History
Where It All Started
Little Rock’s first airport, originally called the Little Rock Intermediate Air Depot, opened in 1917 under the operation of the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
In 1925, the federal government acquired additional property to support the 154th Observation Squadron of the Arkansas National Guard, providing essential landing and operational facilities.
By 1928, the first of many aircraft manufacturing businesses was established near the airfield.
In 1930, Little Rock citizens purchased the airfield, and commercial air service launched in 1931 with American Airways, now American Airlines.
Between the World Wars, the airport expanded from one sod runway to three paved runways, establishing itself as a critical hub for commercial and military aviation.
During World War II, the War Department assumed control of the airport, returning it to the City of Little Rock after the war, which reintroduced daily commercial air service.
1n 1941, Little Rock Municipal Airport also became known as Adams Field as the aeronautical surfaces were dedicated to honor Captain George Geyer Adams, a member of the Little Rock City Board and airport advocate, who died in an accident on the airfield. The airport would later be named Little Rock Regional Airport/Adams Field and Little Rock National Airport/Adams Field.
Major advancements came in 1953 with runway improvements and the installation of the first Instrument Landing System (ILS).
Jets arrived in the 1960s, a new terminal opened in 1972, and a second commercial runway was added in 1991.
In the 1990s, the Airport completed more than $170 million in capital improvements.
The Airport underwent a $70 million expansion and modernization of facilities that was completed in late 2012, including a new ticket lobby.
In March 2012, the Commission renamed the airport from Little Rock National Airport/Adams Field to honor the significant contributions of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and their more than three decades of public service.