Located in the heart of Kent County, Michigan, General R. Ford International Airport (GRR) boasts aviation history. Its origins date back more than 100 years ago, when a Wright biplane departed from the West Michigan Fairground at Comstock Park on September 10, 1911. Over the next decade, the site was developed into Kent County’s first airport, located just four miles from downtown Grand Rapids. Known as Kent County Airport, its first regularly scheduled airline service in the US began on July 31, 1926, connecting the city to Detroit.
By 1940, Grand Rapids was one of only six US cities with scheduled air service to all directions – north, south, east, and west. It would be nearly four decades until the airport opened a US Customs Bureau Office in its terminal, becoming Kent County International Airport. Over the years, passenger numbers and aircraft size grew, prompting more expansions. In January 2007, the remains of former president Gerald Ford were transported to the airport for his burial at the Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.
As the second largest airport in Michigan, GRR handles several thousand flights each year. Here are the six airlines with scheduled service at the airport next month:
1
American Airlines
868 flights
Fort Worth, Texas-based 
American Airlines
will have the most number of flights at GRR next month. According to aviation data and analytics provider Cirium, the airline will operate just under 870 flights in November. The operation will provide a total of 90,672 seats and 58,892,668 available seat miles (ASMs).
Photo: EQRoy | Shutterstock
American will offer service to GRR from the following destinations:
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
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DFW and MIA are operated seasonally. The Boeing 737-800 will be utilized the most, flying a total of 144 flights between GRR and CLT. American’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Piedmont Airlines, will deploy its Embraer E145s on a total of 116 flights between GRR and PHL.
Photo: PSA Airlines
The Bombardier CRJ700 will be the airline’s third-most utilized aircraft. American’s other wholly-owned subsidiary, PSA Airlines will operate the regional plane on 108 frequencies between GRR and DCA. In addition to its mainline flights, other airlines operating regional flights to GRR under the American Eagle brand include Air Wisconsin, Republic Airlines, and Envoy Airlines.
2
Delta Air Lines
842 flights
Atlanta-based 
Delta Air Lines
comes in second with just over 840 scheduled flights at GRR in November. Despite trailing American, the airline can be considered as GRR’s largest airline in terms of seat capacity. Delta’s operation will provide a total of 100,384 seats. However, its ASM count is significantly lower than American’s at 44,913,634. Delta connects GRR from the following destinations:
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
Photo: Nyker | Shutterstock
Delta utilizes its 737-900ERs the most at GRR, with 212 scheduled frequencies between the airport and its main hub at ATL. There are a total of 190 scheduled flights on the CRJ900 between GRR and DTW. They are operated by SkyWest Airlines under the Delta Connection regional brand. Delta’s third-most used aircraft at GRR is the 717, which is scheduled to operate 76 frequencies between GRR and MSP next month. Republic’s Embraer E175 operation on the GRR-LGA route has 62 frequencies scheduled, making it Delta’s fourth-most utilized aircraft at GRR. Among its mainline aircraft, the airline also deploys the Airbus A320, A319, and 737-800. In the regional operation, SkyWest and Delta’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Endeavor Air, also operate flights to GRR.
3
United Airlines
648 flights
Chicago-based 
United Airlines
will operate nearly 650 flights at GRR next month. Its operation will account for a total of 68,206 seats and 34,415,442 ASMs. United connects GRR to four of its hubs, which include:
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
Photo: sockagphoto | Shutterstock
Republic’s E175, under the United Express brand, will operate the most flights between GRR and EWR compared to any of United’s other routes. The aircraft is scheduled on a total of 112 frequencies between the two destinations next month. The 737-800 will also handle quite the amount of flights as well. It will be deployed on 126 flights combined on the GRR-DEN and GRR-ORD routes.
4
Allegiant Air
344 flights
Ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) Allegiant Air
will handle just over 340 flights at GRR in November. The operation will provide 61,784 seats and nearly 69 million ASMs.
Photo: GingChen | Shutterstock
Allegiant perhaps has the most extensive route network from GRR, but not all destinations are served daily. Next month, the airline has service planned to:
- Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS)
- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
- Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)
- St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
- Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)
5
Southwest Airlines
292 flights
Dallas-based 
Southwest Airlines
will operate nearly 300 flights at GRR next month. The low-cost carrier (LCC) will offer a total of 48,077 seats and 29.6 million ASMs.
With its fleet of 737s, the airline has scheduled service to the following destinations:
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
Photo: Royce Ngiam | Shutterstock
Its busiest route is between GRR and MDW. Southwest will deploy the 737-800 on 50 flights from MDW to GRR and on 34 flights in return. The 737-700 will handle 11 frequencies from MDW to GRR and 20 flights in return.
6
Frontier Airlines
72 flights
Denver-based ULCC Frontier Airlines
will have the fewest flights at GRR next month. The carrier will offer 15,360 seats and 15.6 million ASMs. The airline will use its A321s, A320s, A320neo, and A321neos to only two destinations:
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Photo: VIAVAL TOURS | Shutterstock
Each destination will have an equal amount of frequencies – 36. Between GRR and DEN, the A321neo will handle 20 flights, which is the most on the route. The A320neo, A320, and A321 will be deployed on the remaining 16 flights. Between GRR and MCO, the A320neo will also handle 20 frequencies, which is the majority. The A320neo and A321 are scheduled on the remaining 16 flights.
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