A New Era At AVL

AVL is soaring into an exciting new era. With the AVL Forward project full-speed ahead, the transformation of the airport is more visible than ever. The recent opening of the North Concourse marked the first major milestone in this multi-phase journey — a project that will ultimately result in a larger, more modern terminal designed to serve the growing needs of our region.
 

AVL has seen many changes throughout its history, but AVL Forward is by far the most ambitious and significant to date. It represents more than just a renovation — it’s a reimagining of how the Airport serves the people of Western North Carolina. With such a transformative new space taking shape, it’s only natural for a new visual brand to emerge, complete with a new logo to lead the way.
 

For almost 30 years, AVL's current logo has been the face of the region's airport and an integral part of its brand identity. But there have been other identifiers through the years that have kept the name Asheville Regional Airport in the forefront of passengers’ minds since the opening of AVL in 1961.
 

The very beginnings of an airport in Asheville can be traced all the way back to the 1920’s and 1930’s. Asheville was growing in the 1920’s, but there were no airports in western NC, so pilots used various landing strips and airfields in the area. One such landing strip was “Baird’s Bottom,” which was later flooded to create what is now Beaver Lake in North Asheville. A small airport opened in Fletcher, in 1928, which had two unpaved grass runways and a hangar. Commercial aviation finally made its way to western North Carolina in the 1940’s via the Asheville-Hendersonville Airport located in Fletcher (which was established in 1936). 
 

By the late 1950’s air travel was increasing in popularity, and the airport could not accommodate the larger planes that were being used for commercial air service. It was at this point that Asheville Regional Airport emerged. Land was purchased about three miles to the west of the Asheville-Hendersonville Airport (AVL’s current location) and in 1961 Asheville Regional Airport opened! 
 

As you can see, AVL went through numerous changes on its way to becoming the Asheville Regional Airport we know today. There have also been many physical changes at AVL over the years with projects like the runway expansion, construction of new buildings on the airport property, expansion of the terminal, the addition of a loop road, new apron and ramp areas, new boarding ramps, construction of the rental car facility, various improvements around the terminal, the addition of a parking garage, re-development of the airfield, and a new replacement runway. And now, the AVL Forward project creating more space and setting the stage to serve the region for the next 60 plus years. Not only has AVL physically changed but the logo and brand identity have also seen different looks over the years. 
 

Prior to 1997, a logo consisting of a commercial plane over the western half of North Carolina was used to represent AVL as a brand mark on letter head, police uniforms and other various items. The late 1990s brought many changes to the area and airport, including a new logo for AVL,  the current red and teal version that has represented the airport for nearly 30 years. Now, in 2025, in the midst of the largest infrastructure project in the airport’s history, it is time for a fresh new look. 
 

This new visual identity, to be revealed on August 19, 2025, represents more than a new logo, it reflects the forward momentum of AVL, a new era, with a fresh vision and mission to better serve our region.
 

A LOOK AT AVL'S PAST