NS Norfolk, VA
warningNS Norfolk, VA: Gate 3A Scheduled Maintenance
From the AMC Norfolk site: Starting Monday, May 18th, Gate 3A will experience nightly and potential weekend closures for approximately 60 days due to scheduled maintenance. Gates 2 and 4 will become the primary 24/7 entry points. Nightly: Monday through Thursday, from 1930 to 0400, Gate 3A (including ramps and lanes) will be closed. Operating hours for Gate 22 are from 0500 to 1900 local daily; secured (closed) on weekends. Personnel should plan for delays and follow all posted detours. THE MAY 28th AND JUNE 11th PATRIOT EXPRESS (PE) FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED. THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLIGHT DEPARTS JUNE 25th AT 0700 LOCAL UNLESS OTHERWISE ADVISED. TRAVEL TO BAHRAIN IS CURRENTLY PENDING CLEARANCE PROTOCOLS. PLEASE ADJUST YOUR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE THESE CHANGES. FOR THE LATEST UPDATES, REGULARLY CHECK THE 72-HOUR SCHEDULE OR CONTACT THE PASSENGER SERVICE DISPATCH OFFICE. Duty passengers (traveling Space Required) must submit a complete and legible paper copy of their funded travel orders upon check-in. https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/Terminals/CONUS-Terminals/NS-Norfolk-Passenger-Terminal/
infoDAF Privatizing On-Base Lodging Beginning Fall 2027 (US & Territories)
The DAF has selected IHG Hotels and Resorts and Centinel Public Partnerships, LLC to execute a 50-year lease, starting Fall 2027. The first 23 installations scheduled for transition are: • Altus Air Force Base, Okla. • Barksdale AFB, La. • Beale AFB, Calif. • Buckley Space Force Base, Colo. • Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. • Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. • Edwards AFB, Calif. • Eglin AFB, Fla. • Goodfellow AFB, Texas • Hurlburt Field, Fla. • Joint Base Andrews, Md. • JB Charleston, S.C. • JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska • JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. • Little Rock AFB, Ark. • MacDill AFB, Fla. • Maxwell AFB, Ala. • Nellis AFB, Nev. • Robins AFB, Ga. • Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. • Shaw AFB, S.C. • Sheppard AFB, Texas • Travis AFB, Calif. See the full story here: https://www.afimsc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4487502/daf-selects-partner-for-commercialized-on-base-lodging/
Space-Available flights from the Navy-operated AMC terminal at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia — Patriot Express runs to Bahrain, Djibouti, and Diego Garcia.
Naval Station Norfolk's air terminal is one of the few AMC passenger terminals run by the Navy rather than the Air Force. It sits on the world's largest naval base, in Norfolk, Virginia, and its schedule is built around supporting deployments — the headline runs are Patriot Express flights toward U.S. Central Command and the Indian Ocean: Bahrain, Djibouti, and Diego Garcia. A second tier of flights hops between Navy air stations up and down the coast and beyond.
For a Space-A traveler, Norfolk is a moderate board — not the wide-open walk-on of the emptiest CONUS terminals, but not heavily contested either. The overseas Patriot Express flights use large aircraft with plenty of seats, though they see real demand from travelers headed downrange. Cat VI reach is moderate and softens through the winter and spring; because these missions run deployment-loaded, lower-priority travelers aren't guaranteed a seat the way they are at a quiet stateside hub.
The move at Norfolk: if you're aiming for Bahrain, Djibouti, or Diego Garcia, this is one of the only terminals that flies there directly — sign up early and watch the 72-hour schedule, since the overseas runs are the contested ones. Friday is the busiest flying day by a wide margin. And note that Norfolk is a card-only terminal — no cash — and a Navy-run operation, so the sign-up address and procedures are the Navy's, not an Air Force aerial port's.
Terminal Information
Flight Schedule PDFs
AMC's official scheduling PDFs, opened in a new tab.
At a Glance
Editorial summary of the live numbers below.
- Norfolk is a Navy-operated AMC terminal, and its schedule is built around deployments — the headline runs are Patriot Express flights toward U.S. Central Command and the Indian Ocean: Bahrain, Djibouti, and Diego Garcia. A second tier hops between Navy air stations along the coast and beyond.
- Norfolk is a moderate board — most released seats fly empty, but it isn't the wide-open walk-on of the quietest CONUS terminals. The overseas Patriot Express runs use large aircraft with plenty of seats, yet see real demand from travelers headed downrange.
- Cat VI reach is moderate and softens through the winter and spring. Because Norfolk's missions run deployment-loaded, lower-priority travelers aren't guaranteed a seat the way they are at a quiet stateside hub — sign up early, especially for the overseas runs.
- Friday is Norfolk's dominant flying day by a wide margin — a large share of the terminal's departures go out then. The rest of the week is thinner and uneven.
- Volume is modest and leans toward the colder months, with no dependable weekly rhythm beyond the Friday concentration. Plan from the live 72-hour schedule rather than a monthly average.
- April 2026 saw an unusually high spike in flight volume across many AMC terminals — probably driven by real-world operations rather than typical cadence. Weight the other months more heavily when planning your trip.
| Type | Date | Departure | Destination | Roll call | Arrival | Code | Released | Claimed | Fill % | Sel cat | Sel signup | Comp | Comp cat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72-Hour | 2026-06-04 | NS Norfolk, VA | Pittsburgh ARS, PA | 1300 | — | TBD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Arrival | 2026-05-20 | NS Norfolk, VA | NAS Rota, Spain | — | 1330 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Arrival | 2026-05-20 | NS Norfolk, VA | NAS Rota, Spain | — | 1630 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 72-Hour | 2026-06-05 | NAS Sigonella, Italy | NS Norfolk, VA | 1310 | — | TBD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 72-Hour | 2026-06-03 | JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ | NS Norfolk, VA | 1630 | — | F | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 72-Hour | 2026-06-03 | NAS Sigonella, Italy | NS Norfolk, VA | 0250 | — | TBD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Patterns Over the Past 12 Months
See the past 12 months of patterns at this terminal — busiest months, day-of-week cadence, fill rates, and top destinations.
Pattern charts — flight cadence, fill rates, and top destinations — are a premium feature. Upgrade to plan trips against real history for this terminal.
See pricingHow to Sign Up
Methods, contacts, and terminal-specific quirks.
Skip the emails. Plan a trip on Space-A+ and we'll submit your sign-up at this terminal automatically — and refresh it every 60 days so it never expires.
Plan Your TripQuirks Worth Flagging
- Roll call is conducted at the Information/Space-A counter 3 hours before a Patriot Express departure and 2 hours before all other military flights. Verify exact roll-call times against the terminal's 72-hour schedule.
- Patriot Express check-in counters open at 6 pm the day before departure; check-in for other military aircraft opens 24 hours prior. Duty, PCS, and pre-booked passengers must be in the terminal no later than 3 hours before a Patriot Express departure (2 hours for other military flights) or get re-directed to the Information Counter.
- Norfolk is a card-only terminal — cash is not accepted for any charge. Space-A passengers on a Patriot Express flight pay a $23.40 head tax; returning from Bahrain, Djibouti, Diego Garcia, or Guantánamo Bay adds a Customs Federal Inspection Service fee on top.
- Baggage allowance is 2 checked bags per traveler, up to 70 lbs and 62 linear inches each, plus 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item. For flight safety, lithium batteries and e-cigarettes are not allowed in checked baggage.
- Pets booked in the aircraft belly are restricted to the first-floor arrivals area, and all pets must stay in their carrier inside the terminal. A pet exercise area is outside the terminal, to the left.
When You Show Up
Parking, lodging, food, and what to do if you don't get on.
Parking
Long-term parking passes are available for stays up to 60 days — have your vehicle tag number ready. Long-term parking is in rows 9 and 10 only. For long-term parking questions, call (757) 445-1492.
Check-In
Check in at the Naval Station Norfolk AMC Passenger Terminal, Bldg. LP210, 8225 Patrol Road. Bring a valid ID, your leave or travel orders, and a printed copy of your Space-A sign-up email. Duty passengers traveling Space-Required must hand over a complete paper copy of their funded travel orders at check-in.
When to Arrive
The terminal is open 6 am to midnight daily. Friday is the busiest flying day, so a Friday gives you the most departures to choose from. Mark present as early as you can and check the 72-hour schedule for posted roll-call times. Norfolk is card-only — bring a payment card, as cash is not accepted for any charge.
On-Base Lodging
- Navy Gateway Inns & Suites — Naval Station Norfolk1-877-628-9233On-base Navy billeting. Central reservations toll-free; local desk (757) 394-9164. Official travelers on funded orders may be required to use on-base lodging — check with your order-writing authority.
- Navy Lodge — Hampton Blvd(757) 489-2656Navy Lodge near the base; kitchenettes and family suites available at extra cost. Toll-free reservations 1-800-628-9466.
Off-Base Lodging
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott — Newtown Rd · (757) 333-3100
- Hampton Inn — Hampton Blvd · (757) 489-1000
- Hilton — Military Hwy · (757) 466-8000
- Holiday Inn — Military Hwy · (757) 213-2231
- Marriott — Main St · (757) 627-4200
- Quality Inn — Hampton Blvd · (757) 451-0000
- Quality Inn Lake Wright — North Hampton Blvd · (757) 461-6251Restaurant on premises.
- Sheraton Norfolk Waterside · (757) 622-6664Many restaurants within walking distance at Waterside.
- Wyndham Garden — Norfolk · (757) 802-9292Restaurant on premises.
Transportation
- Taxi Dispatch (Norfolk) · (757) 855-3333Norfolk-area taxi dispatch; an alternate dispatch line is (757) 853-7777. Estimated taxi fare to or from Norfolk International Airport is about $35.
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car · 1-800-736-8222Will drop a rental car off at the AMC air passenger terminal on request.
- DEE's Transportation · (757) 305-0405
- Duke's Cab · (757) 202-3564
- Asphalt Lots · 1-888-441-7275Can support large-group transportation.
- Thornton Bus Lines · (757) 837-2546
Common Destinations
Editorial notes to complement the live counts on the flight tables above.
- Norfolk's busiest destination — a Patriot Express run to the remote Indian Ocean base, on large aircraft with plenty of seats. One of the only ways to reach Diego Garcia via Space-A.
- DjiboutiA Patriot Express run to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa — a CENTCOM deployment route flown on large aircraft, with moderate competition for seats.
- A Patriot Express run to NSA Bahrain in the Persian Gulf — the largest-aircraft route on Norfolk's schedule and a primary CENTCOM gateway. Returning from Bahrain adds a customs inspection fee to the head tax.
- NS Mayport, FLA regular hop down to Naval Station Mayport near Jacksonville, Florida — a Navy-station connector with big seat counts and little competition.
- An occasional run to Naval Station Rota in southern Spain — a gateway into Europe and the Mediterranean.
- An occasional short hop up the coast to central New Jersey — small flights, but a useful East Coast connector.
- An occasional run down to South Carolina — JB Charleston is a major East Coast AMC hub and a strong onward connection.
- An occasional cross-country run to Naval Air Station North Island at Coronado, near San Diego, California.
Related Terminals
Geographic and functional alternatives.
FAQ
Travelers ask these about this terminal specifically.
I know flights are based on mission requirements. Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of making the flight?
Sign up early, and show up early to mark present. If only a few Space-A passengers have marked present shortly before roll call, terminal staff will tell mission planners that cargo can be added to the pallet positions that would have held seats. On certain aircraft, that means fewer Space-A seats than there are travelers waiting. The fix is to mark present as early as you can — don't wait until just before roll call.
Do I really need to bring a copy of my sign-up email?
Yes — always bring a hard copy of your sign-up email, and make sure it shows a date and time stamp. Terminal staff use that stamp to confirm your priority on the manifest at roll call.
Will they let me on the flight if my ID is expired?
No. Check every ID before you travel, and if any will expire during your trip, renew them now. Expired IDs (including your CAC, dependent ID, and passport) will keep you off the flight.
Helpful Links
AMC PDFs, terminal-specific guides, and external resources.
Guide last reviewed . Sources: AMC Travel and Space-A+ historical data.
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