The airport was founded in 1928. During World War II it was also known as Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Hyannis, and both the Navy and Army Air Forces flew antisubmarine patrols from the airport.
It was renamed Barnstable Municipal Airport–Boardman/Polando Field in honor of Massachusetts aviation pioneers Russell Boardman and John Polando in 1981, the first aviators in history to fly non-stop for a 5,000-mile (8,000km) distance.[4][5]
As of January 1, 2021, the airport has rebranded itself as the Cape Cod Gateway Airport to provide better name recognition to off-Cape users not familiar with the name Barnstable.[6]
Facilities
Barnstable Municipal Airport covers an area of 639 acres (2.59km2). The airport has two asphalt grooved runways: 6/24 is 5,425 x 150 ft (1,654 x 46 m) and 15/33 is 5,253 x 150 ft (1,601 x 46 m).[1]
In the summer months, the airport traffic increases significantly, commercially and privately, being the main airport for Cape Cod. The fixed-base operators at the airport are Rectrix Aviation, Cape Air, and Griffin Avionics.
• Red represents year-round destinations. • Green represents seasonal destinations.
• Blue represents future destinations.
Statistics
For the 12-month period ending April 30, 2017, the airport averaged 262 operations per day: 60% air taxi, 31% transient general aviation, 9% local general aviation, <1% commercial, and <1% military. In August 2021, there were 37 aircraft based at this airport: 31 single-engine and 6 multi-engine.[1][21]
Top destinations
Busiest domestic routes from HYA (September 2024 – August 2025)[2]
The airport is accessible through MA Route 28 or from US 6 through MA Route 132. Barnstable Municipal Airport is also served by local taxi services as well as four major car rental agencies. The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority provides public transportation to and from the airport as part of the "Villager"/ Route 132 line.
Dassault Mystere Falcon 900B (unscheduled flight): On March 17, 2000, a Dassault Falcon 900 registered N814M, carrying four people skidded off the Barnstable Municipal Airport runway in icy weather while attempting to land, crashed through a fence, crossed Route 28 and stopped in the middle of the TJ Maxx Plaza, causing serious damage to several cars in the parking lot, as well as leaking fuel, which in turn caused the busy plaza to shut down for the night due to safety concerns.[23]
On June 18, 2008, a Wiggins AirwaysDHC-6 Twin Otter, a cargo flight, crashed after takeoff due to the pilot's failure to remove the flight control lock prior to takeoff. The sole occupant, the pilot, was killed.[26]
On May 7, 2026, a Bearhawk LSA-8X, registration N912Z, flipped while attempting to land on Runway 24. The pilot suffered minor injuries.[27]
