Raleigh-Durham International Airport Guide

IATA RDUICAO KRDURaleigh/DurhamUpdated 2026-08-29

Local time

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Raleigh-Durham International Airport sits on 5,000 acres in unincorporated Wake County, positioned between Raleigh and Durham in North Carolina's Research Triangle. The airport opened in 1943 and has grown steadily alongside the region's technology and research sector, reaching 15.5 million passengers in 2024 — a record at the time. Delta Air Lines holds the largest market share, while Breeze Airways serves the most destinations.

RDU offers nonstop service to around 85 destinations, including 12 international routes across nine countries. International service includes flights to Europe with Aer Lingus, Air France, Icelandair, and Lufthansa, plus connections to Canada, Mexico, and Central America. The airport is operated by the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority and is undergoing a long-term expansion program called Transform RDU.

Three active runways support current operations, with a fourth under construction and expected to open in 2029. The airport sits roughly 22 km northwest of downtown Raleigh and 21 km east of downtown Durham.

Services

2 of 6 available

Compare 12 listed options at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, spanning parking and lounges. 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 Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Parking7 optionsView

Car Rentalscoming soon

Lounges5 optionsView

Hotelscoming soon

Shuttlescoming soon

Public Transportcoming soon

Location

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Key facts

Size: 16M passengers (2024)3 runwaysopened 1943
Location: 35.879, -78.787
Operator: Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority
Links: Official website ↗Wikipedia ↗

Terminals

2 terminals

Raleigh-Durham International Airport has 2 passenger terminals — Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, handling both international and domestic flights for around 16 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.

Terminal 1Domestic
Alaska Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines
Terminal 2Mixed
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, Air France, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Aer Lingus, Icelandair, Copa Airlines
Concourses Concourse C · Concourse D

Nearby cities

4 cities

Raleigh-Durham International Airport is closest to Cary (16 km south), and also serves Durham, Raleigh 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.

Raleigh23 km southeast
Durham21 km east
Cary16 km south
Chapel Hill30 km southwest

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the airport codes for Raleigh-Durham International Airport?

Raleigh-Durham International Airport uses the following codes: IATA: RDU, ICAO: KRDU. These codes are used by airlines, pilots, and travel systems to identify the airport.

Where is Raleigh-Durham International Airport located?

Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, United States. The airport coordinates are 35.8787°, -78.7873°.

What services are available at Raleigh-Durham International Airport?

Raleigh-Durham International Airport offers: 7 parking options, 5 lounges, public transport connections. Click on each service type above to view detailed information.

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