Lake Charles Airport: Does It Exist?

Lake Charles, Louisiana, is served by two airports: Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH) and Chennault International Airport. Lake Charles Regional Airport is a public airport located five nautical miles (9 km) south of the central business district of Lake Charles. It offers flights to destinations including Atlanta, New York, and Boston, with American Airlines and United Airlines operating non-stop services to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Houston Intercontinental Airport, respectively. The airport covers an area of 1,878 acres (760 ha) and has two runways. Chennault International Airport, meanwhile, is a leading hub of aerospace activity located in south-central Lake Charles. It serves corporate, military, civilian, and general aviation and is home to several major tenants engaged in aerospace and manufacturing.

Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH)

Lake Charles Regional Airport (IATA: LCH, ICAO: KLCH, FAA LID: LCH) is a public airport located 5 miles (9 km) south of the central business district of Lake Charles, Louisiana. The airport is owned by Calcasieu Parish and serves around 375,000 people in the Lake Charles-Jennings combined statistical area. It began operations in 1961.

The airport has two runways, oriented 5/23 and 15/33, and covers an area of 1,878 acres (760 ha) at an elevation of 15 feet (5 m) above mean sea level. The grounds are bounded by Lake Street to the west, Gauthier Road to the north, Highway 385 to the east, and Lincoln Road to the south, with the entrance off Highway 385. The airport features a modern terminal building, built in the Louisiana plantation architectural style, that opened in 2009. It is a two-story terminal with one concourse.

Lake Charles Regional Airport offers commercial air service by two airlines: American Airlines and United Airlines. American Airlines provides non-stop service to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, while United Airlines offers non-stop flights to Houston Intercontinental Airport. The airport also provides access to worldwide destinations through these airlines and their partners.

In the 12 months ending December 31, 2015, the airport recorded 31,961 aircraft operations, averaging 88 per day. These operations included general aviation (55%), air taxi (36%), military (9%), and scheduled passenger airlines (1%). As of August 2017, 93 aircraft were based at the airport, including single-engine, multi-engine, jet, and helicopter varieties. A large number of helicopters serve the petroleum industry in the Gulf. The airport property also includes a 300-acre industrial park that provides land leases to businesses and individuals.

Airlines that fly to Lake Charles

Lake Charles Regional Airport (IATA: LCH, ICAO: KLCH, FAA LID: LCH) is located in Louisiana, United States, and offers flights from a few different airlines.

American Airlines and United Airlines are the two commercial airlines that offer non-stop services to and from Lake Charles Regional Airport. American Airlines offers non-stop flights to and from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, while United Airlines offers non-stop services to and from Houston Intercontinental Airport.

In the past, other airlines have also offered flights to Lake Charles, including Eastern Air Lines, Trans-Texas Airways (which became Texas International Airlines), Royale Airlines, Metro Airlines, Rio Airways, and L'Express Airlines.

History of Lake Charles Regional Airport

The airport began operations in 1961 and has been serving the air travel needs of Southwest Louisiana ever since. A new modern terminal building was opened in 2009, built in the Louisiana plantation architectural style.

The airport suffered heavy damage during Hurricane Laura in 2020, losing its WSR-88D radar. It received a $18 million in funding during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was used to upgrade runways and taxiways and install new lighting.

Lake Charles Airport history

Lake Charles, Louisiana, is served by Lake Charles Regional Airport, a public-use airport located five nautical miles (9 km) south of the city's central business district. The airport began operations in 1961 and is owned by Calcasieu Parish, serving approximately 375,000 people in the Lake Charles-Jennings combined statistical area.

The airport has two runways, oriented 5/23 and 15/33, and covers an area of 1,878 acres (760 ha) at an elevation of 15 feet (5 m) above mean sea level. The grounds are bounded by Lake Street to the west, Gauthier Road to the north, Highway 385 to the east, and Lincoln Road to the south, with the entrance off Highway 385.

In 2009, a new modern terminal building was opened, designed in the Louisiana plantation architectural style. The airport offers services by two commercial airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines, with nonstop flights to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Houston Intercontinental Airport, respectively.

Historically, Lake Charles was served by Eastern Air Lines, beginning in the late 1940s, with flights to Houston, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. In the mid-1950s, Trans-Texas Airways (TTa) began serving Lake Charles, offering flights to Lafayette, Shreveport, and other destinations in Texas. Over time, additional airlines began servicing the airport, including Royale Airlines, Metro Airlines, and American Eagle.

Lake Charles is also home to Chennault International Airport, which has a rich history dating back to its use as a Cold War-era Air Force base. The site was named Lake Charles Air Force Base and later Chennault Air Force Base in honour of General Claire Chennault, leader of the famed Flying Tigers squadron during World War II. The base played a significant role in the region's defence during World War II and the early Cold War years. In the early 1970s, the site was divided and parcelled out to various local governmental bodies, and by the mid-1980s, there were proposals to redevelop Chennault for economic purposes, focusing on its large runway and extensive property. The facility re-emerged as Chennault International Airport in 1986, and it has since served military, aircraft, and non-aviation customers for over 30 years.

Lake Charles Airport facilities

Lake Charles Regional Airport (IATA: LCH, ICAO: KLCH, FAA LID: LCH) is a public airport located 5 miles (9 km) south of the central business district of Lake Charles, Louisiana. The airport is owned by Calcasieu Parish and serves approximately 375,000 people in the Lake Charles-Jennings area.

The airport has two runways, 5/23 and 15/33, which do not cross. The grounds are bounded by Lake Street to the west, Gauthier Road to the north, Highway 385 to the east, and Lincoln Road to the south, with the entrance off of Highway 385. The airport covers an area of 1,878 acres (760 ha) at an elevation of 15 feet (5 m) above mean sea level.

Lake Charles Regional Airport features a modern terminal building, opened in 2009, built in the Louisiana plantation architectural style. It is a two-story terminal with one concourse. The airport offers services by two commercial airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines. American Airlines offers non-stop service to the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, while United Airlines provides non-stop flights to the Houston Intercontinental Airport.

The airport accommodates a large number of helicopters, serving the petroleum industry in the Gulf and other purposes. Additionally, there is a large marine spill operation in the southwest corner of the grounds. The property also includes a 300-acre industrial park that provides land leases to businesses and individuals.

Lake Charles Airport parking

Lake Charles Regional Airport (IATA: LCH) is located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States. The airport offers free parking to its passengers, saving them an estimated $400,000 annually in parking fees.

The airport has onsite short-term and long-term parking options. It is bounded by Lake Street to the west, Gauthier Road to the north, Highway 385 to the east, and Lincoln Road to the south, with the entrance off of Highway 385.

If you are driving to the airport from the east (Baton Rouge), take the I-10, then take the I-210 Bypass (South) and exit at Cameron Exit (Exit 8). Turn left onto Highway 14 and travel south for approximately 4.5 miles. Then, turn right onto Highway 3092 (Gauthier Rd.) and travel west for 2 miles until you reach a traffic light. Turn left onto Highway 385 (Burton Coliseum will be on your left), and the airport will be on your right after travelling south for 1 mile.

If you are coming from the west (Houston), take the I-10, then take the I-210 Bypass (South) and take the Lake Street Exit. Turn right onto Lake St. and travel south for approximately 4.2 miles (through 3 traffic signals) until you reach Highway 3092 (Gauthier Rd.), a 4-way stop. Turn left onto Highway 3092 and travel east to the first traffic light. Turn right onto Highway 385, and the airport will be on your right after travelling south for 1 mile.

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