Albert J Ellis (OAJ) Airport Limo Service

Stretch Limo Service to and from Albert J Ellis (OAJ) Airport

Flights into Richlands end at a compact terminal where the curb sits a few steps from baggage claim, and the right chauffeur turns that short walk into the easiest part of the journey. Our Albert J Ellis (OAJ) Airport limo service covers every arrival and departure at OAJ with a licensed chauffeur, a tracked flight, and a vehicle sized for your group, whether you are headed to Camp Lejeune, downtown Jacksonville, North Topsail Beach, or a city on the far side of the state. This page is part of our wider North Carolina airport limo service, and it explains how pickups work at OAJ, what the airport offers, and how to reserve a car in a few minutes.

Why Travelers Choose Our OAJ Limo Service?

Albert J Ellis handles roughly nine departures a day, nearly all of them regional jets feeding Charlotte and Atlanta. That schedule makes every connection count, and it rewards a ground partner who watches the inbound aircraft as closely as you do. Union Limousine has run airport transfers for decades, and we apply the same discipline at a three gate terminal in Onslow County as we do at the largest hubs in the country.

Flight Tracking Built Around Two Hub Connections

Almost every passenger arriving at OAJ connected through Charlotte Douglas on American or through Hartsfield Jackson on Delta. When a thunderstorm stacks up over Atlanta or a crew times out in Charlotte, the downstream flight to Richlands moves with it. Our dispatch desk monitors your inbound leg from wheels up, adjusts the chauffeur's arrival automatically, and sends you a text with the driver's name and vehicle description once the aircraft is on the ground. You pay for the ride you booked, with no penalty for delays the airline caused.

Military and Government Travel to Camp Lejeune and New River

OAJ exists in large part to serve Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River, and a steady share of our bookings carry service members, families, contractors, and visiting officials between the terminal and the gates. Our chauffeurs know the approach to the main gate on Holcomb Boulevard, the Piney Green entrance, and the New River gate off Highway 17, and they understand that a reporting time is firm. We can arrange gate pass coordination ahead of arrival, hold a vehicle during a brief stop at base housing, and provide receipts formatted for travel vouchers.

Leisure Arrivals Bound for the Onslow Coast

The other side of OAJ traffic is vacation travel. Families landing on a Friday afternoon want to be on the sand at North Topsail Beach by dinner, anglers want to reach a charter slip in Sneads Ferry before dawn, and couples want a quiet ride to a waterfront inn in Swansboro. Our chauffeurs load coolers, surf gear, and strollers without fuss, and the routing accounts for summer traffic on Highway 210 and the Highway 172 bridge so you arrive on schedule.

Where We Take You From Albert J Ellis Airport?

Richlands sits in the western part of Onslow County, about 13 road miles from downtown Jacksonville and a little over an hour from both Wilmington and New Bern. From that starting point our chauffeurs cover the county, the coast, and the full length of the state.

Jacksonville and Onslow County

Most OAJ rides stay inside the county. We deliver passengers to hotels along Western Boulevard and Marine Boulevard, to the Onslow Memorial Hospital campus, to Coastal Carolina Community College, to the Jacksonville Commons sports complex, and to residential neighborhoods from Hunters Creek to Half Moon. Business travelers calling on defense suppliers in the Jacksonville Business Park or the industrial area off Highway 17 get a direct ride with no detours.

Richlands, Catherine Lake and the Farming Communities

The airport is closer to the town of Richlands than to Jacksonville itself, and we regularly carry guests to Mike's Farm for seasonal events, to Huffman Vineyards, and to homes around Catherine Lake, Gum Branch, and Kellum. Short trips get the same punctual chauffeur as long ones.

Swansboro, Sneads Ferry and North Topsail Beach

Coastal transfers run southeast through Jacksonville and then split. Swansboro and the Hammocks Beach State Park ferry are about 45 minutes away by way of Highway 24. Sneads Ferry, Topsail Island, and the vacation rentals of North Topsail Beach are reached down Highway 17 and Highway 210 in a similar window. Surf City and the rest of Topsail Island across the Pender County line add a few more minutes.

Longer Transfers Across Eastern North Carolina

When a connection through Charlotte or Atlanta falls through, OAJ passengers sometimes reroute into Wilmington, New Bern, or Raleigh Durham. Our chauffeurs cover those transfers daily, and the same team provides limo service in North Carolina for trips to Greenville, Fayetteville, Morehead City, the Research Triangle, and the Charlotte metro. A car that starts in Richlands can finish anywhere in the state, and a car that starts anywhere in the state can finish at the OAJ curb.

Our Fleet for OAJ Airport Transfers

Every vehicle Union Limousine assigns to an Albert J Ellis transfer is late model, detailed before each trip, commercially insured, and driven by a chauffeur who has cleared background and driving record screening. Choose by group size and luggage, and we handle the rest.

Sedans for Up to 3 Passengers

A black executive sedan is the standard choice for a single traveler or a couple with two checked bags and carry ons. Officers reporting to Camp Lejeune, medical staff joining Onslow Memorial, and consultants visiting the Jacksonville business parks book sedans most often.

• Leather seating, climate control, and bottled water on board
• Trunk space for two large suitcases plus carry on bags
• Ideal for executive travel, medical appointments, and date nights in Swansboro

SUVs for Up to 6 Passengers

Full size SUVs give a family or a small team room to spread out with room behind the third row for beach gear or equipment cases. They are the most requested vehicle for Topsail Island vacation arrivals and for contractor crews heading to base.

• Seats six with generous cargo capacity
• Popular for families with car seats and strollers
• Comfortable for 60 to 90 minute coastal transfers

Stretch Limousines for Up to 20 Passengers

Stretch limousines turn an airport pickup into an event. Wedding parties arriving for a ceremony at a Swansboro waterfront venue, retirement celebrations for a Marine finishing a career at Lejeune, and milestone birthdays all begin at the OAJ curb in a stretch.

• Perimeter seating, mood lighting, and premium sound
• Available in eight, ten, fourteen, and twenty passenger configurations
• Suited to weddings, anniversaries, homecomings, and prom season

Sprinter Vans for Up to 14 Passengers

Executive Sprinter vans carry a full squad with duffel bags, a wedding party with garment bags, or a corporate delegation that wants to work on the way to a meeting. Stand up headroom and individual seating make the ride to Jacksonville or the beach comfortable for everyone.

• Up to 14 seats with rear luggage area
• Executive and shuttle layouts available
• Great for unit travel, youth sports teams, and reunion groups

Party Buses for Up to 30 Passengers

When a group flies into OAJ for a beach weekend, a bachelor or bachelorette celebration in Wilmington, or a tailgate at East Carolina University, a party bus keeps everyone together from baggage claim onward.

• Wraparound seating, dance floor lighting, and coolers
• Seats up to 30 with onboard entertainment
• Suited to celebrations, brewery tours, and concert transfers

Mini Charter Buses for Up to 35 Passengers

Mini coaches balance capacity and maneuverability. They fit the OAJ terminal loop with ease and serve conference groups, church retreats, and school travel to Camp Lejeune youth programs.

• Forward facing seats with overhead storage
• Undercarriage luggage bays for checked bags
• Right size for groups of 25 to 35 heading to a single destination

Full Size Charter Buses for Up to 56 Passengers

For unit movements, large family reunions, and tour groups arriving on a block of seats, a full size motorcoach provides restroom, reclining seats, and cargo bays for every bag. We coordinate the staging location with airport operations ahead of time so boarding is quick.

• Seats up to 56 with onboard restroom
• Climate control, power outlets, and wireless internet
• Built for military group travel, reunions, and multi day tours

Corporate Accounts and Group Logistics

Companies with recurring travel through OAJ open a corporate account with Union Limousine to simplify everything. One profile holds traveler preferences, billing details, and approved vehicle classes, and monthly statements arrive with trip level detail your finance team can reconcile in minutes. For organizations that move staff through multiple airports, our North Carolina airport chauffeur service applies the same account across every field in the state.

Travel Managers and Defense Contractors

Firms supporting Camp Lejeune and New River often bring teams in on the same American or Delta flight. We assign a single point of contact for the account, stage vehicles together, and can hold a Sprinter van service in North Carolina on standby for multi stop days between the base, hotels, and supplier sites.

Wedding Parties and Family Reunions

Coastal weddings fill OAJ arrivals on spring and fall weekends. We build a manifest from your guest list, match arriving flights to vehicles, and run a shuttle loop between the terminal, the hotels, and the venue through the weekend so no guest waits on a curb.

Albert J Ellis (OAJ) Airport Information

Knowing the layout and rhythm of OAJ makes the transfer smoother. The notes below reflect the airport as it operates in 2026.

History and Regional Importance

The county began pursuing a commercial airport in the late 1950s, with state Senator Albert J. Ellis among the local leaders pushing the project forward. The Federal Aviation Administration approved the final plans and awarded a construction grant in 1969, the same year county commissioners resolved to name the field for Ellis, who died before it opened. The dedication took place on Valentine's Day 1971 with a 5,200 foot runway and a 5,350 square foot terminal, and Piedmont Airlines flew sightseeing loops over the county and up the coast to Swansboro that afternoon. Scheduled service began the next day. Passenger counts grew from 48,265 in the first year to a prepandemic peak above 330,000 in 2019. A $50 million terminal redevelopment finished in August 2015, a new air traffic control tower opened in 2018, and the airport welcomed its ten millionth passenger in October 2023. Today the field covers roughly 775 acres and remains owned and operated by Onslow County, which counts it as one of the region's most important economic engines.

Airlines Operating From OAJ

Two carriers provide scheduled passenger service. American Eagle flights, operated by Piedmont, PSA, and SkyWest, link OAJ with Charlotte Douglas International. Delta Connection flights, operated by Endeavor Air and SkyWest, link OAJ with Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International, and Delta has periodically upgauged the route to mainline Boeing 717 aircraft during peak demand. The two airlines split traffic almost evenly. Occasional charter operations by carriers such as Sun Country and Allegiant appear in the statistics, typically tied to military movements, along with two air ambulance operators, a flight school, and a fixed base operator serving corporate and private aircraft.

Domestic Destinations and Connections

OAJ offers nonstop flights to two cities, Charlotte and Atlanta, and both are among the busiest connecting hubs in the country. From Charlotte, American reaches the Northeast corridor, Florida, Texas, and the West Coast with a single connection. From Atlanta, Delta's network opens the Midwest, the Mountain West, California, and international gateways. For Onslow County residents the one stop pattern covers most of the United States in a single travel day, and it keeps OAJ competitive with the longer drives to Wilmington, New Bern, or Raleigh.

Terminal Information

A single two level terminal houses everything. Ticket counters, the TSA checkpoint, three gates, and the concessions occupy the building that opened after the 2015 redevelopment. Baggage claim sits on the ground level beside a staffed Help Desk, and multiple rental car counters operate inside the terminal. A separate executive terminal for general aviation stands next to the air traffic control tower, east of the passenger building. Pet relief areas are located near the flag plaza west of the terminal and near the employee lot to the east. The runway, designated 05/23, measures 7,100 feet by 150 feet, and a runway expansion program valued near $29 million mobilized in April 2026 to extend it by roughly 900 feet along with taxiway and lighting upgrades.

Passenger Traffic

OAJ recorded about 145,000 enplanements in 2024, roughly 289,000 total passengers, up about nine percent from 2023. Full year 2025 totals climbed to approximately 314,000 passengers, with trailing twelve month counts into mid 2026 holding above 300,000 and placing the airport around 197th among United States airports by volume. The Embraer ERJ 145 flies the largest share of departures. Traffic follows a predictable rhythm: summer beach season and holiday periods bring the heaviest loads, and military rotation dates add surges that regulars come to anticipate.

Parking Overview

Parking at OAJ is a single surface lot in front of the terminal with about 500 spaces, no garage, and no shuttle. The first 15 minutes are free, the hourly rate is $2.00, and the daily maximum is $9.00. There is no limit on length of stay, though the airport asks travelers leaving a vehicle for three weeks or longer to notify Airport Police before departing. Accessible spaces sit in the rows nearest the entrance, and the lot is patrolled around the clock. Rates are subject to change, so confirm on the airport website before a long trip.

Pick Up and Drop Off Guidance

Departing passengers are dropped at the curb in front of the terminal entrance, and the walk to check in takes less than a minute. For arrivals, our chauffeur meets you inside at baggage claim holding a sign with your name, then walks you to the vehicle waiting at the curb or in the adjacent lot. The terminal has no dedicated cell phone waiting lot, so personal drivers circle or pay to park. Prebooked chauffeurs avoid that problem entirely because dispatch times the approach to the actual touchdown.

Ground Transportation Options

Travelers without a reservation have a short list of choices. A roster of airport licensed taxis is posted at the Help Desk beside baggage claim. Uber and Lyft are registered to operate at OAJ, though driver supply in Richlands thins out quickly in the evening and on holidays. Rental cars are available inside the terminal. No public bus route serves the airport; Jacksonville Transit runs city routes and the Scarlet Express to Camp Lejeune from downtown Jacksonville, and intercity coaches stop at 1300 North Marine Boulevard, both about 13 miles from the terminal. A prebooked chauffeur is the only option that guarantees a vehicle is waiting at any hour.

Tips for Arriving Passengers

• Turn on your phone before deplaning; our chauffeur's text with name and vehicle details will be waiting.
• Bags arrive quickly at a three gate airport, so plan to be curbside within 10 to 15 minutes of touchdown.
• If a bag is missing, file the claim at the airline counter before leaving; your chauffeur will wait.
• Summer weekends bring heavy traffic toward Topsail Island and Swansboro, so allow extra time for coastal transfers.
• Visitors can preview beaches, trails, and events across the county through Only In Onslow, the official tourism guide, before the car reaches Jacksonville.
• Camp Lejeune visitors should have identification and sponsor details ready for the gate.

Why a Prebooked Chauffeur Is Often the Smarter Choice?

Taxis and rideshare at a small airport depend on who happens to be nearby when your flight lands. At OAJ that can mean a 30 minute wait after a late Delta arrival, surge pricing on a holiday Friday, or a driver unfamiliar with base gates and beach access roads. A reserved chauffeur removes each of those variables: the fare is confirmed in advance, the vehicle is sized to your group and luggage, the driver knows the destination, and flight tracking means the car adjusts to the airline, never the reverse. For travelers on orders, on a wedding timeline, or with children and gear, that certainty easily justifies the small difference in price.

Official Airport Contact

Albert J Ellis Airport, 264 Albert J. Ellis Airport Rd, Richlands, NC 28574, United States. Phone: +1 910 324 1100.

Quick reference:

airport code OAJ, FAA identifier OAJ, official website flyoaj.com, owner Onslow County, two scheduled airlines, three gates, one 7,100 foot runway.

Reserve Your Albert J Ellis Airport Limo Today

Booking takes a few minutes online or by phone with Union Limousine. Enter your flight number, your pickup or drop off address, and your passenger count, then choose a vehicle. You will receive a confirmation with the fare and the chauffeur's details before the day of travel. Our limo service runs around the clock at OAJ, so a dawn departure to Charlotte or a midnight arrival from Atlanta gets the same attention. Need a simpler sedan transfer for a single traveler? Our OAJ car service page covers that option. Whichever vehicle you choose, the next flight into Richlands can end with a chauffeur waiting at baggage claim.