Why International?

Terre Haute International Airport was not always international. It has had many name changes throughout the course of its history. It began as Hulman Field in 1943. Since Anton Hulman Jr. donated the 638 acres for the airport, the name was well suited.

The airport consisted of three runways, taxiways, a terminal building and an apron area. An apron area is where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled or boarded. Ten years later, a new terminal building and control tower were completed and the apron area expanded.

The first air cargo shipment flown out of Terre Haute occurred in February 1946, by Trans World Airlines (TWA). TWA shipped passengers and cargo out of Terre Haute for almost twenty years before discontinuing in 1965. Regional and commuter airlines continued to provide passenger service through the late 1980s.

Although no passenger service currently exists at the airport, its illustrious history remains in its name. In 1998, the Airport's name was changed from Hulman Regional Airport to Terre Haute International Airport - Hulman Field. This was in response to the airport’s many flights to Canada. One of the companies flying out of the airport had a regular transport that carried cargo to Canada. Since this is an international flight, the airport was allowed to claim such an accomplishment in their name.