City of Addison Airport

Addison Airport (ADS, KADS)

Addison Airport (ADS, KADS) is a public-use general aviation airport in Addison, Texas, north of Dallas. Owned by the City of Addison, the airport serves business aviation, private aircraft, flight training, and other general aviation activity in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Its location is an important part of the airport’s role. Addison sits near several of North Texas’ major business districts, including North Dallas, Plano, Frisco, Richardson, and the Dallas North Tollway corridor. Unlike Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field, Addison Airport does not serve scheduled commercial airline passengers.

ADS is also one of several airports available to private aviation in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Its single runway, air traffic control tower, aviation businesses, hangars, and proximity to North Dallas have made the airport a longstanding part of the region’s general aviation infrastructure.

Addison Airport at a Glance

Where Is Addison Airport?

Addison Airport is located in the Town of Addison, immediately north of Dallas. The airport lies within the northern portion of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, an area that includes a large concentration of corporate offices, residential communities, hotels, restaurants, and business districts.

North Dallas is not a single municipality, so Addison’s location is often described in relation to several nearby communities. Plano and Frisco lie to the north, Richardson is to the east, and Dallas extends south of Addison. The Dallas North Tollway provides one of the principal north-south routes through this part of the Metroplex.

That geography helps explain why ADS developed into an important business aviation airport. For travelers and companies based in the northern suburbs, an airport in Addison can be geographically better positioned than one on the opposite side of the Metroplex.

History of Addison Airport

Addison Airport opened in 1957 as North Dallas and the surrounding communities were beginning a period of significant expansion. The airport was originally developed with private investment on a site in what was then a much less developed area north of Dallas.

The original airfield included two runways. As the airport and surrounding community developed, the crosswind runway was eventually closed and portions of the property were redeveloped for additional aviation facilities and hangars. Runway 15/33 became the airport’s sole operating runway.

The City of Addison acquired the airport in 1976. In the decades since, the airport has continued to develop alongside Addison and the northern Dallas suburbs, with business aviation becoming an important part of its identity.

Today, ADS is surrounded by one of the most heavily developed portions of North Texas. Its evolution from an airport built beyond the northern edge of Dallas to an urban general aviation airport reflects the broader growth of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Addison Airport Runway & Infrastructure

Addison Airport has one paved runway, designated 15/33, measuring 7,202 feet in length. The airport is towered and supports a mix of business aviation, privately operated aircraft, flight training, and other general aviation activity.

The single-runway configuration is a defining feature of ADS. Over time, airport development has concentrated around Runway 15/33, with hangars, aircraft parking, aviation businesses, and support facilities located around the airfield.

For pilots and aircraft operators, current FAA publications and airport information should always be used for operational planning. Runway conditions, procedures, notices, and other operational information can change and are separate from the general airport reference information presented here.

What Do ADS and KADS Mean?

Addison Airport is commonly identified by two airport codes: ADS and KADS. Both refer to the same airport in Addison, Texas, but they are used in different aviation and travel contexts.

ADS is the airport’s three-letter identifier used by the FAA and in many travel, mapping, and airport-reference systems. KADS is the four-letter ICAO identifier used in flight planning, aviation weather, and other international aviation systems.

The initial “K” is used in ICAO identifiers for many airports in the contiguous United States. As a result, searches for Addison Airport, ADS Airport, and KADS Airport are all references to the same North Texas airfield.

Addison Airport’s Role in North Dallas Aviation

The Dallas-Fort Worth region is served by a network of airports rather than a single aviation facility. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Dallas Love Field (DAL) handle the region’s largest concentrations of scheduled airline traffic, while several other airports serve general, corporate, business, and private aviation.

Addison occupies a distinct place in that network because of its North Dallas location and focus on general aviation. It does not need to duplicate the role of DFW or Love Field. Instead, ADS serves aircraft and travelers whose needs are better suited to a dedicated general aviation airport.

Other general aviation airports across the Metroplex serve their own geographic areas, including Dallas Executive Airport to the south and airports serving McKinney, Denton, Fort Worth, and surrounding communities. Together, these facilities give the Metroplex an unusually broad aviation network.

Business Aviation at Addison Airport

Addison’s growth as a business center and the expansion of communities such as Plano, Frisco, and Richardson have helped sustain the airport’s business aviation role. Companies and aircraft owners use ADS for access to North Dallas as well as for aircraft based permanently at the airport.

The airfield supports fixed-base operations and other aviation businesses providing services for locally based and visiting aircraft. Hangars and aircraft-related businesses occupy a substantial portion of the airport property, reflecting ADS’s role as more than simply an arrival and departure point.

Private charter is one part of that broader aviation activity. Travelers considering ADS for an on-demand flight can find trip-planning information on the JetOptions Addison Airport guide, while this vocabulary entry serves as a reference to the airport itself.

Addison Airport vs. Other Dallas-Area Airports

Airport names in the Dallas-Fort Worth area can be confusing because several facilities may appear in searches for flights to Dallas. Addison Airport should not be confused with Dallas Love Field or Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

DFW is the region’s principal international commercial airport. Dallas Love Field is located closer to central Dallas and handles substantial scheduled airline traffic in addition to private aviation. Addison Airport is a general aviation airport north of Dallas with no scheduled passenger airline service.

For private aviation, the most appropriate Dallas-area airport depends largely on the passenger’s final destination, aircraft requirements, schedule, and the operating considerations for the flight. Someone traveling to Addison or the northern suburbs may have different airport options than a traveler whose destination is downtown Dallas, Fort Worth, or another part of the Metroplex.

Addison Airport FAQs

Where is Addison Airport?

Addison Airport is located in Addison, Texas, immediately north of Dallas in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Its location provides access to Addison and the northern Dallas suburbs, including areas near Plano, Frisco, and Richardson.

What is the airport code for Addison Airport?

Addison Airport uses ADS as its three-letter FAA/IATA identifier and KADS as its four-letter ICAO identifier.

Who owns Addison Airport?

Addison Airport is owned by the City of Addison.

How long is the runway at Addison Airport?

Addison Airport has one operating runway, Runway 15/33, measuring 7,202 feet in length.

Does Addison Airport have commercial airline flights?

No. Addison Airport is a general aviation airport and does not have scheduled commercial passenger airline service.

Is Addison Airport the same as Dallas Love Field?

No. Addison Airport (ADS) is located in Addison north of Dallas and focuses on general aviation. Dallas Love Field (DAL) is a separate airport in Dallas with scheduled airline service as well as private aviation activity.

Can you charter a private jet to Addison Airport?

Yes. Private charter flights operate to and from Addison Airport. For aircraft options, charter planning, airport services, and travel information, see the JetOptions Addison Airport private aviation guide.