Minnesota Airport: A Sprawling Hub For Travelers

Minnesota is home to 156 airports that the public can use, including 42 major airports. The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is one of the nation's largest and busiest airports, serving almost 35 million passengers annually. The airport covers 3,400 acres and is a vital economic hub, supporting over 86,900 jobs and generating billions in revenue and tax contributions. With a high volume of aircraft operations, MSP is a key airline hub, serving 165 nonstop markets, including 130 domestic and 35 international destinations.

Minnesota has 42 airports

Minnesota is known for having some of the best airports in the United States, with excellent navigational and weather information systems available to pilots. The state boasts an impressive number of airports, with 42 airports in total, including 9 with airline services.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, also known as MSP or Wold–Chamberlain Field, is the largest and busiest airport in Minnesota and the entire Upper Midwest region. Managed and run by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), a self-funded public corporation, the airport covers 3,400 acres and supports a significant economic impact in the region. It is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and Sun Country Airlines, accommodating millions of passengers each year.

While MSP stands out as the primary airport in Minnesota, several other airports contribute to the state's robust aviation network. Eight airports in Minnesota offer commercial flights, with the majority of air traffic centred around Minneapolis. These smaller airports are often classified as small hub or non-hub airports, catering to airlines such as American Eagle, Delta Air Lines, and Allegiant Air.

In addition to the public airports, Minnesota also has a significant number of private airports, seaplane bases, and heliports. There are 46 private airports, 15 public seaplane bases, 42 private seaplane bases, and 127 private heliports, mostly associated with hospitals. The Minnesota Department of Transportation provides resources and information related to the state's airports, including maps and details on construction and future plans.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Minnesota, serving almost 35 million passengers a year. It is also one of the nation's largest airports and a key airline hub. The airport covers 3,400 acres of land and is managed and run by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), a public corporation established in 1943 by the Minnesota State legislature. The MAC's system of airports plays a vital role in stimulating a thriving and vibrant community and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is its flagship facility.

The airport is home to a range of facilities, including ATMs, foreign currency exchange counters, lockers, wireless internet, shops, restaurants, and play areas for children. It also offers special assistance for elderly or disabled travellers. The airport is a base for hometown carrier Sun Country Airlines and is the second-largest hub for Delta Air Lines. It is the 18th busiest US airport for passengers and 21st for aircraft operations, with more than 400,000 landings and takeoffs annually before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The airport serves 165 nonstop markets, including 130 domestic and 35 international markets. It is one of the most convenient airports in Minnesota, which is a popular destination due to its "Land of 10,000 Lakes" moniker. The airport is also a technological haven, offering all the technological conveniences that a travelling businessperson might need.

The MAC owns and maintains a seven-airport system, with Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport as its largest facility. The other six general aviation airports, or reliever airports, are within 35 miles of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul and serve to attract traffic away from the main MSP airport.

MAC's seven-airport system

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) runs a seven-airport system, which includes Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and six reliever airports. MSP is one of the nation's largest airports and a key airline hub. It is also the 18th busiest US airport for passengers and 21st for aircraft operations, with more than 400,000 landings and takeoffs annually before the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport covers 3,400 acres and is the second-largest hub for Delta Air Lines.

The six reliever airports, also known as general aviation airports, are within 35 miles of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. They attract traffic away from MSP and serve corporate and recreational fliers. The busiest of these is Flying Cloud (FCM), with more than 100,000 takeoffs and landings per year. It is located 10 miles south of Minneapolis and is home to many corporate jets and flight schools.

Another reliever airport is Airlake Airport in Lakeville, which mostly serves recreational fliers but is also ideal for business aviation. Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE) is located north of Minneapolis and St. Paul and serves a diverse range of aircraft, including vintage, experimental, recreational, and corporate planes. Crystal Airport, named after the city, is adjacent to Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center and has two paved and one turf runway.

Flying Cloud Airport

Minnesota is home to 42 airports, including the Flying Cloud Airport, which is located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, just 10 miles southwest of Minneapolis. It is considered a "minor" airport, covering 543 acres of land at an elevation of 906 feet above mean sea level.

The Flying Cloud Airport is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), a self-funded public corporation that was established in 1943 by the Minnesota State Legislature. The MAC works with communities, aircraft operators, and the Federal Aviation Administration to address aircraft noise concerns and develop strategies to reduce noise in the surrounding neighbourhoods. The airport has an FAA-operated control tower and an instrument landing system, with the tower operating daily during the winter and extending an extra hour during the summer.

As a primary reliever airport for the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Flying Cloud is the busiest airport in the MAC's reliever airport system, with more than 100,000 takeoffs and landings per year. It accommodates various aircraft types, including helicopter, piston engine, turboprop, and light turbojet, serving flight training, personal aviation, and business aviation users. The airport is home to many corporate jets and flight schools, and it also houses the Viking Composite Squadron, a Civil Air Patrol squadron.

The Flying Cloud Airport plays an important role in the Twin Cities, with businesses considering it a crucial part of their local operations. It offers a range of services, including corporate aircraft services, recreational flight training, aircraft charter, rental, sales, and maintenance. The airport is committed to noise reduction and provides resources such as the Fly Neighbourly button and the Noise Abatement Plan to help pilots and airport businesses minimise noise.

Minnesota's Airline service airports

Minnesota is home to 42 airports, including several major ones. The largest and busiest of these is MSP Airport, which serves the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The airport covers 3,400 acres of land and is the 18th busiest airport in the US for passenger traffic, serving 165 markets, including 130 domestic and 35 international destinations. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport handled over 400,000 landings and takeoffs annually, making it the 21st busiest airport for aircraft operations in the country. It is also the second-largest hub for Delta Air Lines and the main base for Sun Country Airlines.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), a self-funded public corporation established in 1943 by the Minnesota State legislature, manages MSP Airport. The MAC's remit covers the entire Twin Cities metropolitan area, and its operations are funded by rents and fees paid by airport users rather than general tax dollars. The airport is a significant economic generator for the region, supporting over 86,900 jobs and contributing $15.9 billion in business revenue, $3.7 billion to personal income, $2.5 billion in local purchases, and $546 million in state and local taxes.

In addition to MSP Airport, Minnesota has several other notable airports. For instance, the St. Paul Downtown Airport is one of the smaller airports in the state. There are also reliever airports designated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to relieve congestion at large commercial service airports and provide more general aviation access to communities. These reliever airports still have a significant impact on the state's aviation infrastructure and economy.

Minnesota's airports can be grouped into several categories. Publicly-owned primary airports, for instance, must have more than 10,000 passenger boardings (enplanements) annually, with the FAA further classifying them into large, medium, small, and non-hub airports based on the percentage of total US passenger enplanements. On the other hand, publicly-owned non-primary commercial service airports have at least 2,500 passenger boardings each year. Finally, general aviation airports, which can be either public or private, form the largest single group of airports in the US aviation system.

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