Media at RDU

RDU Media Guide

The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority’s Office of Communications, Government and Community Affairs is dedicated to helping you cover your story about Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Media Relations and On-Call Policy

The Airport Authority’s email address for media inquiries is rdunews@rdu.com and the 24-hour media line is 919-840-7070. Staff will respond to urgent calls and email inquiries within 30 minutes between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays, and within one hour between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekends and Airport Authority holidays. Calls and emails that are received outside of this timeframe that are deemed non-urgent will be returned the next business day. Inquiries regarding airport emergencies will be answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week as soon as staff is able to respond.

Members of the media who are covering stories at RDU are requested to contact us as a courtesy prior to arrival. Please notify us via e-mail at rdunews@rdu.com.

For updates on winter weather or tropical weather impacts, please check rdu.com/weather. The most accurate information will be posted on that page.

If an emergency situation occurs at RDU, the Airport Authority will experience a high volume of media inquiries. To ensure you receive the most accurate information:

  • Be sure to check for a recorded statement on the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority’s 24-hour media line at 919-840-7070.
  • Follow the airport’s Twitter account: @RDUAirport
  • E-mail a request to be added to the media relations distribution list to rdunews@rdu.com.
  • If the need for a media briefing arises, the Airport Authority will share information about the time and location via Twitter at @RDUAirport.
  • During emergencies, media calls will be returned as time permits.

Please note, the Airport Authority does not consider the following to be after-hours emergencies:

  • Requests for flight status, including flights impacted by weather
  • Routine airport radio traffic
  • Medical call reports
  • Reports of aircraft flying low or in unusual patterns
  • Parking

Parking

Media vehicles are expected to park in public parking lots, with the exception of live trucks, which may park on the terminal curbs under the following conditions:

  • Trucks must be attended at all times. Unattended trucks are subject to immediate ticketing and towing.
  • Trucks at Terminal 1 may only park at the end of the commercial vehicle curb AFTER the canopy structure.
  • Trucks at Terminal 2 may only park on the upper level PRIOR to the canopy.

Repeated violations of unattended satellite trucks on the terminal curbs may result in the revocation of curbside parking privileges for that media outlet.

RDU’s Cell Phone Lot and Observation Park are alternative media coverage areas for media outlets not able to attend a live truck.

While at the Airport

Media outlets are permitted in all pre-security areas of the airport. The terminal concourses are not available to the media without a pre-arranged escort, as they require passing through the TSA security checkpoint.

Media covering stories on airport property must visibly display media credentials at all times while at RDU.

Restaurants, shops and some airline operating spaces (including the spaces immediately adjacent to ticket counters) are private leaseholds. Permission must be obtained from those entities before filming inside spaces leased by third-parties.

Interior live shots are permitted with wireless technology. Cords may not be used inside buildings. Do not block egress or walking paths.