Sioux City's Airport: Does It Exist?

Sioux City, Iowa, is served by Sioux Gateway Airport, also known as Brigadier General Bud Day Field. The airport is located six nautical miles south of the central business district of Sioux City, just west of Sergeant Bluff. Sioux Gateway Airport offers an affordable and convenient travel alternative to bigger cities, with daily nonstop flights to destinations such as Chicago, Denver, and beyond. The airport is home to the 185th Air Refueling Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard and covers 2,460 acres of land, with two runways.

Sioux Gateway Airport

The airport covers 2,460 acres of land at an elevation of 1,098 feet above mean sea level. It has two runways: 13/31, which is 9,002 by 150 feet concrete, and 18/36, which is 6,401 by 150 feet asphalt. Sioux Gateway Airport is home to the 185th Air Refueling Wing, an Air Mobility Command-gained unit of the Iowa Air National Guard, as well as the Sioux City Air National Guard Base.

The airport was opened on July 5, 1942, as the Sioux City Army Air Base, about three months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. During World War II, it served as a major training centre for crewmen of B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses. After the war, the base became a processing centre for discharging personnel back into civilian life. The Sioux City Army Air Base closed in December 1945, but the airfield was reopened by the Air Force Reserve in September 1946. On May 25, 2002, the airport was renamed Brigadier General Bud Day Field in honour of United States Air Force Colonel George Everette "Bud" Day, a Sioux City native and the only person ever awarded both the Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross.

The airport designator "SUX" has been contentious due to its similarity in pronunciation to the slang word "sucks". Despite petitioning for a change in 1998 and 2002, the alternatives offered were deemed unappealing, and the airport decided to keep the identifier. In 2007, an airport board member proposed embracing the acronym, and the airport now sells merchandise with the slogan "Fly SUX".

Sioux City's airport history

Sioux City, Iowa, is served by Sioux Gateway Airport, also known as Brigadier General Bud Day Field. The airport is located about 100 miles north of Omaha, Nebraska, and 90 miles south of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Sioux Gateway Airport is a public and military airport owned and operated by the city of Sioux City. It is home to the 185th Air Refueling Wing (185 ARW) of the Iowa Air National Guard and the Sioux City Air National Guard Base.

The history of the airport dates back to World War II. The construction of the Sioux City Army Air Base began in March 1942, about three months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The base opened on July 5, 1942, and became a major training centre for crewmen of B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses during the war. With the end of the war, the base transitioned into a processing centre for discharging personnel out of the service and back into civilian life. The Sioux City Army Air Base closed in December 1945, but the airfield was reopened by the Air Force Reserve in September 1946. In December 1946, the 185th Iowa Air National Guard unit was established at Sioux City, providing flight and ground training to members of the Air Force Reserve in several Midwestern states.

In the mid-1960s, with the reduction of forces by the Air Defense Command (ADC), the airport was turned over to the Air Force Reserve and Iowa Air National Guard for limited military use. Over the years, the airport has undergone renovations and expansions. In June 2011, a $6.2 million remodelling project was completed on the terminal building, with funding support from federal and state grants.

The airport designator code "SUX" has been a source of contention due to its similarity in pronunciation to the slang word "sucks". Despite efforts to change the identifier in 1998 and 2002, the alternatives were unappealing, and the airport decided to retain SUX. In October 2007, an airport board member proposed embracing the identifier, suggesting that it could be turned into a positive marketing opportunity. As a result, the airport began selling merchandise with the slogan "Fly SUX".

Airport designator 'SUX'

Sioux City, Iowa, has an airport called Sioux Gateway Airport, which is also known as Brigadier General Bud Day Field. The airport designator "SUX" has been contentious due to its similarity to the slang word "sucks". Sioux City Mayor Craig Berenstein described the designator as an "embarrassment" to the city in 2002. The city petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a new airport identifier in 1998 and 2002, but the alternatives offered—GWU, GYO, GYT, SGV, and GAY—were unappealing to the authorities, who decided to stick with SUX.

In October 2007, airport board member Dave Bernstein proposed embracing the identifier, noting that people were more likely to remember SUX than any of the alternatives. The airport now sells merchandise with the slogan "Fly SUX". Sioux Gateway Airport is a public and military airport located in Woodbury County, Iowa, about six nautical miles (7 miles or 11 kilometres) south of Sioux City's central business district. It is owned and operated by the city of Sioux City and is governed by a seven-member Airport Board of Trustees. The airport covers 2,460 acres (996 hectares) at an elevation of 1,098 feet (335 metres) above sea level and has two runways.

Airport facilities

Sioux Gateway Airport, also known as Brigadier General Bud Day Field, is a public and military airport in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States. It is located about 100 miles north of Omaha, Nebraska, and 90 miles south of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Sioux Gateway Airport is owned and operated by the city of Sioux City and is governed by a seven-member Airport Board of Trustees. The airport covers 2,460 acres of land at an elevation of 1,098 feet above mean sea level. It features two runways: 13/31, which is 9,002 by 150 feet concrete, and 18/36, which is 6,401 by 150 feet asphalt.

Sioux Gateway Airport provides an affordable and convenient travel alternative for those in the Sioux City metro area, with daily nonstop flights to Chicago and Denver through United Airlines' large network. The airport offers easy parking, fast check-ins, and short TSA lines. Parking is just a two-minute walk to the door and offers the lowest rates in the region. Free Wi-Fi, workstations, telephone service, computer ports, and internet access are also available. Additionally, there is an on-site café and gift shop.

The airport is home to the 185th Air Refueling Wing (185 ARW), an Air Mobility Command (AMC)-gained unit of the Iowa Air National Guard. They fly the KC-135 Stratotanker and are based at the Sioux City Air National Guard Base. The airport has a rich history, initially serving as a major training centre for crewmen of B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses during World War II. After the war, it transitioned into a processing centre for discharging personnel. The original Sioux City Army Air Base closed in December 1945, but the current airfield was opened by the Air Force Reserve in September 1946.

The airport's designator, "SUX", has been a point of contention due to its similarity in pronunciation to a slang word. Despite attempts to change it, the alternative options were unappealing, and the airport has since embraced the identifier, even selling merchandise with the slogan "Fly SUX".

Airlines and flights

Sioux Gateway Airport, also known as Brigadier General Bud Day Field, is a public and military airport in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States. It is located approximately 7 miles (11 km) south of Sioux City's central business district, just west of Sergeant Bluff. Sioux Gateway Airport is home to the 185th Air Refueling Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard and is governed by a seven-member Airport Board of Trustees.

The airport offers an affordable and convenient travel alternative for those in the Sioux City metro area. United Express, operated by SkyWest Airlines, currently offers daily nonstop flights to Chicago and Denver, with connections to other destinations through United Airlines' network.

Historically, Sioux Gateway Airport has experienced fluctuations in airline service. In 2011, Delta Air Lines announced a reduction in flights due to economic factors, and American Airlines' subsidiary, American Eagle, served the airport from 2012 until 2021.

As of 2022, Sioux Gateway Airport continues to provide daily flights to major hub cities, connecting travellers to hundreds of domestic and international destinations. The airport boasts convenient amenities such as free Wi-Fi, work stations, telephone services, and an on-site café and gift shop.

When travelling from Sioux Gateway Airport, passengers must comply with REAL ID requirements and TSA security checks. The airport also has a Federal Aviation Administration-funded passenger loading bridge, contributing to efficient boarding processes.

Frequently asked questions