Colorado Springs Airport: Does It Exist?

Colorado Springs Airport (COS) is a public-use civil-military airport located about 6-10 miles southeast of downtown Colorado Springs, in El Paso County, Colorado. It is the second busiest airport in the state, serving El Paso County and central Colorado. The airport provides direct flights all over the country, to other regional airports in Colorado, and daily flights to Denver International Airport (DEN).

Colorado Springs Airport (COS)

History

Colorado Springs Airport first opened in 1927 on 640 acres of land, about 7 miles east of the city. Initially, it featured two gravel runways, and several small airlines operated a mail route with occasional passengers. In 1937, Continental Airlines began service with stops at Colorado Springs, and in 1943, Braniff Airways followed suit. The first municipal terminal, built in 1942, was designed in an art deco style. However, as World War II approached, the military took control of the field, and it was later returned to the city after the war.

In 1966, a new terminal was constructed east of Powers Boulevard, and by the 1980s, it had expanded with a six-gate addition. The airport continued to grow, and by 1991, it boasted three wide runways, including the longest runway in Colorado at the time, measuring 13,501 feet in length. A new terminal was approved in 1991, located two miles east of the former one, and it opened in 1994 with 12 gates. This terminal has since been expanded with a second five-gate concourse.

Amenities and Services

Colorado Springs Airport offers a range of amenities and services to enhance the travel experience. The terminal provides free Wi-Fi, Airport Ambassadors, therapy dogs, concessions, and a premier lounge. The airport also has on-site rental car availability, and it is easily accessible via public transportation, private transportation, or rental car.

Airlines and Destinations

Colorado Springs Airport is served by various airlines, including Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Allegiant Airlines, and American Airlines. The airport offers nonstop flights to destinations like Baltimore/Washington, Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, and Cancún. Additionally, there are direct or one-stop flight options from anywhere in the U.S.

Public-use civil-military airport

The City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, also known as the Colorado Springs Airport (IATA: COS, ICAO: KCOS, FAA LID: COS), is a public-use civil-military airport. It is owned by the City of Colorado Springs and is located 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Colorado Springs, in El Paso County, Colorado, United States.

The airport covers 7,200 acres (29 km2) and has three paved runways, the longest of which is 13,500 feet (4,115 m) in length, making it the longest runway in Colorado until 2003. The airport is easily accessible from the Milton E. Proby Parkway, which loops through the airport and provides exits for parking and rental car returns. The parkway also connects to other airport facilities, such as the Northrop Grumman building and the Amazon distribution centre.

Colorado Springs Airport is the second busiest commercial service airport in the state, after Denver International Airport. It serves El Paso County and central Colorado, offering direct flights to 10 U.S. cities and daily flights to Denver International Airport. The Peterson Air Force Base is located on the north side of Runway 13/31.

The airport provides a convenient and comfortable travel experience, with free Wi-Fi, shops, restaurants, and valet parking services. It has one terminal with two concourses, one for commercial use and the other for meetings. The airport is also accessible via public transportation, with bus routes connecting to downtown Colorado Springs and other nearby areas.

Direct flights to 10 US cities

Colorado Springs Airport (IATA: COS) is located 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of downtown Colorado Springs, in El Paso County, Colorado. It is a small to medium-sized airport, owned by the city, and is the second busiest commercial service airport in the state after Denver International Airport.

The airport offers daily nonstop flights and connections worldwide. There are direct flights to 10 US cities, including:

• Baltimore/Washington (BWI)
• Atlanta (ATL)
• Chicago (ORD)
• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
• Phoenix/Mesa (AZA)
• Salt Lake City (SLC)
• San Diego (SAN)
• San Antonio (SAT)
• Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP)
• Denver (DEN)

In addition, the airport also provides seasonal flights to several destinations, including Cancún (CUN) and Las Vegas (LAS).

Airport services and amenities

The Colorado Springs Airport provides a convenient, comfortable, and friendly travel experience. It is a small airport, located just 11-12 miles from downtown Colorado Springs, and is accessible via Interstate 25 and Powers Boulevard/SH 21. The airport offers daily nonstop flights and connections worldwide, with valet parking services and free wireless internet access.

The terminal is easy to navigate and offers a range of amenities, including a premier lounge, Airport Ambassadors, therapy dogs, and a variety of concessions. The airport also provides accessible facilities, such as wheelchair assistance, and accommodates different dietary needs with several dining options. These include Pizza Hut, Pikes Perk, Quiznos Subs, Catina Azul, A&W, Mountain Vista Grille, and Gordon Biersch.

Colorado Springs Airport has a range of shopping options, including retail shops and a post office. The airport also offers car rental services from companies such as Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, and National Car Rental. The rental car check-in counters are conveniently located on the lower level, outside the secured area, across from baggage claim.

The airport's accessibility features ensure that all patrons can comfortably use the parking lots, elevators, restrooms, restaurants, and security screening areas. Additionally, the single security checkpoint makes it easy to travel through the airport, and the friendly staff are always ready to assist with any queries.

Airport history

The City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, simply known as Colorado Springs Airport, is a city-owned public civil-military airport. It is located 6 miles southeast of downtown Colorado Springs, in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The airport is the second busiest commercial service airport in the state, after Denver International Airport.

The airport opened in 1927 on 640 acres, 7 miles east of the city, with two gravel runways. For the first ten years, several small airlines operated a mail route from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Pueblo, Colorado, with stops at Denver and Colorado Springs. These airlines only occasionally carried passengers. In 1937, Continental Airlines began service between Denver and El Paso, Texas, with stops at Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Las Vegas, New Mexico, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque. In 1943, Braniff Airways began service on a Denver-Colorado Springs-Pueblo-Amarillo route.

The first municipal terminal was built in 1942 in an art deco style. Soon after, the field was taken over by the military in the months preceding World War II. The Colorado Springs Army Air Base was activated at the airport site in April 1942, and the terminal served as the first base headquarters during base construction. It also housed the base weather station. After construction of the base was completed in 1943, the terminal continued to be used for various purposes, including housing the Special Services (morale and recreation) officer, the American Red Cross, and the Army Emergency Relief Fund office.

In 1966, a new terminal was built on the west side of the runways, just east of Powers Boulevard. This terminal was expanded in the 1980s, with a six-gate addition. By 1991, the airport had three 150-foot-wide runways, one of which was the longest in Colorado at 13,501 feet. In the same year, the city approved a new 280,000-square-foot terminal, which opened in 1994 with 12 gates. In the 1990s, a second, five-gate concourse was added to the east of the main terminal.

In 1996, the airport served nearly 5 million passengers when Western Pacific Airlines had a hub at COS. In the 2010s, Frontier Airlines added and dropped various routes from Colorado Springs. In October 2020, Southwest Airlines announced it would begin serving the airport, and it conducted its first flights in March 2021, bolstering the airport's commercial traffic.

In May 2021, the airport began a pavement rehabilitation project, closing runway 17R/35L for remodeling. In November 2021, the airport announced that the main concourse would undergo a $10-20 million renovation to be completed in 3 to 5 years. In March 2022, the airport released a plan to expand, with intentions to double the number of gates, relocate the control tower, and consolidate other airport services.

Frequently asked questions