Minneapolis Airport: A Sprawling Hub For Travelers

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is a large airport, covering 2,930 acres of land. It is located within 10 miles of downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. MSP is the flagship facility of the Metropolitan Airports Commission and is one of the nation's largest and busiest airports, with 34 million passengers passing through each year. It is also one of the world's safest airports, renowned for its ability to handle ice and snow. The airport has two terminals, Lindbergh and Humphrey, with a total of 131 gates.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport's location

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is located in Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory, within 10 miles of downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. The airport is situated 10-15 minutes north of Apple Valley and is accessible via Minnesota State Highway 5, with several other major highways bordering the airport, including Highway 62, Highway 77, and Interstate 494.

MSP is the flagship facility of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and is one of the largest airports in the nation. It covers 2,930 acres of land and is a joint civil-military public international airport serving the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. While sections of the airport border the city limits of Minneapolis and Richfield, it is important to note that the airport property is not technically part of any city or school district.

As a major travel hub, MSP is the country's 17th busiest airport, with 34 million passengers passing through each year. It is also the 12th busiest for aircraft operations, with more than 1,200 takeoffs and landings daily. The airport serves as a vital link for the Twin Cities community and is routinely ranked among North America's best and most efficient airports. It has received accolades for its safety, fiscal management, labour relations, legal oversight, snow and ice control, concessions, airport design and development, and marketing and communications.

MSP consists of two terminals located about a mile apart: Terminal 1-Lindbergh and Terminal 2-Humphrey. These terminals are named after notable Minnesotans—aviator Charles Lindbergh and vice president Hubert Humphrey, respectively. While there is no pedestrian access between the terminals, travellers can use the light rail transit service, which operates 24 hours a day with no fare charged for transfers between terminals.

The number of gates at the airport

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is a large airport with two terminals, 131 gates in total, and seven concourses. Terminal 1 (Lindbergh) contains 117 gates across six concourses, lettered A–G, while Terminal 2 (Humphrey) contains 14 gates across one concourse, lettered H.

Terminal 1 was built in 1958, with 24 gates on two concourses, and has since expanded several times. In 1971, Pier D (originally the Gold Concourse, now Concourse G) was added, followed by Pier A (originally the Green Concourse, now Concourse C) in 1972. The Gold Concourse was expanded in 1986, and Concourses A and B were added in 2002 as part of a $250 million terminal expansion. The final component of this project was a $17.5 million extension of Concourse C, adding six additional gates.

Terminal 2 was first built in 1986 and then rebuilt in 2001. It is used primarily by charter and low-cost airlines, and it has since been expanded to include a total of 14 gates.

The two terminals are located about a mile apart and are accessed from separate exits on Minnesota State Highway 5. This can be confusing for drivers, as the terminals are not connected within the airport, meaning that taking the wrong exit can result in a delay. However, travellers can use the light rail transit service to transfer between terminals, with trains operating 24 hours a day.

The airport's ranking in North America

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is a large airport, covering 2,930 acres (1,186 ha) of land. It is located within 10 miles (16 km) of downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. MSP is the 17th busiest travel hub in the US, with 34 million passengers passing through each year.

In 2024, MSP was ranked as the best airport in North America by J.D. Power, based on passenger satisfaction. It scored 671 points out of 1,000 and was praised for its ease of check-in, security, and amenities.

The J.D. Power ranking divided airports into three categories: mega, large, and medium. Mega airports handle 33 million or more passengers annually, large airports handle 10 to 32.9 million, and medium airports handle 4.5 to 9.9 million. Here is a list of the top-ranked airports in each category:

Mega Airports

• Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (671 points)
• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (643 points)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (633 points)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (628 points)
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (623 points)
• Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (611 points)
• San Francisco International Airport (611 points)
• Orlando International Airport (596 points)
• Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (593 points)
• Boston Logan International Airport (591 points)

Large Airports

• John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California (687 points)
• Tampa International Airport (685 points)
• Kansas City International Airport (683 points)
• Dallas Love Field (675 points)
• Nashville International Airport (668 points)
• William P. Hobby Airport in Houston (667 points)
• Sacramento International Airport (663 points)
• Portland International Airport (659 points)
• Salt Lake City International Airport (659 points)
• San Jose International Airport in California (655 points)

Medium Airports

• Indianapolis International Airport (687 points)
• Jacksonville International Airport (686 points)
• Southwest Florida International Airport (675 points)
• Ontario International Airport (672 points)
• Buffalo Niagara International Airport (670 points)
• Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (669 points)
• Palm Beach International Airport (669 points)
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (668 points)
• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (658 points)
• Bradley International Airport in Connecticut (654 points)

In terms of overall size, the largest airport in North America is the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, covering 69 square miles (18,07 hectares).

The number of passengers passing through each year

The Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is one of the busiest airports in the United States, with 34 million passengers passing through each year. It is the country's 17th busiest travel hub and 12th busiest for aircraft operations. It is also the busiest airport in the Upper Midwest.

The airport is a joint civil-military public international airport serving the Twin Cities in the US state of Minnesota. It is located in Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory, within 10 miles of both downtown Minneapolis and downtown Saint Paul. The airport is centrally located, offering a quick trip to the city (15–30 minutes).

MSP is a major hub for Delta Air Lines, which accounts for about 70% of the airport's passenger traffic. It also serves as the home airport for Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines. The airport is also used by several United States Air Force and Minnesota Air National Guard operations, as well as a variety of air cargo operators.

MSP has two terminals with a total of 131 gates. Terminal 1 (Lindbergh) contains 117 gates across seven concourses, while Terminal 2 (Humphrey) contains 14 gates. The airport offers more than 1,200 takeoffs and landings daily, serving foreign flag carriers, regional and major US airlines, charter airlines, and cargo carriers.

The number of acres of land the airport covers

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is a large airport, covering 2,930 acres (1,186 ha) of land. It is centrally located, within 10 miles of both downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. The airport is a joint civil-military public international airport, serving the Twin Cities in the US state of Minnesota. It is one of the busiest airports in the country, with 34 million passengers passing through each year, and is also one of the safest, renowned for its ability to handle ice and snow.

The airport is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and is home to several United States Air Force and Minnesota Air National Guard operations. It is also used by a variety of cargo operators and is the home airport for Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines. Delta and its regional affiliates account for about 70% of the airport's passenger traffic.

The airport is operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which also runs six smaller general aviation airports in the region. These are sometimes called "reliever" airports as they attract traffic away from MSP. Despite its size and central location, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is not part of any city or school district, although sections of it border Minneapolis and Richfield.

The airport has two terminals, with a total of 131 gates. Terminal 1 (Lindbergh) has 117 gates across seven concourses, while Terminal 2 (Humphrey) has 14 gates. The terminals are located about a mile apart and are accessed from separate exits on Minnesota State Highway 5. There is no direct connection between the terminals within the airport, so travellers needing to transfer use a light rail transit service that operates 24 hours a day and is free of charge between airport stations.

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