Rochester, Minnesota: Airport Accessibility And Convenience

Rochester, Minnesota, is home to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, which welcomes researchers, visiting physicians, and patients from across the globe. To accommodate its visitors, Rochester has developed a world-class international airport, located 7-10 miles south of downtown Rochester. Known as Rochester International Airport (IATA: RST, ICAO: KRST, FAA LID: RST), it is the second-busiest airport in Minnesota, welcoming hundreds of thousands of passengers annually.

Location and transport links

Rochester, Minnesota, is served by two major airports: the world-class Rochester International Airport (IATA: RST, ICAO: KRST, FAA LID: RST) and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport (MSP), located 90 miles from Rochester.

Rochester International Airport

Rochester International Airport is located seven miles (some sources state 10 or 11 km) south of downtown Rochester in Olmsted County, Minnesota. It is the second-busiest airport in Minnesota, welcoming hundreds of thousands of passengers a year. The airport covers 2,400 acres (9.7 km2) and has two concrete runways. The original Rochester airport was founded in 1928 by the Mayo Foundation to bring patients to the Mayo Clinic. It was located in what is now southeast Rochester and occupied 285 acres (1.15 km2). In 1945, the Mayo Foundation gave the airport to the city of Rochester. In 1960, it was decided to replace the original airport with a new airport southwest of town because it could not be expanded to accommodate larger airliners and was too close to the urban area of Rochester. Rochester Municipal Airport opened at its current location in 1960. In 1995, the airport added a United States Customs Service post and became Rochester International Airport. The airport is currently served by American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, which offer direct flights to Minneapolis and Chicago, with connecting flights to more than 300 destinations. The airport features an on-site restaurant, rental car services, ride-share, and shuttle services.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport is located 90 miles from Rochester and is another quick and easy option for air service. Daily van shuttle services are available dozens of times each day from the airport to Rochester, with shuttle drop-offs at a number of Rochester hotels and other locations.

Airlines and destinations

Rochester International Airport (IATA: RST, ICAO: KRST, FAA LID: RST) is located 7 miles (11 km) south of downtown Rochester, in Olmsted County, Minnesota. The airport covers 2,400 acres (9.7 km2) and has two concrete runways.

The airport was founded in 1928 by the Mayo Foundation, which continues to operate the field under an agreement with the city of Rochester. The airport was renamed Lobb Field in 1952, but in 1960, it was decided to replace it with a new airport southwest of town because it was too small for larger airliners and was too close to the urban area of Rochester. The new airport, Rochester Municipal Airport, opened at its current location in 1960, with Northwest and Braniff moving to the new airport that year. Ozark's DC-3s stayed at Lobb until 1961, and North Central Airlines arrived in 1968, the same year Braniff left. The first jets to use the airport were Northwest 727s in 1965.

In 1995, a United States Customs Service post was added, and the airport became Rochester International Airport. The name change also came about due to the addition of customs and immigration facilities specifically for Mayo Clinic purposes. The airport is the second-busiest in Minnesota and welcomes hundreds of thousands of passengers a year, providing direct flights to Minneapolis and Chicago, with connecting flights to more than 300 destinations.

The airport's airline service is provided by American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, with daily arrivals and departures. United Airlines also operates from the airport, with three daily flights to Chicago–O'Hare. American Airlines offers service to O'Hare International Airport, and Trans World Airlines operated flights to St. Louis in early 2001, but these routes were dropped after the merger with American Airlines.

The airport has a large FedEx Express freight terminal and a general aviation terminal. It also features an on-site restaurant, rental car services, ride-share, and shuttle services that will take passengers on the 10-20 minute drive to their hotel.

History

Rochester International Airport (IATA: RST, ICAO: KRST, FAA LID: RST) is an international airport located seven miles (11 km) south of downtown Rochester in Olmsted County, Minnesota. It is the second-busiest airport in Minnesota. The airport covers 2,400 acres (9.7 km2) and has two concrete runways: a 9,034 ft × 150 ft (2,754 m × 46 m) runway 13/31 and a 7,301 ft × 150 ft (2,225 m × 46 m) runway 3/21.

The original Rochester airport was founded in 1928 by the Mayo Foundation to bring patients to the Mayo Clinic. It was located in what is now southeast Rochester and occupied 285 acres (1.15 km2). The following year, "Rochester Airport" was dedicated, and the Rochester Airport Company was founded as a subsidiary of the Mayo Foundation. Northwest Airlines began running Ford Trimotors to Rochester from St. Paul. Rochester was one of the first destinations from the Twin Cities in Northwest Airlines history, behind Chicago, Winnipeg, Green Bay, and Fargo.

In 1940, the runways were paved and more land was acquired, bringing the airport's area to 370 acres (1.5 km2). During World War II, the Army Air Corps conducted training operations from the airport. In 1945, the Mayo Foundation gave the airport to the city of Rochester, but the Rochester Airport Company continued to operate the field under an agreement with the city. The airport was renamed Lobb Field in 1952.

In 1960, it was decided to replace Lobb Field with a new airport southwest of town because it could not be expanded to allow larger airliners and was too close to the urban area of Rochester. That year, Rochester Municipal Airport opened at its current location. In 1965, runway 13 was 6,400 feet and runway 2 was 4,000 feet. Northwest and Braniff moved to the new airport in 1960, but Ozark's DC-3s stayed at Lobb until 1961; North Central Airlines arrived in 1968, and Braniff left around the same time. The first jets were Northwest 727s in 1965.

In 1995, a United States Customs Service post was added, and the airport became Rochester International Airport. That same year, the airport's name changed from "Rochester Municipal Airport" to facilitate the addition of customs and immigration facilities specifically for Mayo Clinic purposes.

Facilities

Rochester International Airport (IATA: RST, ICAO: KRST, FAA LID: RST) is located 10-12 miles from downtown Rochester, Minnesota. The airport covers 2,400 acres of land and has two concrete runways. The airport is served by American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, with daily arrivals and departures. The airport also has a large FedEx Express freight terminal and a general aviation terminal.

The original Rochester airport was founded in 1928 by the Mayo Foundation, occupying 285 acres of land. In 1945, the Mayo Foundation gave the airport to the city of Rochester, and it was renamed Lobb Field in 1952. However, it could not accommodate larger airliners and was too close to the urban area, so it was replaced by the current airport in 1960. The new airport was initially called Rochester Municipal Airport and was located 7 miles south of downtown Rochester. In 1995, a United States Customs Service post was added, and it became Rochester International Airport.

The airport offers various facilities and services to enhance the travel experience. It provides easy parking, an on-site restaurant, rental car services, ride-share options such as Uber and Lyft, and shuttle services to nearby hotels. The airport also has a commitment to de-stressing the travel experience, offering skycaps, quiet rooms, and wellness activities. Additionally, travellers can take advantage of the free wireless internet access in the main terminal.

The airport also has a unique feature, the Caring Tails Pet Therapy program, where passengers are greeted by friendly dogs. It also has a mini-library, where travellers can take free books and donate their own for other passengers. Rochester International Airport is known for its service-oriented atmosphere and efficient security screenings, gate finding, and luggage claiming processes.

Passenger experience

Rochester International Airport (IATA: RST, ICAO: KRST, FAA LID: RST) is located 10-12 miles from downtown Rochester, Minnesota. It is the second-busiest airport in the state, welcoming hundreds of thousands of passengers each year.

The airport has a strong focus on enhancing the passenger experience, with a range of unique features and amenities. For those who enjoy a calm and quiet space before their flight, the airport offers private rooms with beds or recliners and adjacent restrooms. These quiet rooms are ideal for nursing mothers, medical travellers, or anyone seeking a peaceful environment. Additionally, the airport is home to the Caring Tails Pet Therapy program, where friendly dogs greet passengers and help reduce travel-related stress.

For entertainment, passengers can explore the Arts Elevated program, which showcases the dynamic work of local and regional artists, adding a touch of cultural appreciation to the airport experience. Rochester International Airport also offers an on-site restaurant, ensuring travellers have access to refreshments during their time in the terminal.

The airport provides convenient ground transportation options, including rental car services, ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft, and shuttle services. The shuttle services are particularly popular, with daily trips to and from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport (MSP), located 90 miles away, and drop-offs at various Rochester hotels. This makes travelling to and from the airport straightforward and accessible for passengers.

For those seeking literary distractions, the airport, in collaboration with the Rochester Public Library, offers a mini-library with free books that passengers can take without any obligation to return. This unique initiative adds to the airport's commitment to providing a well-rounded and engaging experience.

The airport also prioritises convenience and ease of travel. It offers daily arrivals and departures, ample parking, and a seamless connection to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, located just 15 minutes away. With its proximity to the clinic, the airport ensures that visiting researchers, physicians, and patients can easily access the city.

Additionally, Rochester International Airport provides free wireless internet access in the main terminal, making it convenient for travellers to stay connected during their wait.

Frequently asked questions