4/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“As a gentleman who has seen his share of travel hubs, I found this airport to be a model of Southern efficiency and graciousness — remarkably clean, easy to…”
TV's Michael Gray5★ on Google
Airports / Tennessee / TYS
Large airport · TYS
McGhee Tyson Airport.
Knoxville/Maryville, Tennessee · 981 ft elevation. 1 charter operator based here.
4.4/5
Google rating
4,413 ratings
1
Operators based
981
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Knoxville/Maryville, TennesseeELEV 981 FTLarge airportScheduled service
4.4
Google rating
4,413
Google reviews
ratings on Google
1
Based operators
charter operators on the field
1
FBOs on field
ramp, fuel and handling
981
Field elevation
feet above sea level
Field standing
38 nm
To the nearest alternate
Western Carolina Regional Airport (KRHP).
Overview
McGhee Tyson Airport (KTYS / TYS) sits in Knoxville/Maryville, Tennessee, where it functions as a large commercial airport. The field lies at an elevation of 981 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
Charter departments call it home: Flight Choice bases aircraft at TYS. Useful alternates include Western Carolina Regional Airport (KRHP, 38 nm), Crossville Memorial Airport Whitson Field (CSV, 54 nm), and Asheville Regional Airport (AVL, 74 nm). TYS offers 2 runways, the longest 10,000-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
For arrival logistics and seasonal timing, see the Knoxville, TN destination guide. The airport is also known as Knoxville. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from TYS, or browse verified operators serving the area.
1 FBO serves KTYS. Run one? Become the preferred FBO
Ramp services
FBOs on the field
Signature Flight Support Knoxville McGhee Tyson
Your FBO? Claim it, freeOnly 30 miles from the breathtaking Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the country’s most visited, Knoxville is a bustling city with the magic only a college town can have. Home to the flagship University of Tennessee, Knoxville is full of youthful energy and packed with great things to do.
- Fuel
- Hangar
- 24/7
- Unicom 122.95
- Executive lounge
- Conference room
- Wi-Fi
- Cafe
- Vending
- Courtesy car
- Car rental
- Taxi
- +15 more
- Phone
- Website
- Address
Directory data, unpaid. FBOs can take the Preferred slot above.
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
3/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“The facilities are well-appointed, the staff courteous, and one can move about with a dignified ease that is all too rare these days.”
TV's Michael Gray5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for McGhee Tyson Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
KTYS
IATA
TYS
FAA / Local
TYS
Elevation
981 ft
Coordinates
35.8110° N · 83.9940° W
Airspace
C · CharlieClass C, CharlieRadar-controlled airspace around mid-size hubs. Aircraft must be in two-way radio contact and squawking a transponder while approach control sequences arrivals.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs TN fields
state range 320–1,953 ft
At 981 ft, TYS sits higher than 61% of the 41 Tennessee fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 10,000 ft
- 05L/23R10,000 ft × 150 ftConcreteLighted
- 05R/23L9,000 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 10,000 ft
TYS's 10,000 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Based charter operators1
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 38nmKRHPWestern Carolina Regional AirportAndrews
- 54nmCSVCrossville Memorial Airport Whitson FieldCrossville
- 74nmAVLAsheville Regional AirportAsheville
- 75nmCHAChattanooga Metropolitan Airport (Lovell Field)Chattanooga
- 76nmLOZLondon-Corbin Airport/Magee FieldLondon
- 80nmSMELake Cumberland Regional AirportSomerset
Destinations served
Location
Open the full mapKTYS · McGhee Tyson Airport · Knoxville/Maryville, TN
From the ramp
Google Places photography of McGhee Tyson Airport, tap any frame to view full-screen, then cycle with the arrows or your keyboard.
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from TYS on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville (BNA) | 132 nm | 42m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 364 nm | 1h 15m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 413 nm | 1h 22m |
| New York (TEB) | 557 nm | 1h 42m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 583 nm | 1h 45m |
| Miami (MIA) | 631 nm | 1h 52m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 661 nm | 1h 56m |
| Houston (HOU) | 679 nm | 1h 59m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use TYS?
- McGhee Tyson Airport's longest paved runway is 10,000 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at TYS?
- McGhee Tyson Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 10,000 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at TYS?
- Yes. 1 charter operator list McGhee Tyson Airport as a home base, including Flight Choice. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- Which FBOs are at McGhee Tyson Airport?
- One FBO serves TYS: Signature Flight Support Knoxville McGhee Tyson. Phone, website, hours, unicom and services for each are listed on this page. Call ahead for fuel, ramp space, and ground handling.
- What is the nearest major airport to TYS?
- The closest alternate is Western Carolina Regional Airport (KRHP), about 38 nm away, followed by Crossville Memorial Airport Whitson Field (CSV) at 54 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from TYS to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Washington DC about 1h 15m (364 nm), Chicago about 1h 22m (413 nm), New York about 1h 42m (557 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.