Minneapolis' Airport System: A Comprehensive Overview

Minnesota is known for having some of the best and most standardised airports in the US, with excellent navigational and weather information systems for pilots. The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is one of the nation's largest and busiest airports and a key airline hub. It is surrounded by Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the suburban cities of Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights, and Richfield. The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates MSP and six reliever airports in the Twin Cities area, all within 35 miles of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. These reliever airports serve corporate aircraft and recreational flyers.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is one of the largest and busiest airports in the United States. It is nestled among several cities, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights, and Richfield. The airport is managed and run by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), a public corporation established in 1943 to provide coordinated aviation services to the Twin Cities metropolitan area. MSP has one airfield with four runways and two terminal buildings, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, each with adjoining parking facilities. The airport serves 163 markets, including 136 domestic and 27 international destinations.

MSP has received numerous awards and recognitions for its excellence in various categories, including efficiency, safety, fiscal management, and marketing and communications. It was named the top North American airport for efficiency excellence in its size category by the Air Transportation Research Society in 2017. The airport also ranked first in all seven study areas of the J.D. Power 2024 awards, including ease of travel, airport staff, and terminal facilities.

In addition to MSP, the MAC also operates six general aviation airports or reliever airports within 35 miles of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. These include the Anoka County-Blaine Airport, Crystal Airport, Flying Cloud Airport, Lake Elmo Airport, Airlake Airport, and St. Paul Downtown Airport. These reliever airports help attract traffic away from MSP and serve corporate and recreational fliers.

Reliever/general aviation airports

Minnesota is known for having some of the best, most standardized airports in the country. The state also boasts excellent navigational and weather information systems for pilots. In total, Minnesota has over 130 public airports, 15 public seaplane bases, 46 private airports, 42 private seaplane bases, and 127 private heliports.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is one of the nation's largest and busiest airports and a key airline hub. It is managed and run by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), a public corporation that owns and operates six reliever/general aviation airports in the Twin Cities area. These reliever airports are situated within 35 miles of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, and they attract traffic away from MSP, serving corporate aircraft and recreational fliers.

The reliever/general aviation airports in the Minneapolis area include:

Airlake Airport

Just south of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Lakeville, Airlake Airport mostly caters to recreational fliers but is also ideal for business aviation.

Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE)

Located just north of Minneapolis and St. Paul, ANE serves the most diverse aircraft among MAC's general aviation airports. It is among the busiest of the six reliever airports and is home to a variety of vintage, experimental, recreational, and corporate aircraft.

Crystal Airport

Crystal Airport is named after the city in which it is located and also sits adjacent to Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center. It features two paved and one turf runway, three non-precision instrument approaches, a self-serve fuel system, a fixed-base operator, and an FAA-operated air traffic control tower.

Flying Cloud Airport (FCM)

FCM is the busiest airport in the MAC's reliever airport system, with over 100,000 takeoffs and landings per year. It is located just 10 miles south of Minneapolis and is the home base for many corporate jets and flight schools.

Lake Elmo Airport

Lake Elmo Airport is conveniently located for both business and leisure travellers, offering easy access to the St. Paul business district and scenic destinations along the St. Croix River, such as Stillwater, Minnesota, and Hudson, Wisconsin.

St. Paul Downtown Airport (Holman Field)

In the mid-20th century, St. Paul Downtown Airport competed with Minneapolis' airport to become the primary air transportation centre of the area. Ultimately, it became the metro area's primary facility for private business aviation.

MAC's seven-airport system

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates a seven-airport system, including Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and six reliever airports in the Twin Cities area. MAC is a public corporation established in 1943 by the Minnesota State Legislature to provide coordinated aviation services to the Twin Cities metropolitan area. It is a 650-person organisation that brings award-winning service and a seamless travel experience to its customers.

The MAC's seven-airport system functions as a unit to manage air traffic in the region surrounding Minneapolis and St. Paul. The system includes one of the nation's largest and busiest airports, MSP, which is a key airline hub and MAC's flagship facility. It is surrounded by Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the suburban cities of Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights, and Richfield. MSP has one airfield with four runways and two terminal buildings, and it served more than 31 million travellers in 2022, making it the 19th busiest airport in North America in terms of passenger numbers.

The six reliever airports, also known as general aviation airports, serve corporate aircraft and recreational fliers. They are located within 35 miles of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul and play a crucial role in attracting traffic away from MSP. These reliever airports include the Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE), which serves the most diverse aircraft among the group and is one of the busiest. Another is the Crystal Airport, which has two paved and one turf runway, along with non-precision instrument approaches and a self-serve fuel system.

The Flying Cloud Airport (FCM) is the busiest in the MAC's reliever airport system, with over 100,000 takeoffs and landings per year. It is located just 10 miles south of Minneapolis and is home to many corporate jets and flight schools. The Lake Elmo Airport is conveniently located for both business and leisure travellers, offering easy access to the St. Paul business district and scenic destinations along the St. Croix River. While MAC encourages corporate and general aviation pilots to utilise its reliever airports, facilities are also available for non-commercial general aviation aircraft at MSP.

Minnesota's public airports

Minnesota is known for having some of the best, most standardized airports in the country. The state also boasts excellent navigational and weather information systems for pilots. There are over 130 public airports in Minnesota, 42 of which are airports, and 9 have airline services. The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates 7 of these airports, including Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and 6 reliever airports. These reliever airports are also known as general aviation airports and are situated within 35 miles of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. They serve to divert traffic from MSP and accommodate recreational and corporate aircraft.

The MAC's six reliever airports include:

• Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE): Located north of Minneapolis and St. Paul, this airport serves a diverse range of aircraft, including vintage, experimental, recreational, and corporate planes. It is among the busiest of the MAC's reliever airports.
• Crystal Airport: Named after the city it's located in, Crystal Airport is adjacent to Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center. It features two paved and one turf runway, along with three non-precision instrument approaches. It is equipped with a self-serve fuel system, a fixed-base operator, and an FAA-operated air traffic control tower.
• Flying Cloud Airport (FCM): Positioned just 10 miles south of Minneapolis, Flying Cloud is the busiest airport in the MAC's reliever system, handling over 100,000 takeoffs and landings annually. It is a hub for corporate jets and flight schools.
• Lake Elmo Airport: Conveniently located for business and leisure travellers, Lake Elmo Airport offers easy access to the St. Paul business district and scenic destinations along the St. Croix River.
• Airlake Airport: Found in Lakeville, just south of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Airlake Airport primarily serves recreational fliers but is also well-suited for business aviation.
• St. Paul Downtown Airport (Holman Field): In the mid-20th century, this airport competed with Minneapolis' airport to become the primary air transportation centre of the area. Today, it is the primary facility for private business aviation in the metro area.

In addition to the MAC's airports, there are other notable public airports in Minnesota, including:

• Duluth International Airport
• Rochester International Airport
• Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport
• Falls International Airport
• St. Cloud Regional Airport
• Bemidji Regional Airport
• Range Regional Airport
• Thief River Falls Regional Airport

Minnesota's private airports

Minnesota is known for its top-notch airports, offering some of the best navigational and weather information systems available to pilots. The state has over 130 public airports, with 9 offering airline services. In addition, Minnesota also has a significant number of private airports, seaplane bases, and heliports.

When it comes to Minneapolis specifically, the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) stands out as a major hub for both domestic and international flights. It is nestled among several cities, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights, and Richfield. This airport is managed by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and boasts a wide range of amenities for travellers, including dining options, shops, free Wi-Fi, quiet seating areas, play areas for children, a post office, currency exchange services, and lounges.

In addition to the flagship MSP airport, the MAC also owns and operates six general aviation airports, also known as reliever airports, that serve corporate aircraft and recreational fliers. These reliever airports are within 35 miles of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul and play a crucial role in managing air traffic in the region.

One notable reliever airport is the Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE), located just north of Minneapolis and St. Paul. It serves a diverse range of aircraft, including vintage, experimental, recreational, and corporate planes. Another busy reliever airport is the Flying Cloud Airport, located 10 miles south of Minneapolis, which is home to many corporate jets and flight schools.

While the focus here is on private airports, it's worth noting that the MSP airport also offers facilities for non-commercial, general aviation aircraft.

Frequently asked questions