Nashville International Airport, universally known by its code BNA, didn't always carry that moniker. When the facility first welcomed aircraft in the late 1930s, it operated under an entirely different identity. Understanding the evolution from a local Works Progress Administration project to a bustling global hub requires looking back at the political figures, regional aviation shifts, and terminal expansions that shaped Middle Tennessee travel.
The airport's original name was Berry Field, established in 1937 and named after Colonel Harry S. Berry, the state administrator for the Works Progress Administration (WPA). While the commercial passenger terminal and global identity shifted to Nashville International Airport in 1988, the roots of Berry Field remain deeply embedded in the airport's infrastructure, military installations, and its iconic three-letter code.
Early Aviation Roots Before Berry Field
Before Berry Field emerged as Nashville’s primary aviation focal point, commercial and private flying in the region bounced across multiple makeshift locations. Nashville's earliest designated landing strip was Hampton Field, which operated until 1921. As aviation technology advanced and heavier mail and passenger planes entered service, the city needed more reliable grounds.
Hampton Field gave way to Blackwood Field in the Hermitage community, serving local aviators from 1921 until 1928. Concurrently, the city established McConnell Field in 1927 on 130 acres, named in honor of Lieutenant Brower McConnell, a Tennessee National Guard pilot who died in a flight crash that same year. To understand the bigger picture, check out the recent analysis by The New York Times.
Despite these municipal efforts, early commercial airlines like American Airlines and Eastern Air Lines initially routed their Nashville flights through Sky Harbor Airport, located just south in neighboring Rutherford County. Nashville needed a unified, federally backed facility capable of handling heavy traffic and modern aircraft.
The Birth of Berry Field in 1937
The catalyst for a permanent airfield arrived through New Deal legislation. Funded largely by the federal government via the WPA, construction on a massive new municipal airport began in the mid-1930s. When the facility officially opened on June 12, 1937, it was christened Berry Field to honor Colonel Harry S. Berry for his leadership of the WPA in Tennessee.
The original layout was modest by modern standards. It featured an administrative terminal building and two gravel or turf-aligned hangars to service early propeller aircraft. Almost immediately, the airfield became a dual-use facility, accommodating both civilian commercial carriers and military operations.
During World War II, the federal government placed Berry Field under military control, utilizing it as a base for training pilots and managing logistical air transport. This military footprint never truly left. Even as commercial aviation expanded, a dedicated section of the property remained operational for the military, eventually evolving into the home of the Tennessee Air National Guard.
Why Is the Code BNA?
One of the most common questions travelers ask about the facility concerns its airport code. If the airport is called Nashville International Airport, why isn't the code NIA or NAS?
The answer lies directly in the airport's heritage. The IATA identifier BNA stands for Berry field Nashville Airport. When aviation authorities standardized global station codes, the airport had operated as Berry Field for decades. Rather than disrupting global ticketing and scheduling systems when the commercial name changed in the late 1980s, aviation bodies preserved the historical code. Today, millions of passengers type BNA into booking engines every year without realizing they are referencing Colonel Harry S. Berry's original 1930s airfield.
You can review active operational data and safety records for the facility directly through the Federal Aviation Administration.
Transitioning to Nashville International Airport
By the 1980s, the original post-war terminal infrastructure at Berry Field could no longer keep pace with the explosive growth of the region. Passenger volumes surged, and larger commercial jets required expanded gate capacity, longer runways, and modern baggage sorting systems.
Local leaders spearheaded a massive capital project to construct a brand-new, state-of-the-art passenger terminal on the eastern side of the airfield. Opened in 1987, this new terminal drastically increased passenger capacity and modernized the travel experience.
With the launch of the new terminal, the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority officially rebranded the commercial facility as Nashville International Airport in 1988. While locals and historical documents still occasionally referenced Berry Field, the new name aligned the airport with global branding standards for major metropolitan destinations.
You can explore comprehensive regional planning documents via the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority to see how the airport continues to manage its physical footprint.
The Military Legacy: Joint Base Berry Field
Though commercial flights operate under the Nashville International Airport banner, the historic name didn't vanish entirely. The military reservation on the western side of the property maintained the Berry Field designation for decades as the Berry Field Air National Guard Base.
Following federal realignments and military restructuring over the years, the installation transitioned. Today, the site functions as Joint Base Berry Field, housing units such as the Tennessee Army National Guard's helicopter squadrons. This ensures that more than eight decades after its initial groundbreaking, the Berry name remains active in daily aviation operations.
Common Mistakes in Understanding BNA History
Travelers and history enthusiasts often misinterpret how the airport evolved. Clearing up these frequent misconceptions helps paint an accurate picture of Middle Tennessee aviation:
- Assuming BNA stands for "Big Nashville Airport": A frequent guess among tourists, the letters strictly derive from the historical Berry Field Nashville nomenclature.
- Believing the entire airport was relocated: The current airport sits on the same general geographic footprint established in 1937. The modern transformation involved building a new terminal complex and additional parallel runways rather than moving to a completely different part of the county.
- Thinking Berry Field closed down completely: While commercial aviation moved to the modern terminal structures, the military airfield identity persisted through active National Guard presence on the grounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Berry Field officially open?
The airfield opened on June 12, 1937, following two years of construction funded largely by the Works Progress Administration.
Who was Berry Field named after?
The airport was named in honor of Colonel Harry S. Berry, who served as the Tennessee administrator for the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression.
Why didn't the airport change its code from BNA to NIA?
Aviation naming conventions generally avoid altering established IATA codes to prevent widespread confusion in global ticketing, navigation databases, and flight planning systems. Because BNA originally stood for Berry Field Nashville, it stayed intact.
Is Berry Field still used today?
While commercial passenger flights use the modern terminal complex built in the late 1980s, the military portion of the airfield continues to operate under the banner of Joint Base Berry Field.
