Dallas
Addison Airport
The busiest single-runway airport in the United States. One 7,203 foot strip handling 119,065 movements a year, three competing FBOs open around the clock, and customs on site. North Dallas rather than downtown.
Reviewed by Kevin Singh, Founder · Fact-checked against Icarus Jet fleet and airport operations data · Last updated 2 September 2026
The Airport
Dallas Addison at a glance
Addison Airport carries the ICAO code KADS and the IATA code ADS. It sits about nine miles north of Dallas, just off the Dallas North Tollway, and is municipally owned.
It serves north Dallas, Plano and the Galleria area rather than downtown, which for a great deal of business traffic is the real destination. It is also a pure business aviation field: scheduled airline movements are under one percent of its traffic.
Volume
One runway, 326 movements a day
Addison is the busiest single-runway airport in the United States, the busiest general aviation airport in Texas, and among the five busiest in the country by any measure.
In the year ending 30 September 2023 it handled 119,065 aircraft operations, an average of 326 a day, all on one 7,203 foot strip. The mix is 68 percent general aviation and 32 percent air taxi, with airline and military each under one percent.
That density is the character of the place. Expect real sequencing, expect to hold, and do not plan a turnaround here on the assumption that a general aviation field means a quiet one.
History
Built with private money in 1957
Addison was established in 1957 by a group of Dallas businessmen led by John Murchison and W.T. “Bill” Overton. Groundbreaking was on 16 March 1957, on a project costing 2,291,000 dollars and financed entirely with private funds rather than public money.
That origin explains a lot about the airport. It was built by people who wanted somewhere to keep and fly their own aircraft, close to where they worked, and it has stayed that kind of airport ever since. The FAA records a civil activation date of November 1956, and the field passed into municipal ownership later.
North Dallas grew up around it. What was open land in 1957 is now the Galleria and the Tollway corridor, which is why an airport with a single runway sits in the middle of one of the densest business districts in Texas.
Timing
The tower closes, the FBOs do not
The control tower at Addison is staffed 0600 to 2200 local. Outside those hours the field reverts to CTAF and separation becomes pilot responsibility.
This is the detail that catches operators out, because all three fixed base operators run 24 hours. At 0300 the ramp is staffed, the fuel is available and the lights are on, so the airport feels fully operational. The tower is not. A late arrival into a busy uncontrolled circuit is a different proposition from the same arrival at 1400, and it belongs in the brief rather than being discovered on descent.
Approach provision is good for a field this size: ILS or LOC to both runway ends plus RNAV GPS to both, so weather is rarely the thing that turns you away.
Operating
What it means in practice
No slots, no PPR. Handling is not mandatory, and with Atlantic Aviation, Galaxy FBO and Million Air all on the field there is genuine competition, which generally shows up in handling pricing in a way it does not at a single-operator airport.
Addison is a US Customs user fee airport, so an international private arrival clears here rather than repositioning to Dallas Fort Worth. Jet A and AVGAS are both available.
The field is not FAR Part 139 certificated, having no scheduled service, so there is no published ARFF index. Normal for this type of airport and no restriction on private operations. One published obstruction to brief: the airport perimeter road runs 200 feet from the runway, 500 feet right of centreline.
Nearby
Addison and the other Dallas fields
Four airports serve the metroplex. The right one is a question of where you are actually going.
Love Field is closer to downtown with two runways and a 24 hour tower. Dallas Fort Worth suits the heaviest aircraft or a scheduled connection. Executive covers the south of the city. Addison is the north Dallas answer, and for the Galleria and Plano it usually wins on total door to door time.
Airport guides & index
Questions
Addison, answered
Can private jets land at Dallas Addison Airport?
Yes, and it is built for exactly that. Addison is the busiest general aviation airport in Texas and among the five busiest in the United States. There are no slots and no PPR, three fixed base operators compete on the field and all three run 24 hours.
Is Addison really the busiest single-runway airport in the country?
Yes. In the year ending 30 September 2023 it handled 119,065 aircraft operations, an average of 326 a day, all on one 7,203 foot runway. The traffic mix is 68 percent general aviation and 32 percent air taxi, with airline and military movements each under one percent. It is a business aviation airport almost exclusively.
What are the tower hours at Addison?
The control tower is staffed 0600 to 2200 local, not around the clock. Outside those hours the field reverts to CTAF and separation is pilot responsibility. This catches people out because the FBOs are open 24 hours, so the airport feels fully staffed at 0300 while the tower is not.
Does Addison have customs?
Yes. Addison is a designated US Customs user fee airport, so an international private arrival can clear here rather than repositioning to Dallas Fort Worth. Fees are charged on a user-fee basis and we confirm the clearance window when we file.
How long is the runway at Addison?
Runway 16/34 is 7,203 feet by 100 feet of grooved asphalt. It is a single runway, which is what makes the traffic figure remarkable. It comfortably takes mid-size and super mid-size aircraft; for the heaviest large cabin types Love Field or Dallas Fort Worth give more margin.
What instrument approaches does Addison have?
ILS or LOC to both runway ends, 16 and 34, plus RNAV GPS to both. For a single-runway general aviation field that is strong approach provision and it keeps Addison usable in weather that would turn traffic away from a non-precision field.
Is Addison FAR Part 139 certificated?
No, because it carries no scheduled commercial service, which is what triggers the requirement. There is no published ARFF index. That is normal for a field of this type and does not restrict private operations.
Which FBOs operate at Addison?
Three: Atlantic Aviation, Galaxy FBO and Million Air, all full service and all open 24 hours. Genuine competition on one field usually shows up in handling pricing, and it means a late arrival still has a staffed ramp even when the tower has closed.
Is ground handling mandatory at Addison?
No. With three FBOs on the field you have a real choice, and we recommend one based on the aircraft, the turnaround and where on the field you need to be.
How far is Addison from downtown Dallas?
Around nine miles north of the city, sitting just off the Dallas North Tollway. It serves north Dallas, Plano and the Galleria area, which for a lot of business traffic is the actual destination rather than downtown.
Addison or Love Field?
It depends where you are going, not which airport is better. Love Field is closer to downtown, has two runways, Index C fire cover and a 24 hour tower. Addison is closer to north Dallas and Plano and has three competing FBOs. For a meeting in the Galleria area Addison usually wins on total door to door time.
When was Addison Airport built?
It was established in 1957 by a group of Dallas businessmen led by John Murchison and W.T. Bill Overton. Groundbreaking was on 16 March 1957 on a project costing 2,291,000 dollars, financed entirely with private funds rather than public money. It is municipally owned today.
Are there obstructions to brief at Addison?
One published: the airport perimeter road runs 200 feet from the runway and 500 feet right of centreline, a 10 foot obstruction on the FAA record. Minor, but it belongs in the brief.
What time zone is Addison in?
Central Time, CST in winter and CDT in summer, which is UTC-6 and UTC-5 respectively.
Get Your Number
Request an Addison charter
Send the route, the date and the party size. If the movement falls outside tower hours we will brief it as an uncontrolled arrival rather than let the crew find out on descent, and we book ramp space ahead on a field this busy.
Prefer to talk? Call +1 888 277 7203 or email charter@icarusjet.com. The desk is staffed 24/7.