Minneapolis' Twin Airports: A Unique Travel Experience

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is one of the largest airports in the US and a key airline hub. It is surrounded by Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the suburban cities of Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights, and Richfield. The airport has one airfield with four runways and two terminal buildings, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, each with adjoining parking facilities. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are not connected, and travellers must use a light rail transit service to move between them.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)

The airport has one airfield with four runways and two terminal buildings: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, each with adjoining parking ramp facilities. Terminal 1 has 104 gates, while Terminal 2 has 14. The terminals are not connected, and travellers needing to transfer between them must use the light rail transit service. An underground people mover connecting the two terminals is currently under construction and is part of the MSP 2040 plan.

The airport is surrounded by Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the suburban cities of Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights, and Richfield. It is home to the Air Force Reserve Command 934th Airlift Wing and the Air National Guard 133rd Airlift Wing.

MSP is the 19th busiest US airport for passengers and 21st for aircraft operations. It served more than 31 million travellers in 2022, with more than 400,000 landings and takeoffs occurring annually before the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport supports more than 86,900 jobs and contributes $15.9 billion in business revenue, $3.7 billion in personal income, $2.5 billion in local purchases, and $546 million in state and local taxes.

The airport has received numerous awards in various categories, including safety, fiscal management, labour relations, legal oversight, snow and ice control, concessions, airport design and development, and marketing and communications.

Charles Lindberg Airport

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, also known as Wold-Chamberlain Field, is a joint civil-military public international airport serving the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota. The airport is located in Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory and is within 10 miles of both downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. It is one of the nation's largest airports and is a key airline hub.

The airport has two terminal buildings, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, each with adjoining parking facilities. Terminal 1, also known as the Lindbergh Terminal, is named after aviator Charles Lindbergh, who was raised in Minnesota. It has 117 gates across seven concourses, lettered A to G. Terminal 2, also known as the Humphrey Terminal, is named after Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who represented Minnesota in Congress. It has 14 gates across one concourse, lettered H.

The two terminals are located about one mile apart and are accessed from separate exits on Minnesota State Highway 5. They are not connected within the airport facilities, so travellers need to take a cab or use the light rail system to get from one to the other, which can take around 30 minutes. Terminal 1 is the larger of the two and handles most commercial air traffic to and from the Twin Cities. Terminal 2 handles smaller charters and vacation-oriented airlines.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), a public corporation established in 1943 by the Minnesota State Legislature, manages and runs the airport. In addition to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, the MAC also owns and operates six general aviation airports, also known as reliever airports, that serve corporate aircraft and recreational fliers. These reliever airports are located within 35 miles of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul and help to attract traffic away from the main international airport.

Hubert Humphrey Airport

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is one of the largest airports in the United States and a key airline hub. It is nestled among several cities, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights, and Richfield. The airport is managed and run by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), a public corporation that oversees a seven-airport system in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

The MSP airport has two terminal buildings, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, each with adjoining parking facilities. These terminals were previously known as the Lindberg Terminal and the Humphrey Terminal, respectively. The Humphrey Terminal, named after Hubert Humphrey, handled small charters and vacation-oriented airlines, while the larger Lindberg Terminal accommodated the rest of the air traffic. The two terminals were not physically connected, and travellers had to take a cab or the light rail system to go between them.

To avoid confusion, the city renamed the terminals to Terminal A and Terminal B, and eventually to the current Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Today, the Humphrey Terminal, or Terminal 2, continues to serve travellers, offering various amenities, including dining, shopping, and covered parking options. It is accessible via public transportation and by car, with directions available online.

The MSP airport, including the Humphrey Terminal, has received recognition in various categories, including safety, fiscal management, and airport design and development. With its efficient operations and convenient amenities, the Humphrey Terminal plays a vital role in the bustling aviation network of the Twin Cities.

Anoka County-Blaine Airport

The Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE), also known as Janes Field, is a public airport in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States. It is located 10 nautical miles (19 km) north of the central business district of Minneapolis. The airport is owned by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and is considered a general aviation reliever airport.

ANE serves a diverse range of aircraft, including vintage, experimental, recreational, and corporate planes. It is among the busiest of MAC's six reliever airports and has the most aircraft based there—365 as of 2017. The airport covers an area of 1,900 acres (769 hectares) and has two runways: Runway 9/27, which is 5,000 feet by 100 feet (1,524 x 30 metres), and Runway 18/36, which is 4,855 feet by 100 feet (1,480 x 30 metres).

The airport features a non-federal control tower that operates during specific hours, adjusting for daylight saving time. From May to September, the tower is open from 7 am to 10 pm, while during the winter months, from October to April, it operates from 7 am to 9 pm.

In terms of aircraft operations, for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2015, the airport recorded 70,202 operations, averaging 192 per day. The majority of these operations were general aviation (92%), followed by air taxi (7%), and a small percentage of military flights (<1%).

The Anoka County-Blaine Airport is also home to the FBO Lynx FBO Network and the Golden Wings Flying Museum. It previously housed the American Wings Air Museum. The airport has an advisory commission, ACBAAC, that brings together MAC staff, tenants, and community representatives to discuss development, operations, and noise concerns.

Crystal Airport

Minneapolis, Minnesota, is served by several airports. One of these is Crystal Airport (MIC), which is located in the city of Crystal, Hennepin County, around 8–10 miles northwest of downtown Minneapolis. The airport is named after the city of Crystal, with most of the airport within Crystal's boundaries. Portions to the north of taxiway C (62nd Avenue) are in Brooklyn Park, and the northeast corner is in Brooklyn Center.

• Runway 14L/32R: 3,268 x 75 ft (995 x 23 m), asphalt surface
• Runway 14R/32L: 3,267 x 75 ft (995 x 23 m), asphalt surface
• Runway 6L/24R: 2,500 x 75 ft (762 x 23 m), asphalt surface
• Runway 6R/24L: 2,123 x 150 ft (647 x 46 m), turf surface

The turf runway is the only one of its kind in MAC's reliever airport system and is closed from November through April. The airport has a self-serve fuel system, a fixed-base operator, and an FAA-operated air traffic control tower. The tower is open daily, with extended hours in the summer.

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