CLE decoded: Cleveland airport code and practical travel information
CLE is the three-letter airport code for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Use this traveler-focused guide to verify the airport, distinguish CLE from other Northeast Ohio airports, understand the terminal and checkpoints, compare current parking choices, use the RTA Red Line and prepare for pickup or departure.
Check these official CLE sources before leaving
Airport-code facts are stable, but flights, parking occupancy and security conditions are not. Use the live airport pages rather than relying on an old screenshot or a cached travel article for time-sensitive decisions.
What is the Cleveland airport code?
CLE is the three-letter IATA airport code used for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in Cleveland, Ohio. Travelers normally see CLE on airline booking sites, boarding passes, baggage tags, flight displays and travel apps.
Airport live checks & travel tools
Use current local conditions, official live-status links and planning calculators before you travel. Airline gate, terminal and flight times can change; your carrier remains the final source for flight-specific details.
Live flight center
Check the airport's official flight board, then confirm any last-minute gate or timing change with the airline.
Current airport-area weather
Useful for planning your trip to the airport. This is model-based local weather, not an aviation METAR or an airline operational forecast.
Quick official checks
Open the source that matches the decision you are making right now.
When should I reach the airport?
A planning estimate based on flight type and common time buffers. Always increase the buffer for severe weather, major holidays, unusual airport alerts or airline instructions.
Connection-risk checker
This is a planning heuristic, not an airline minimum-connection-time rule. International arrivals that require U.S. entry processing, baggage claim and security can need substantially more time.
Parking cost estimator
Uses the airport-specific rates stored in this article's configuration. Rates can change; verify availability and final pricing on the official parking page before driving in.
Passenger pickup readiness
Landing time is not curb-ready time. Add time for taxiing, deplaning, baggage claim, customs when applicable and walking to the correct pickup zone.
The airport’s ICAO identifier is KCLE. FAA flight-procedure records also identify Cleveland-Hopkins International as CLE (KCLE). For ordinary passenger bookings, CLE is the code you normally need.
On your airline ticket
CLE identifies Cleveland Hopkins International Airport as the origin, destination or connection point.
On a baggage tag
A bag routed to CLE is being tagged for Cleveland Hopkins, subject to any intermediate connection shown on the tag.
In aviation systems
KCLE is the four-letter ICAO code used in aviation contexts. It is not the code most travelers type into airline booking forms.
Where is CLE airport?
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport’s official contact address is 5300 Riverside Drive, Cleveland, OH 44135. The airport’s main published telephone number is (216) 265-6000.
Country
United States.
State
Ohio.
City
Cleveland.
Local time
Eastern Time, with daylight-saving changes.
CLE is not the only airport code associated with Northeast Ohio
Typing only “Cleveland airport” into a map or travel search can expose several nearby aviation facilities. The code on the airline reservation is the safest way to verify where a passenger flight actually departs or arrives.
| Code | Airport | Traveler meaning |
|---|---|---|
| CLE | Cleveland Hopkins International Airport | Cleveland’s principal scheduled passenger airport and the airport covered by this guide. |
| BKL | Burke Lakefront Airport | A separate Cleveland airport. Do not substitute BKL for CLE when your airline ticket says CLE. |
| CAK | Akron-Canton Airport | A separate commercial airport serving the Akron-Canton area. Confirm the code before arranging parking or pickup. |
CLE has a main terminal with Concourses A, B and C
The current Cleveland airport passenger map shows the main terminal and active gate areas in Concourses A, B and C. The layout is easier to use when you know your operating airline and gate before entering the secure area.
Concourse A
The current airport airline directory includes Frontier and Avelo among carriers using Concourse A. Confirm the day’s gate because assignments can change.
Concourse B
Delta and Southwest are currently listed in Concourse B by the airport’s airline directory.
Concourse C
The current directory places carriers including Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Alaska, American, JetBlue and United in Concourse C.
CLE uses North, Central and South security checkpoints
Cleveland Hopkins publishes three TSA checkpoint locations: North, Central and South. The airport says all checkpoints provide access to departing gates, so the checkpoint name does not have to match your concourse letter.
| Checkpoint | Published hours | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| North | 3:45 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Check current wait estimates because staffing and demand can change. |
| Central | 3:45 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. | The Central Checkpoint expansion was completed in May 2026, doubling screening lanes from two to four. |
| South | 3:15 a.m. – 7:45 p.m. | Opening times are published airport information, but operational changes remain possible. |
CLE currently recommends arriving no later than two hours before a domestic departure and no later than three hours before an international departure. If an international itinerary begins with a domestic first leg, the airport says its domestic recommendation applies.
CLE parking prices and lot choices
Cleveland Hopkins publishes several airport-operated parking choices. Current availability is dynamic, so price is only one part of the decision: check the live parking page before driving toward a specific lot.
| Parking option | Current published price | Useful detail |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Garage | $26/day or $7/hour | Attached to the terminal by skywalk/walkway; advance reservation is available. |
| Brown Lot | $15/day | Remote lot with airport shuttle service; the airport also advertises a lower online reservation rate. |
| Blue Lot | $24/day | Covered lot north of the terminal; status can reach full during busy periods. |
| Premium Reserved Red Lot | $29/day | Reservation-only product near the terminal. |
| Orange Lot | $21/day | Surface lot with covered access toward the Smart Parking Garage and terminal. |
| Curbside Valet | $37/day | 24-hour valet currently located on the upper roadway by Door 1. |
Picking someone up at Cleveland airport
Do not repeatedly circle the terminal while waiting for a passenger to reach the curb. CLE provides a cell-phone waiting area so drivers can wait away from active terminal loading zones until the traveler is actually ready for pickup.
Taxi and rideshare pickup
The airport says taxi pickups are made at the taxi entrance at the south end of Baggage Claim near carousel 11. Rideshare pickup and drop-off can currently be coordinated on either the upper departures or lower arrivals roadways.
RTA Red Line connects CLE directly with downtown Cleveland
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s Red Line serves Cleveland Hopkins directly. The airport station is on the lower level of the main terminal, reachable using elevators or escalators in the center of the ticketing and baggage-claim levels.
The airport says the trip between CLE and downtown Cleveland via Tower City takes less than 30 minutes, with trains departing from CLE about every 15 minutes for the majority of the day. Always check the current RTA timetable when timing matters.
Red Line
A direct rail connection is available from the airport terminal to Tower City and the wider rapid-transit system.
Taxi / rideshare
Taxi and app-based rides are available, but use the airport’s current pickup instructions instead of assuming the curb location.
Parking shuttles
Remote parking products such as the Brown Lot use shuttle service to connect passengers with the terminal area.
CLE accessibility and extra-support services
Passengers needing wheelchair assistance should arrange the service through their airline. CLE recommends requesting it in advance; assistance may also be requested through the airline at ticket or curbside counters on the day of travel.
Wheelchair assistance
Contact the operating airline. The airport’s accessibility page lists airline-specific assistance information and says all security checkpoints are wheelchair accessible.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower
Free Sunflower lanyards and bracelets are available on request at the pre-security Information Desk and the Welcome Center in baggage claim.
Hopkins Flight School
CLE offers sensory-friendly practice events that simulate check-in, TSA screening and aircraft boarding for travelers who may benefit from advance familiarity.
What changed at CLE in 2026?
Two airport developments are particularly useful for current travelers. First, CLE completed the expansion of its Central Security Checkpoint in May 2026. The project increased the checkpoint from two screening lanes to four and expanded queueing space.
Second, the airport began visible construction work on its long-term CLEvolution modernization program. A July 2026 groundbreaking launched construction of a new Gold Lot planned to add about 1,600 parking spaces as an early Phase 1 project.
Why is it called Cleveland Hopkins International Airport?
The airport began operations in July 1925 and describes itself as the first municipal airport in the United States. It was named Cleveland Hopkins Airport in 1951 in honor of founder William R. Hopkins, and the airport says the current Cleveland Hopkins International Airport name was adopted in 1964.
The historic name helps explain why travelers may hear “Hopkins,” “Cleveland Hopkins,” “CLE” and “Cleveland airport” used for the same passenger airport. When booking or checking a bag, the unambiguous identifier is CLE.
CLE departure checklist
- Confirm your itinerary shows CLE.
- Check the operating airline, not only the marketing airline.
- Recheck flight time and gate.
- Check the current TSA estimate and checkpoint hours.
- Review live parking status before driving.
- Bring an acceptable TSA identification document.
- Confirm the airline’s baggage cutoff if checking bags.
- Allow extra time if roadway or construction conditions have changed.
Frequently asked questions about the Cleveland airport code
What airport is CLE?
What is the Cleveland airport IATA code?
What is Cleveland Hopkins’ ICAO code?
What is the address for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport?
Is CLE the same as Akron-Canton Airport?
Is CLE the same as Burke Lakefront Airport?
How many terminals does Cleveland airport have?
Which airlines use Concourse B at CLE?
How early should I arrive at Cleveland airport?
Does Cleveland airport have a train to downtown?
Where does Uber or Lyft pick up at CLE?
Can I wait at the terminal curb for an arriving passenger?
How this Cleveland airport guide was checked
This page prioritizes Cleveland Hopkins International Airport pages for passenger-facing operations and contact information, Greater Cleveland RTA for public transit, TSA for federal screening guidance and FAA records for aviation identifiers. Time-sensitive parking, checkpoint and airline information should be rechecked at the source on travel day.
Airport-Guides.org is an independent travel information publisher and is not affiliated with Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, the City of Cleveland, FAA, TSA, Greater Cleveland RTA or any airline.