Information and Travel Guide for Memphis International Airport
Memphis International Airport (MEM)

Dubbed as America's Aerotropolis, Memphis International Airport is located just 3 miles from the city's business district. It is the chief global hub for FedEx Express and is the second busiest cargo airport in the world. The airport sees over 10 million passengers annually and is served by 9 airlines offering daily nonstop service to several domestic and international destinations. The airport consists of 1 main terminal with 3 concourses and 4 runways.

History

The airport was dedicated on June of 1929 and began operations in 1930 as Memphis Municipal Airport with 2 major airlines serving it. All development at the airport stopped when the US military took control of the facility during World War II. When the Army left in 1947, the airport underwent extensive improvements. In 1969, the airport was renamed Memphis International Airport.

It experienced a surge in operations in 1973 when FedEx built its sorting facility at the airport and in 1985 when it became a hub of Republic Airlines. The airport accommodated its first non-stop international flight in 1995. In 2004, the Tennessee Air National Guard swapped lands with Fedex which allowed for the latter to further expand its operations at the airport.

Services and Amenities

  • Financial Services - Except for 1 ATM in Terminal C next to the Hotel Reservation counter, all other ATMs as well as foreign currency exchange facilities are located in Terminal B.

  • Internet Services - Wireless internet connection is available at the airport for a fee.

  • Food Services - Food and beverage concessions are located throughout all the terminals and are open from 7am to 8pm. Some of the eateries include a barbecue restaurant, Italian deli, an ice cream shop, gourmet chocolate shop, burger chains, coffee and pastries shops, themed cafes and restaurants.

  • Retail Services - All terminals and the ticketing lobby have newspapers/magazine stores and bookstores. Most of the retail shops are concentrated in Concourse B Rotunda including Memphis Kitchen, Sunglass Hut, Brighton Collectibles, Kid Zoo, Elvis and Explore Memphis.

  • Transportation - Many options for ground transportation are available at the airport including taxi cabs, shuttle buses and hotel shuttle vehicles. Car rental counters are located at the Baggage Claim areas of the airport but operators are located outside the terminal. They provide courtesy shuttle to bring their customers to or from the parking lots. The airport also has a free cell phone waiting lot for those meeting arriving passengers.

  • Other - The airport has provided facilities/services for wheelchair assistance, language translation, service animal relief, baby changing and lost and found items. A health station is located in Terminal B outside the security check point.

Parking

There are 871 spaces for short-term parking and 1,950 spaces for long-term parking in the airport's 3-storey parking garage located directly in front of the terminals. Economy parking lots are also available. Free 24-hour shuttle service brings passengers to the economy lots, which are located a short distance from the terminal.

Surrounding Area and Attractions

Tourists around the world come to Memphis for its rich history and culture. Exploring Beale Street's clubs and shops alone will give anyone enough of a good time but the city has numerous other attractions that shouldn't be missed including the public parks along the banks of the Mississippi River, the National Civil Rights Museum and the Pink Palace Museum. Of course, one can't say they've been to Memphis without visiting Graceland or sampling the famous Memphis barbecue.


Contact Information:

Address: 2240 Democrat Road, Memphis, TN 38132, USA
Phone Number: 1 (901) 332-1130
Fax: 1 901 922 8099
Number of Terminals: 1
E-mail: Via the airport's website
Website: www.mscaa.com 
Time Zone: GMT - 6 (GMT - 5 from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October)
Location: The airport is located 12km (8 miles) south of Memphis
IATA Airport Code: MEM