Buffalo Niagara International Airport
Buffalo, United States
Buffalo Niagara International Airport
Western New York's gateway linking Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
- ›Operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), a regional public authority.
- ›Popular with Canadian travelers from the Greater Toronto Area due to lower airfares compared to Toronto Pearson.
- ›Located in Cheektowaga, New York, about 8 miles east of downtown Buffalo.
- ›The airport's runways are oriented to accommodate prevailing westerly winds common in the Great Lakes region.
- ›BUF serves as an alternative gateway for visitors to Niagara Falls, located roughly 20 miles away.
Buffalo Niagara International Airport has served western New York since 1926, evolving from a modest municipal field into the region's primary commercial gateway. Situated about 8 miles east of downtown Buffalo, it connects the city to major domestic hubs while drawing visitors headed to nearby Niagara Falls, just 20 miles away. The airport underwent a significant terminal modernization in the early 2000s, giving it a clean, efficient character that suits its mid-sized role.
- Main Terminal — A single consolidated terminal building housing all airline check-in, security checkpoints, and gates for both domestic and limited international arrivals.
- NFTA Metro Rail — nearest station is not directly at the airport; connecting bus service links to the rail network
- NFTA Bus Route 204 — public bus service connecting the airport to downtown Buffalo
- Taxis and rideshare services (Uber, Lyft) available curbside at the arrivals level
- Rental car center located on-site with major agencies including Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, and Budget
- Shared shuttle services to downtown Buffalo and Niagara Falls area hotels
- Marriott Buffalo Niagara
- Hampton Inn Buffalo Airport
- Hyatt Place Buffalo/Amherst
- Holiday Inn Express Buffalo Airport
- Residence Inn Buffalo Amherst
Inside the terminal, travelers will find a mix of national quick-service brands and local options reflecting Buffalo's food culture, including nods to the city's famous chicken wings. Airside dining is concentrated past security with coffee shops and casual eateries suitable for short layovers. For a fuller dining experience, the surrounding Cheektowaga and Amherst areas offer numerous restaurants within a short drive of the airport.
- Arrive at least 90 minutes before domestic departures; the airport is manageable in size but security lines can build during morning peaks.
- If visiting Niagara Falls, a rental car is the most convenient option as public transit connections to the falls are limited.
- Buffalo winters are severe — check flight status proactively between November and March as lake-effect snow can cause delays.
- Canadian Niagara Falls is just across the border; ensure you have a valid passport if you plan to cross into Ontario.
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Buffalo Niagara International Airport is in Cheektowaga, New York, United States. The airport serves Buffalo, New York and Niagara Falls, New York in the United States, and the southern Golden Horseshoe region of Ontario, Canada. It is the third-busiest airport in the state of New York and the busiest inside of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The total catchment area for Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) is estimated to be around 9.2 million people, the largest between NYC to the east and Chicago to the west, largely because it serves as a major, lower-cost alternative for travelers in the Southern Golden Horseshoe region of Ontario, Canada, in addition to Western New York. The combined US and Canada service area makes the Buffalo Niagara Region one of the top 10 largest urban regions in North America. It is about 11 miles (18 km) east of Downtown Buffalo and 60 miles (97 km) southeast of Toronto. The airport covers a total area of 1,000 acres (400 ha).
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