washington–Dulles 61,220 United 9 Washington–National 57,820 American 10 New York—LGA, New York 56,150 Delta

Airline market share

Annual traffic Year Total Passengers % Change 2002 2,055,000 2003 2,458,000 19.61% 2004 2,717,000 10.54% 2005 2,889,000 6.33% 2006 2,822,000 2.32% 2007 2,838,000 0.57% 2008 2,679,000 5.60% 2009 2,538,000 5.26% 2010 2,515,000 0.91% 2011 2,364,000 6.00% 2012 2,394,000 1.27% 2013 2,402,000 0.33% 2014 2,339,000 2.62% 2015 2,345,000 0.26% 2016 2,356,000 0.47% 2017 2,391,000 1.49% 2018 2,540,000 6.23% 2019 2,544,000 0.16% 2020831,000 67.33% 20211,532,000 84.36% 20222,316,000 51.17% 20232,646,000 14.25% 20242,653,000 0.26% 20252,761,000 4.07%

General aviation Greater Rochester International Airport has two fixed-base operators supporting general aviation operations. USAirports and Avflight provide hangar, fuel, and maintenance support for general aviation aircraft. Both FBOs fuel and de-ice airline traffic.

Accidents and incidents Allegheny Airlines Flight 453 crash-landed on July 9, 1978, while arriving from Boston Logan International Airport. The BAC-111 aircraft was carrying 77 people. According to the NTSB report, the flight landed on Runway 28 at too high a speed, but with capability to reject the landing. The pilots chose to continue the landing, the aircraft skidded off the end of the runway, and its landing gear was sheared off by a ditch. There were no fatalities. The aircraft was written off.

On December 22, 1984, a Cessna 402B operated by Falcon Air, N8064Q, was destroyed while returning to land after a cargo door had opened during takeoff. The pilot was killed, no passengers were aboard. The NTSB listed the cause of the accident as pilot error including inadequate pre-flight planning, failure to maintain airspeed, pilot attentiveness, and inability to recognize and avoid stall. On November 14, 2002, a Cessna 210L, N2444S, was destroyed during a forced landing and collision with terrain while on approach to land. The accident site was 1 mile east of the airport . The pilot was killed, no passengers were aboard. The NTSB determined the accident to be 'A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.'