Minnesota's Airport Network: A Comprehensive Overview

Minnesota is a midwestern state in the US known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and it has a lot of airports to match. There are 156 airports in Minnesota that the public can use, including major airports, local airports, and military airports. The state's largest airport, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, is one of the nation's largest and busiest, serving almost 35 million passengers a year.

Airports in Minnesota

Minnesota's busiest airport

Minnesota is a midwestern U.S. state known for its lakes and parks, including Lake Superior and the Voyageurs National Park. The state is served by 42 airports, with nine major airports and 33 smaller airports.

The busiest airport in Minnesota is the Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, also known as Wold–Chamberlain Field. The airport is located about 16 km from Minneapolis and St. Paul and is the major hub for Delta and low-cost Sun Country Airlines. It is a large hub that accounts for at least 1% of total U.S. passenger enplanements. The airport has two large terminals and serves millions of passengers each year. Denver and Chicago are the busiest destinations from the airport, but it also sees significant international traffic.

The other major airports in Minnesota include:

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

The 9 major airports

Minnesota is home to 42 airports, eight of which offer commercial flights. The majority of air traffic is centred around Minneapolis Airport, which is the busiest airport in Minnesota and the wider Upper Midwest region. Minneapolis Airport serves almost 35 million passengers a year and is a hub for Delta and low-cost Sun Country Airlines.

Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport

Also known as Wold–Chamberlain Field, this airport is located about 16km from Minneapolis and St. Paul. It is one of the nation's largest airports and a key airline hub. The airport has two large terminals and is served by Metro Transit and Light Rail Transit.

Duluth International Airport

Duluth International Airport is located 9km from the city of Duluth. Airlines operating at this airport include United, Delta, and American Eagle.

Rochester International Airport

Rochester International Airport is situated 11km from Rochester. It is served by United, Delta, and American Eagle airlines.

Bemidji Regional Airport

Bemidji Regional Airport is just 5km from Bemidji. Its IATA code is BJI.

Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport

Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport is 6km from Brainerd. Its IATA code is BRD.

St. Cloud Regional Airport

St. Cloud Regional Airport is located 7km from St. Cloud. It offers limited service, with three flights per week to Phoenix/Mesa. The airport is served by Allegiant Air.

Falls International Airport

Falls International Airport is only 3km from International Falls. Its IATA code is INL.

Range Regional Airport

Also called Chisholm–Hibbing Airport, Range Regional Airport is 7km from Hibbing.

Thief River Falls Regional Airport

Thief River Falls Regional Airport serves the city of Thief River Falls.

Reliever airports

Minnesota has a total of 156 airports open to public use, with eight of these offering commercial flights. The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the state, serving almost 35 million passengers a year.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates a seven-airport system, with six general aviation airports, also known as reliever airports. These reliever airports are within 35 miles of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul and serve to attract traffic away from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

The reliever airports are:

Airlake Airport

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

Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE)

The Anoka County-Blaine Airport, located just north of Minneapolis and St. Paul, serves the most diverse aircraft among MAC's general aviation airports. It is one of the busiest reliever airports and is home to vintage, experimental, recreational, and corporate aircraft.

Crystal Airport

Crystal Airport is named after the city in which it is located and is 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)

Flying Cloud Airport is the busiest airport in the MAC's reliever airport system, with over 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.

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, the St. Paul Downtown Airport competed with the Minneapolis airport to become the primary air transportation centre in the area. Today, it serves as the metro area's primary facility for private business aviation.

Airlines operating from Minnesota

Minnesota has eight airports that offer commercial flights, with most air traffic centred around Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, which is also the busiest airport in the state and the wider Upper Midwest region. The airport, also known as Wold–Chamberlain Field, is a major hub for Delta and low-cost Sun Country Airlines.

Other airports in Minnesota include:

• Duluth International Airport: Serves the city of Duluth and is a connection airport to Minneapolis and Chicago. It is the closest airport to Split Rock Lighthouse and the North Shore Scenic Drive.
• Rochester International Airport: About 15 minutes from downtown Rochester, this airport offers nonstop flights to Chicago, Atlanta, and Minneapolis. It is the closest airport to Silver Lake.
• Bemidji Regional Airport
• Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport
• St. Cloud Regional Airport: Offers limited service, with three flights per week to Phoenix/Mesa.
• Thief River Falls Regional Airport
• Range Regional Airport at Hibbing
• Falls International Airport

The most common airlines operating from Minnesota's smaller airports are American Eagle, Delta Air Lines, and Allegiant Air. Sun Country Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Delta Air Lines are also popular choices for flights to and from Minnesota.

Private-use airports

There are a number of private-use airports in Minnesota. Private-use airports are airports that are not open to the public and are usually owned by private companies or individuals. Some of the notable private-use airports in Minnesota include:

Northwest Angle Airport

Northwest Angle Airport is located in the Northwest Angle, the northernmost point of the contiguous United States. The airport is not open to the public but serves the private aviation needs of the local community.

Isle Private Airport

Isle Private Airport is a former public-use airport that is now privately owned and operated. It is located on Isle, a small island in Lake Mille Lacs. The airport has a single runway and primarily serves small aircraft and seaplanes.

Marty's Tranquility Base

Marty's Tranquility Base is a private-use seaplane base located on a remote lake in northern Minnesota. The base is known for its secluded location and is often used by those seeking privacy and seclusion.

In addition to these notable airports, there are several other private-use airports and seaplane bases scattered across Minnesota. These airports are typically smaller in size and serve specific individuals, businesses, or organisations. Many of them are located in remote areas or provide access to recreational areas, such as lakes and forests.

Frequently asked questions