Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is the primary commercial airport serving the Cleveland metropolitan area and northeastern Ohio. Located approximately 10 miles southwest of downtown Cleveland, CLE holds a unique distinction in American aviation history: it was the first commercial airport in the United States to have a direct rail connection to a city's downtown, a connection that has been operating since 1968. The Greater Cleveland RTA Red Line runs directly into the airport terminal, making CLE one of the most transit-accessible airports in the Midwest.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport operates as a single terminal facility with four concourses (A, B, C, and D) connected airside. The terminal has been progressively modernized over the decades, and the airport benefits from its RTA Red Line connection, which provides a direct, inexpensive rail link to downtown Cleveland's Public Square station in approximately 20 minutes.
CLE once served as a major Continental Airlines hub, which drove substantial traffic through the airport during the 1990s and 2000s. United Airlines' acquisition of Continental in 2010 led to a significant reduction in hub operations at CLE, and the airport's passenger volumes declined as a result. CLE now functions as a point-to-point domestic airport with connecting service through multiple airline networks.
CLE serves approximately 9–10 million passengers annually and provides nonstop service to domestic destinations across the United States and limited international destinations. The airport is managed by the City of Cleveland.
Cleveland Hopkins Airport opened in 1925 and was named after William R. Hopkins, Cleveland's first city manager. In 1968, the Cleveland Transit System extended its rail line directly into the airport terminal — a pioneering achievement that preceded all other major U.S. airport rail connections by years and set a model that airports across the country would eventually follow decades later.
Continental Airlines established CLE as a hub in the 1980s, and the airport reached its peak passenger volumes in the 1990s and 2000s as a Continental connecting point. The United-Continental merger of 2010 ended CLE's hub status and led to significant capacity reductions. The airport authority has pursued recovery strategies including marketing to additional carriers and pursuing new international routes.
CLE has a single main terminal building with four concourses. Concourse A handles United Airlines and some other carriers. Concourses B and C handle Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and additional domestic carriers. Concourse D handles regional and smaller operators.
The RTA Red Line station is located directly within the terminal building, accessible from the baggage claim level. This integrated station design is one of the original features of CLE's rail connection and makes the transit experience seamless for passengers.
United Airlines is the largest carrier at CLE, providing domestic routes and connections through its Newark (EWR) and Chicago O'Hare (ORD) hubs. Southwest Airlines operates domestic service. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Frontier Airlines also serve CLE. Sun Country Airlines provides seasonal leisure routes.
International service at CLE is limited, with Air Canada providing service to Toronto. The airport has worked to attract additional international routes consistent with Cleveland's business and tourism needs. CLE provides nonstop service to approximately 35–40 domestic destinations.
CLE's terminal offers a selection of dining and retail, with progressive improvements in recent years. The terminal has been modernized in portions, and the airport authority continues to invest in passenger experience upgrades. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout. Nursing rooms, pet relief areas, and interfaith spaces are accessible within the terminal.
The airport's art program features installations throughout the concourses. The RTA Red Line station's integration into the terminal itself is architecturally interesting as a relic of a pioneering 1968 transit connection.
The Greater Cleveland RTA Red Line provides direct service from the airport terminal to downtown Cleveland's Tower City/Public Square station in approximately 18–20 minutes. The station is located within the terminal at the baggage claim level and is clearly signed. Trains run approximately every 15 minutes during peak hours. The Red Line continues beyond downtown to University Circle (Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University) and eastern suburbs.
Rideshare services are popular for destinations not near RTA stations. Taxis serve the ground level. Rental car companies operate from the airport campus. The airport is accessible via I-480 and I-71.
CLE provides parking in garages adjacent to the terminal and in economy surface lots with shuttle service. Rates are competitive for a mid-size regional airport. The RTA Red Line provides a practical alternative to parking for travelers from downtown Cleveland, University Circle, and eastern suburbs served by the Red Line.
The RTA Red Line from downtown Cleveland to CLE is a genuine transit gem — fast, cheap, and integrated directly into the terminal building. For any traveler staying downtown or near a Red Line station, the train is strongly recommended. The station is clearly signed from baggage claim.
CLE's former hub era left it with well-designed concourses that are now less crowded than they were at peak. Security lines are generally manageable. United Airlines' connections through Newark (EWR) are common for CLE passengers — check connection times carefully, as EWR can have significant delays that affect onward connections.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport serves a metropolitan area anchored by world-class medical institutions (Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals), manufacturing, financial services, and a growing technology sector. The airport provides the air connectivity that enables Cleveland's healthcare tourism economy — patients and families traveling to the Cleveland Clinic from across the country and internationally — as well as business travel for the region's diversified industrial base.
The RTA Red Line connection is particularly valuable for enabling Cleveland Clinic staff and patients to travel without car dependence, supporting one of the world's leading medical destinations.
CLE is pursuing terminal modernization and capacity improvement projects to better position the airport for future growth. The airport authority continues efforts to attract new airline service and additional international routes. Improvements to the RTA Red Line connection and frequency are part of broader Cleveland transit planning discussions. CLE's Terminal Core Renovation project aims to modernize the core terminal areas.
CLE is a medium hub airport providing regional and domestic connectivity for northeastern Ohio. It holds the distinction of being the first U.S. airport with a direct downtown rail connection, the RTA Red Line, which has operated since 1968.
There are no Airports within approximately 60 miles of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport that may provide additional scheduled commercial or regional access.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is a mid-size regional airport with an outsized historical legacy — the first U.S. airport to have rail service to downtown, a distinction that made Cleveland decades ahead of its time in transit-integrated aviation. The Red Line connection remains one of CLE's best features, and the airport's well-maintained facility serves northeastern Ohio's communities with reliable domestic connectivity.
Yes — Cleveland Hopkins Airport's direct RTA Red Line connection to downtown Cleveland opened in 1968, making it the first commercial airport in the United States with a direct rail connection to its city center, preceding better-known airport rail links by decades.
The RTA Red Line station is located within the CLE terminal at the baggage claim level. Board a Red Line train toward downtown — the trip to Tower City/Public Square takes approximately 18–20 minutes. Trains run about every 15 minutes during peak hours.
Continental Airlines operated a major hub at CLE from the 1980s through 2010. When United Airlines acquired Continental in 2010, United consolidated hub operations and significantly reduced CLE's connecting traffic. CLE now operates as a point-to-point airport with connections through multiple airline hubs.
United is the largest carrier. Southwest, Delta, American, Frontier, and Allegiant also serve CLE. Air Canada provides service to Toronto. CLE offers nonstop service to approximately 35–40 destinations.
For the most current flight schedules, parking availability, terminal maps, and ground transportation updates, visit the official Cleveland Hopkins International Airport website.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport Official Site