Quad Cities International Airport (IATA: MLI, ICAO: KMLI, FAA LID: MLI) is a public airport in Rock Island County, Illinois, three miles (5 km) south of Moline, partly in Blackhawk Township and partly in Coal Valley Township.

The airport is directly south of the Quad-City Seaplane Base, which is located on the Rock River, Quad Cities International's northern boundary.

The airport made headlines right at the start, chosen as a control point for the first coast-to-coast flight in the fall of 1919.

In 1929, Phoebe Omlie set an altitude record above the airport in a Velie Monocoupe, the only plane ever manufactured in Moline, which still hangs in the passenger terminal.

In 1947, the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County was formed after seven townships voted to establish it.

[citation needed] The airport underwent major remodeling in 1961 and 1968, adding everything from baggage claim to a restaurant and boarding areas.

In 2001, the terminal underwent a major renovation and expansion: two new concourses, a larger baggage claim area, new restaurants, and gift shops.

A larger U.S. Customs and Border Protection Facility was opened in 2014 in a former air cargo building.

Other changes include a wider TSA screening area, an indoor/outdoor garden and observation deck with water feature, modern seating and power sources throughout the airport, and exterior solar panels above covered parking.

The airfield has had many changes over the past few years, including extending taxiway H. Runway 5/23 has been expanded to a usable 5,015 feet (1,529 m).

The present tower, on the south side of the airport near fixed-base operator Elliot Aviation, is staffed seven days a week from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. At other times control of airspace is by the Chicago Air Traffic Center remoted from Aurora.

A Foreign Trade Zone and U.S. Customs Office are located at the airport, enabling international inbound and outbound shipments.

A number of air freight companies are located at the airport including BAX Global, DHL, and UPS Supply Chain Solutions.

[14] In 2021 the airport had 28,181 aircraft operations, average 77 per day: 61% general aviation, 21% air taxi, 14% airline and 3% military.

There are also a full-service bar, Paradies Gift Shop, shoe shine service, post office boxes, and a mail drop.

Destination Points, a frequent flyer lounge, is available for local and regional travelers who fly approximately eight or more times, annually.