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{{for|the airport serving Abilene, Kansas|Abilene Municipal Airport}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Abilene Regional Airport
| image = File:Abilene Regional Airport Logo.jpg
| IATA = ABI
| ICAO = KABI
| FAA = ABI
| pushpin_map = Texas#USA
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_map_caption =
| pushpin_label = '''ABI'''
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| type = Public
| owner-oper = City of Abilene
| city-served = [[Abilene, Texas]]
| ___location =
| elevation-f = 1,790.6
| elevation-m =
| coordinates = {{coord|32|24|47.7|N|099|40|59.2|W|region:US_type:airport|display=title,inline}}
| website = [http://iflyabi.com iflyabi.com]
| r1-number = 17L/35R
| r1-length-f = 7,198
| r1-length-m = 2,194
| r1-surface = Asphalt
| r2-number = 17R/35L
| r2-length-f = 7,202
| r2-length-m = 2,195
| r2-surface = Asphalt
| stat-year = 2023
| stat1-header = Aircraft operations (year ending 5/31/2023)
| stat1-data = 41,459
| stat2-header = Based aircraft
| stat2-data = 105
| footnotes = Sources: airport website<ref name=Airport>[http://iflyabi.com Abilene Regional Airport] at the Abilene Regional Airport website</ref> and [[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]]<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=ABI|use=PU|own=PU|site=23287.*A}}, effective 2023-08-10</ref>
}}
'''Abilene Regional Airport''' {{Airport codes|ABI|KABI|ABI}} is a public airport located approximately {{convert|3|mi|km}} southeast of downtown [[Abilene, Texas|Abilene]], in [[Taylor County, Texas|Taylor County]], [[Texas]].<ref name=FAA /> The airport is located within the Abilene city limits, and is and owned and operated by the city.<ref name=Airport />
Most operations at the airport are general aviation and military training. Abilene Regional is currently [when?] served by [[Envoy Air]], operating as [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]], operating daily [[Embraer]] regional jet flights to [[Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport|Dallas-Ft. Worth]] (DFW).
In October 2020, [[United Express]] began daily flights to [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston-Intercontinental]], operated by [[SkyWest Airlines]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burch |first=Jamie |date=2020-08-10 |title=Abilene lands second airline for first time since 2008 |url=https://ktxs.com/news/local/united-airlines-expanding-service-to-abilene-in-october |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=KTXS |language=en}}</ref> The airline ceased all flights to the airport in October 2021, citing staffing issues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burns |first=Sarah |date=2021-08-10 |title=United Airlines to cancel air service with Abilene Regional Airport |url=https://ktxs.com/news/local/united-airlines-to-cancel-air-service-with-abilene-regional-airport |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=KTXS |language=en}}</ref>
[[Allegiant Airlines]] operated twice-weekly flights to [[McCarran International Airport|Las Vegas]] (LAS) with [[McDonnell Douglas MD-80]] jetliners in 2006–07 before ceasing all service to Abilene. Charter air carriers, such as [[Sun Country Airlines]], continue to operate flights on an occasional basis from Abilene to Las Vegas with mainline jet aircraft, such as the [[Boeing 737]].
Air freight service to Abilene is provided primarily by subcontractors. The airport was formerly served by major carriers; [[United Parcel Service|UPS]] and [[USPS]] now [when?] primarily truck their overnight packages in from Dallas-Fort Worth, and most Abilene-bound [[FedEx]] Express shipments are sent through Lubbock.
Native Air (formerly Southwest Medevac) housed an emergency medical helicopter and crew at the airport for about 10 years, but closed the base in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/story/d/story/local-first-responders-react-to-native-airs-depart/28849/kHYake5xcUGLjEvTWeJI8Q |title=Local First Responders React to Native Air's Departure - BigCountryHo… |access-date=2014-10-12 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141012025348/http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/story/d/story/local-first-responders-react-to-native-airs-depart/28849/kHYake5xcUGLjEvTWeJI8Q |archive-date=2014-10-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city's remaining emergency medical helicopter service is provided by [[Air Evac Lifeteam]], with its aircraft and crew stationed at [[Hendrick Medical Center]].
Abilene Regional is also home to Eagle Aviation Services, Inc., which is a heavy-maintenance base for all [[American Eagle Airlines|American Eagle]] aircraft. Basically every plane in the airline's fleet is maintained at ABI. The airport grounds also acted as an [[aircraft boneyard]] for American Eagle, which stored around 20 retired [[Saab 340]] turboprop aircraft which remain in the airline's livery. American Eagle replaced these propjets with [[Embraer]] regional jets. As of 2023, American Eagle was serving Abilene Airport with flights to the Dallas-Fort Worth airport.
[[Texas State Technical College]] provides aviation maintenance training at its on-field hangar base.
==Past airline service==
In the 1930s, Abilene was a stop on [[American Airlines]]’ overnight service between Dallas and Los Angeles.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web |title=June 15, 1934 American Airlines timetable |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref> American's 12-passenger [[Curtiss Condor]]s had sleeper berths and flew [[Dallas Love Field]] - Ft. Worth - Abilene - Big Spring, TX - El Paso - Douglas, AZ - Tucson - Phoenix - Los Angeles.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> In the 1940s, American's [[Douglas DC-3]]s flew Dallas Love Field - Abilene - Big Spring - El Paso - Tucson - Phoenix - San Diego - Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=June 1, 1947 American timetable |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref> American left Abilene in 1949 and would not return until [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]] service began in the 1980s.
Starting in the 1940s, [[Pioneer Air Lines]] [[Douglas DC-3]]s and [[Martin 2-0-2]]s flew to [[Dallas Love Field]], Houston [[Hobby Airport]], Albuquerque, Fort Worth, Amarillo, Lubbock and other cities in Texas and New Mexico.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oct. 1, 1947 & Nov. 1, 1953 Pioneer timetables |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref> Pioneer was merged into [[Continental Airlines]] in 1955; Continental DC-3s flew to cities served by Pioneer and added direct service to San Antonio.<ref>{{Cite web |title=April 1, 1955 Continental timetable |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref> In 1958-59 Continental served Abilene with the [[Convair 340]], [[Convair 440]], and the four engine [[Vickers Viscount]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jan. 20, 1958 & Sept. 27, 1959 Continental timetables |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref> In 1959 Viscounts flew direct to [[Dallas Love Field]] and Albuquerque.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sept. 27, 1959 Continental timetable |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref> Continental left Abilene in 1963, replaced by [[Trans-Texas Airways]] (TTa).<ref>{{Cite web |title=July 29, 1964 Continental timetable |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref> Continental would not return, but [[Continental Connection]] [[Colgan Air]] [[Saab 340]]s eventually began flying Abilene to [[Houston Intercontinental Airport]]; that ended in 2008.
Trans-Texas DC-3s, [[Convair 240]]s, and [[Convair 600]]s flew from Abilene to [[Dallas Love Field]] and other cities in Texas and New Mexico.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oct. 30, 1966 Trans-Texas timetable |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref> Trans-Texas began the first jet service, [[Douglas DC-9-10]]s by 1968.<ref name="timetableimages.com">{{Cite web |title=August/September 1968 Trans-Texas timetable |url=http://www.timetableimages.com |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref> TTa flew nonstop to Austin and Lubbock and direct to Albuquerque, Amarillo, Houston [[Hobby Airport]], San Antonio and Santa Fe.<ref name="timetableimages.com"/> Most flights were Convair 600s but some DC-9s flew via Dallas direct to Austin and Houston. Trans-Texas Airways changed its name to [[Texas International]] (TI) and continued DC-9 and Convair 600 flights at Abilene. TI served Amarillo and Lubbock from Abilene, and DC-9s flew to Dallas Love Field and to [[Dallas/Fort Worth Airport]] (DFW) after it opened. In 1970 Texas International had four flights a day to Dallas, two being DC-9s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=July 1, 1970 TI timetable |url=http://www.departedflights.com |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.departedflights.com}}</ref> Both DC-9 flights to Dallas continued direct to San Antonio. TI Convair 600s flew to Albuquerque, and a DC-9 flew nonstop to San Angelo, an extension of a flight from Dallas. In 1976 the airport had international service of a sort as Texas International DC-9s flew direct to Mexico City four days a week via Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston.<ref>Feb. 1, 1976 [[Official Airline Guide]], North American Edition</ref> The OAG lists TI DC-9s from Austin, Laredo, McAllen, San Angelo and San Antonio in addition to the service from Dallas/Fort Worth. In 1979 Texas International scheduled up to four nonstop DC-9s a day from San Antonio to ABI in addition to the four DC-9s a day to Dallas/Ft. Worth.<ref name="departedflights.com">{{Cite web |title=Nov. 15, 1979 Official Airline Guide |url=http://www.departedflights.com |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.departedflights.com}}</ref> With the merger of Texas International and [[Continental Airlines]], TI left Abilene and the airport lost its only jet service in the early 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=June 1, 1982 Continental/Texas International joint timetable |url=http://www.departedflights.com |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.departedflights.com}}</ref>
Jet service returned in 1984 when the original [[Frontier Airlines (1950-1986)]] began flying [[Boeing 737-200]]s direct to Denver via Midland/Odessa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=June 8, 1984 Frontier Airlines map |url=http://www.departedflights.com |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.departedflights.com}}</ref> By spring 1985 Frontier had dropped Abilene, which again lost jet service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=April 4, 1985 Frontier Airlines map |url=http://www.departedflights.com |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.departedflights.com}}</ref> Reliable jet service would not return to Abilene until [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]]s [[Embraer ERJ-140]] and [[Embraer ERJ-145]]s arrived.
[[United Airlines]] via [[United Express]] flown by [[code sharing]] partner [[SkyWest Airlines]] operated nonstop service to Houston from October 2020 to October 2021.
==Chaparral Airlines==
Chaparral Airlines was a regional airline based in Abilene that began service in the 1976<ref>http://www.timetablesonline{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Chaparral Airlines</ref> with [[Beechcraft 99]] and [[CASA 212]] twin engine turboprops as well as small twin engine piston powered [[Piper Aircraft]].<ref name="departedflights.com"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=photos of Chaparral Airlines CASA 212 aircraft |url=http://www.airliners.net/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250511080931/https://www.airliners.net/ |archive-date=2025-05-11 |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=Airliners.net |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1979 Chaparral flew nonstop to both [[Dallas Love Field]] and [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]] and also nonstop to Austin and [[Houston Hobby Airport]].<ref>http://www.departedflights.net{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Nov. 15, 1979 Official Airline Guide</ref> It then introduced 37-passenger larger [[Grumman Gulfstream I]]-Cs, a stretched version of the Gulfstream I business propjet.<ref>http://www.airliners.net, photos of Chaparral Airlines Grumman Gulfstream I-C</ref> In 1984 Chaparral flew nonstop from Abilene to Austin, Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) and Houston Hobby and to San Antonio via Austin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sept. 15, 1984 Chaparral Airlines route map |url=http://www.departedflights.com |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.departedflights.com}}</ref> Chaparral became an [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]] airline flying [[code share]] service for [[American Airlines]] on December 1, 1984.<ref>{{Cite web |title=April 28, 1985 American Eagle operated by Chaparral Airlines timetable |url=https://www.airtimes.com/ |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=www.airtimes.com}}</ref>
==Facilities and aircraft==
[[File:Alder Derryberry Model A.jpg|thumb|An [[Alder & Derryberry A|Alder Derryberry Model A]] on display at the Abilene Regional Airport]]
Abilene Regional Airport covers {{convert|1,644|acre|ha}} and has two [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] [[runway]]s: 17L/35R {{convert|7,198|x|150|ft|m|abbr=on}}, and 17R/35L {{convert|7,202|x|150|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=FAA /> In June 1952 it had four runways (045-079-129-180 deg) 3200 to 3684 ft long.
The former runway 4/22<ref>[https://www.airnav.com/airport/KABI runway 4/22]</ref> has been decommissioned as of 2023.
The terminal has seen many expansions and improvements in the past [when?] decade. The upper-level houses the airline ticket counters, restaurant, gift shop, airport offices, and two departure gates, each with [[Jetway]] boarding bridges. The lower level has two baggage carousels and car-rental agencies.
Recent [when?] improvements include the reconstruction of the airline ramps near the terminal and a new, expanded public parking lot. The new lot has 731 covered parking spaces and escalator access to the upper level.
Construction of the airport's new {{convert|130|ft|m|adj=on}}-tall control tower began in August 2010 and was completed in January 2012. This new tower replaced a {{convert|65|ft|m|adj=on}} tower built in 1959.
In the year ending May 31, 2023, the airport had 41,459 aircraft operations, an average of 114 per day: 54% [[general aviation]], 29% military, 14% [[air taxi]] and 3% scheduled commercial. 105 aircraft were based at this airport: 79 single-engine, 17 multi-engine, 8 jet and 1 [[helicopter]].<ref name=FAA />
==Airline and destination==
<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and airlines itself are not independent sources. -->
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2024}}
{{Airport destination list
| [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]] | [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]]
}}
{| class="collapsible collapsed" style="border:1px #aaa solid; width:25em; margin:0.2em auto"
|-
! Destination map
|-
|{{Location map+ |USA Texas |width=500 |float=center
|caption=Destination from Abilene Regional Airport
|places=
{{Location map~ |USA Texas |lat=32.4119|long=-99.6800|position=left|label='''<small>Abilene</small>'''|caption=|mark=Airplane_silhouette.svg|marksize=15 }}
{{Location map~ |USA Texas |lat=32.899741|long=-97.040424|position=right |label='''<small>[[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
}}
|}
As of December 2022, all [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]] flights operated by [[Envoy Air]] on behalf of [[American Airlines]] between Abilene (ABI) and Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW) were being flown with [[Embraer E-Jet family|Embraer E175]] regional jets.<ref>http://www.aa.com, Dec. 1, 2022 American Airlines system timetable</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of airports in Texas]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{cite web |url= http://iflyabi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/airport-map.pdf |title= Airport Map |access-date= 2016-08-16 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160822191411/http://iflyabi.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/airport-map.pdf |archive-date= 2016-08-22 |url-status= dead }}
* {{FAA-diagram|00001}}
* {{FAA-procedures|ABI}}
{{US-airport|ABI}}
{{Airports with boneyards}}
[[Category:Airports
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Abilene, Texas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Taylor County, Texas]]
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