Northwest Alabama Regional Airport Guide

IATA MSLICAO KMSLMuscle ShoalsUpdated 2026-10-17

Local time

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Northwest Alabama Regional Airport sits about one mile east of Muscle Shoals, in Colbert County, and serves the Shoals area of the Tennessee Valley, including Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia. It began as Muscle Shoals Auxiliary Field in 1940. The U.S. Army Air Forces took it over in 1942 for pilot training, and it returned to civil use after the war ended.

Eastern Airlines served the field from 1947 to 1964. Later carriers included Southern, Republic, Northwest Airlink, Silver Airways, SeaPort Airlines and Boutique Air. Contour Airlines now flies year-round to Charlotte, with seasonal flights to Pensacola. From June 2025 to May 2026 Charlotte carried 8,310 passengers and Pensacola 380.

The airport has two asphalt runways. Runway 12/30 is 6,694 feet long and 150 feet wide; runway 18/36 is 4,000 feet by 100 feet and is restricted for some scheduled passenger operations. The field recorded 36,805 aircraft operations in the year ending 31 May 2021, about 101 a day. The airport has on-site rental cars, free Wi-Fi in the terminal and access to US Highway 20 and US Highway 72 Alternate.

Services

2 of 6 available

Compare 4 listed options at Northwest Alabama Regional Airport, spanning car rentals and hotels. Each guide sets out locations, distance from the airport, key features and links to book direct, so you can weigh cost against convenience before you fly. Select a service below to see every provider we track for Northwest Alabama Regional Airport.

Parkingcoming soon

Car Rentals1 optionView

Loungescoming soon

Hotels3 optionsView

Shuttlescoming soon

Public Transportcoming soon

Location

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Key facts

Size: 2 runwaysopened 1940
Location: 34.745, -87.613
Operator: Northwest Alabama Regional Airport Authority (owned by Colbert and Lauderdale Counties)
Links: Wikipedia ↗

Terminals

1 terminal

Northwest Alabama Regional Airport has 1 passenger terminal — Passenger Terminal, handling domestic flights for around 1 airlines. Check which terminal your airline uses before you travel, as check-in, security and boarding points differ between them, and moving from one to another can take time.

Passenger TerminalDomestic
Contour Airlines

Nearby cities

4 cities

Northwest Alabama Regional Airport is closest to Muscle Shoals (6 km west), and also serves Sheffield, Tuscumbia and other nearby areas. With 4 towns and cities within reach, it is a practical gateway for the wider region. Distances shown are straight-line from the airport, so allow extra time for road transfers, traffic and parking.

Muscle Shoals6 km west
Sheffield12 km west
Tuscumbia13 km southwest
Florence17 km northwest

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the airport codes for Northwest Alabama Regional Airport?

Northwest Alabama Regional Airport uses the following codes: IATA: MSL, ICAO: KMSL. These codes are used by airlines, pilots, and travel systems to identify the airport.

Where is Northwest Alabama Regional Airport located?

Northwest Alabama Regional Airport is located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, United States. The airport coordinates are 34.7451°, -87.6130°.

What services are available at Northwest Alabama Regional Airport?

Northwest Alabama Regional Airport offers: 1 car rental companies, 3 nearby hotels. Click on each service type above to view detailed information.

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