National Aviation Day

Published on August 17, 2026

August 19 may be National Aviation Day, but here in the Fox Cities every day is aviation day thanks to the outstanding team at the Appleton International Airport. The day was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to honor the development of aviation, and we are continuing to innovate that sector right here in Appleton.

Consumers are probably most aware of the gains we’ve made in commercial flights. We now offer 22 nonstop routes to destinations across the United States. We’re proud to be Allegiant’s only hub in Wisconsin and their continued investment in the number of routes they offer travelers in Northeast Wisconsin. We like to say you can get anywhere in the world from Appleton thanks to connections to major hubs like Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Atlanta, and more.

Thanks to the support of business leaders, the Outagamie County Board, and the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau the community recognized the need to invest in expanding the physical terminal and surrounding areas to better serve the growing business and leisure markets in the Fox Cities. Expansion and renovation of the terminal will be complete by the end of this year, and we hope everyone gets a chance to travel out of ATW to see the improvements.

The construction project was funded by a combination of state, federal, and regional grants, and budgeted dollars from the county, but the amenities were a result of input from the community. Our goal for every improvement was to make travel faster, easier and more convenient for travelers. That’s why we have a variety of express services including Express Bag Check, Express Parking, even an Express Coat Check where passengers can drop their coats with us when traveling to warmer destinations.

We created an airport dedicated to universal access with free technology, relaxing seating areas, and one of the few airports in the country with a Sensory Room for families with neurodivergent members where they can relax. We have a quiet room for travelers who simply need a moment of peace. We also feature hearing loops at every gate allowing individuals with hearing aids or implants a high-tech way to filter out wild noise and easily hear gate announcements.

The upgrades were also done with sustainability in mind, and our goal is to create a Net Zero Energy building. The concourse’s departure gates feature monumental glass walls offering unobstructed views of the runways and provide natural daylighting. The terminal uses a chilled beam conditioning system, solar energy roof panels, and occupancy sensors for lighting and mechanical systems.

A study conducted in 2025 showed the airport has a total economic impact of nearly $2 billion on the region. The last economic impact study was conducted in 2015 when Appleton International Airport generated $676 million in total economic impact. More than 1-million people travel through the Appleton Airport to either explore Wisconsin for business or pleasure OR to connect Wisconsin to major markets and leisure destinations. And that number of travelers continues to grow.

There is technology everywhere--we have apps, the airlines have apps, our website gives you travel options, you can literally book your trip on your phone, but it’s PEOPLE that are in charge of the guest experience. Our people make the difference in delivering an exceptional travel experience –from the gate agent to the staff who plow the runways, to the server in the restaurant, it’s about keeping people safe and making the flying experience faster, easier and more convenient for the traveling public.