If you’ve ever flown through the award-winning Indianapolis International Airport (IND), then you know it offers one of the best travel experiences in the nation. Indy’s largest airport brings you closer to the world with numerous nonstop flights for both business and leisure. And the airport’s only 14 miles from downtown Indianapolis, so it’s easy and convenient to travel the globe.

While this past year meant less travel for everyone, the Indianapolis International Airport typically averages 145 flights per day. In 2018, more than 9.4 million passengers flew through Indianapolis, and the airport handled nearly 1.1 million tons of cargo. After all, the Indy airport is a gateway into a world-class city at the center of the United States.

Local residents and visitors especially love our airport’s new terminal, with beautiful art collections and panoramic windows. In fact, the terminal originally opened back in 2008. But it stays so clean and pristine that we still fondly call it “new” over a decade later!

From fine dining to art murals, there’s plenty to enjoy while waiting for your flight. So, check out what the Indianapolis airport has to offer during your next travel journey!

Fly with confidence from the United States’ best airport—period.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the Indianapolis International Airport is the best in its class. For the ninth year in a row—and the tenth time overall, the Indy airport was named the Best Airport in North America by the Airports Council International. This recognition is based on passenger feedback on their overall experience, including accessibility, cleanliness, amenities, and security. Year after year, the Indianapolis International Airport receives high marks and still continues to innovate to improve the passenger experience. 

In 2020, the Indy airport also earned the top spot from J.D. Power for Customer Satisfaction among medium-sized airports in North America. The J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study is a prestigious benchmark for measuring our customers’ satisfaction. This was the second year running and the third time in the past five years that we’ve received this honor!

Our biggest differentiator is our exceptional customer experience.

Travelers from all around the world praise the Indianapolis International Airport for its outstanding design and amenities. For six years in a row, Condé Nast Traveler named Indy the Best Airport in America in the annual Readers’ Choice Awards. And for five years in a row, Travel + Leisure readers ranked IND as a top domestic airport in the World’s Best Awards.

Their globe-trotting readers love our airport because of its convenient layout, as well as its various dining and shopping options. “[It’s] just a great place to travel through,” one reader said. Another raved that IND was “outstanding,” with top-notch amenities, short security lines, and ultra-clean facilities. And one frequent flyer wrote that “this is definitely one of the absolute best-designed airports for ease of travel.” All in all, their voters agreed that our “very modern” airport was a winner!

These honors are collectively based on feedback from hundreds of thousands of travelers. They each reinforce—on an international level—the fact that Indianapolis is home to the best airport in North America. That recognition attracts many positive outcomes, like more nonstop flights, grant funding, conferences and conventions, and even relocating businesses. Ultimately, these are all economic drivers that help create jobs and opportunities for the people here in the Indianapolis region.

Thousands fly through the Indianapolis International Airport for the Indy 500.

During the month of May, the Indianapolis International Airport always rolls out the red carpet to welcome visitors from all around the world. The Indianapolis 500 is the world’s largest single-day sporting event and an iconic Hoosier tradition. So, we partner with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum to feature a rotating display of race cars in the terminal. These vintage vehicles offer a glimpse into history and fuel the racing spirit for travelers year-round!

During this year’s Race Week, the Indianapolis International Airport also launched new nonstop flights to six different cities. These flights are a promising start to the summer travel season, offering additional flights to major cities and new, first-ever routes for Hoosier travelers.

We also announced that a new airline would begin flying to the region—introducing Sun Country to the Indy airport lineup. Sun Country operates ultra-low-cost flights on 93 routes to more than 65 popular locations. The Minnesota-based airline focuses on connecting leisure travelers with fun-filled destinations in the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Between this new airline and our added nonstop routes, travelers can enjoy more affordable, direct flights to get them from here to there!

Our Hoosier Hospitality makes everyone feel welcome.

At the Indianapolis International Airport, it’s the people that make the place! Our airport is an award-winning facility, but it’s our caring people who welcome you and make you feel at home. If you’re not an Indiana native, the phrase “Hoosier Hospitality” might be new to you. But to break it down, it means that our residents embrace visitors with genuine, heartfelt kindness. That’s why our airport employees frequently go above and beyond to ensure you have the best experience here in Indy.

The Indy airport truly represents the best of Hoosier Hospitality. You’ll commonly hear words like “please,” “thank you,” and polite whispers of “pardon me.” The terminal is kept neat and clean and always prioritizes accessibility. And our strategic initiatives focus on elevating your experience throughout our facilities. From nursing mothers to Gen Con attendees, our employees care about every guest who travels here!

Altogether, more than 10,000 people work here each day, and 22,600 local jobs are connected to the airport. That’s a lot of people committed to making your travel experience quick and convenient! In the words of one frequent traveler: “[I] made it through parking, check-in, and security in record time. And did I mention that IND has the friendliest TSA staff?”

We all know that travel can be stressful, so we aim to reduce your travel anxieties as much as possible. As one visitor said, “Thank goodness for the Indy airport. With fantastic free Wi-Fi, its sensible layout, and friendly people, it was an absolute lifesaver.”

Enjoy traveling the globe with the Indianapolis International Airport.

At the Indianapolis airport, we ensure you can explore the world with ease. Throughout your passenger journey, you’ll be delighted by little touches of unexpected customer service.

For example, if you need emergency help, we offer 24/7 onsite vehicle assistance for dead batteries and flat tires. We provide free water bottles around the terminal to help quench your thirst, and you can even borrow one of the umbrellas we keep at in the parking lots—just in case you get caught in the rain.

The Indianapolis International Airport also regularly upgrades the terminal to further enhance your experience. Recently, the airport invested in a robust public art program and a new blend of shops and restaurants, including local favorites like Sun King Brewery and Tinker Coffee. For families with small children, we improved three nursing rooms with more comfortable seating and charging areas. And we added a new sensory room for travelers on the autism spectrum, providing a quiet location to decompress.

All in all, our airport has a reputation for being the “fastest, cleanest, and easiest airport to navigate.” However, that reputation is possible only thanks to the hard work and continuous care of our staff. We treasure each and every visitor and hope they all leave feeling “blown away by their customer experience.”

In the future, we plan to add more nonstop flights around the globe and improvements to keep our terminal looking as “new” as ever. So, whenever it’s time to plan your next getaway, we look forward to traveling with you!