Core 30 Airports ✈️
The FAA designates 30 airports as "Core Airports" due to their significant impact on the National Airspace System (NAS).
Why the Core 30 Matter
These 30 airports are the busiest and most structurally critical airports in the United States. They handle a vast majority of the nation's commercial passenger traffic. Because of their sheer volume and strategic locations, delays at any of these Core 30 airports often ripple across the country, affecting flights and passengers nationwide.
FAA Prioritization
The FAA prioritizes staffing, infrastructure upgrades, and technological investments at these facilities to ensure the entire National Airspace System runs efficiently and safely.
List of Core 30 Airports
All 30 designated Core Airports
💡 Click on the column headers to sort the table.
| ID | Facility Name | State | Facility Level |
Always Open |
CRWG Target |
Current Staffing |
Projected Staffing |
Avg. Training Time (Years) |
Training Success Rate |
Max. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | Atlanta Tower | GA | 12 | Yes | 52 | 85% | 91% | 1.02 | 75% | $219,781 |
| BOS | Boston Tower | MA | 10 | Yes | 33 | 82% | 79% | 1.15 | 62% | $225,046 |
| BWI | Baltimore Tower | MD | 8 | Yes | 22 | 100% | 103% | 0.86 | 90% | $171,487 |
| CLT | Charlotte Tower | NC | 12 | Yes | 90 | 83% | 91% | 1.64 | 88% | $212,466 |
| DCA | Washington National Tower | DC | 9 | Yes | 30 | 87% | 106% | 1.26 | 85% | $191,722 |
| DEN | Denver Tower | CO | 12 | Yes | 41 | 76% | 100% | 0.97 | 87% | $233,681 |
| DFW | Dallas-Fort Worth Tower | TX | 12 | Yes | 58 | 76% | 92% | 1.28 | 62% | $225,942 |
| DTW | Detroit Tower | MI | 9 | Yes | 33 | 88% | 89% | 1.19 | 72% | $183,731 |
| EWR | Newark Tower | NJ | 11 | Yes | 37 | 70% | 80% | 1.98 | 70% | $242,203 |
| FLL | Fort Lauderdale Tower | FL | 8 | Yes | 26 | 96% | 100% | 0.53 | 88% | $157,618 |
| HCF | Honolulu Control Facility 1 | HI | 11 | Yes | 93 | 74% | 84% | 2.97 | 69% | $221,250 |
| IAD | Dulles Tower | VA | 10 | Yes | 30 | 83% | 94% | 1.50 | 74% | $222,572 |
| IAH | Houston Intercontinental Tower | TX | 11 | Yes | 39 | 87% | 98% | 1.04 | 90% | $228,000 |
| JFK | Kennedy Tower | NY | 11 | Yes | 33 | 79% | 80% | 2.05 | 62% | $244,909 |
| LAS | Las Vegas Tower | NV | 11 | Yes | 41 | 73% | 79% | 0.94 | 63% | $202,177 |
| LAX | Los Angeles Tower | CA | 11 | Yes | 56 | 70% | 73% | 1.97 | 57% | $241,696 |
| LGA | La Guardia Tower | NY | 11 | Yes | 37 | 89% | 84% | 2.29 | 61% | $244,909 |
| MCO | Orlando Tower | FL | 9 | Yes | 35 | 86% | 103% | 0.66 | 85% | $163,531 |
| MDW | Midway Tower | IL | 8 | Yes | 22 | 77% | 104% | 1.04 | 88% | $175,558 |
| MEM | Memphis Tower | TN | 8 | Yes | 35 | 63% | 66% | 1.34 | 76% | $147,997 |
| MIA | Miami Tower | FL | 12 | Yes | 98 | 60% | 68% | 2.73 | 59% | $221,343 |
| MSP | Minneapolis Tower | MN | 9 | Yes | 37 | 89% | 103% | 1.26 | 89% | $184,150 |
| ORD | Chicago O'Hare Tower | IL | 12 | Yes | 73 | 78% | 79% | 1.76 | 58% | $245,754 |
| PHL | Philadelphia Tower | PA | 12 | Yes | 114 | 79% | 88% | 2.17 | 81% | $233,504 |
| PHX | Phoenix Tower | AZ | 10 | Yes | 35 | 80% | 93% | 0.86 | 92% | $196,723 |
| SAN | San Diego Tower | CA | 8 | Yes | 28 | 79% | 103% | 0.59 | 91% | $177,910 |
| SEA | Seattle Tower | WA | 10 | Yes | 33 | 82% | 98% | 0.58 | 90% | $222,621 |
| SFO | San Francisco Tower | CA | 10 | Yes | 30 | 73% | 80% | 1.30 | 62% | $244,066 |
| SLC | Salt Lake City Tower | UT | 10 | Yes | 33 | 82% | 100% | 0.92 | 92% | $188,063 |
| TPA | Tampa Tower | FL | 10 | Yes | 67 | 66% | 70% | 2.14 | 61% | $188,063 |