Airports In Brownsville, Texas: A Comprehensive Guide

Brownsville, Texas, is served by three airports: Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, Columbia Valley Regional Airport, and Brownsville (BRO) Airport. The Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport is the nearest airport to the city, located 5-6.6 miles from downtown Brownsville. The airport offers nonstop flights to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Monterrey International Airport. Brownsville was once a significant hub for air service between the United States and Mexico, with Pan American World Airways offering flights to Mexico City and the Yucatan Peninsula in the late 1920s.

Brownsville has three airports

Brownsville, Texas, is served by three airports: Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, Columbia Valley Regional Airport, and General Servando Canales International Airport.

Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (IATA: BRO, ICAO: KBRO, FAA LID: BRO) is located 5 miles (8 km) east of downtown Brownsville, in Cameron County, Texas. The airport offers scheduled nonstop passenger flights to several destinations, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Monterrey International Airport. It also provides services such as a dedicated nursing area for mothers and a service animal relief area.

Columbia Valley Regional Airport is a smaller airport located in Brownsville. While it may not have the same capacity for commercial flights as the international airport, it still serves the aviation needs of the local community.

General Servando Canales International Airport (MAM / MMMA) is just 10 miles (16 km) from Brownsville, located in Matamoros, Mexico. This airport provides another convenient option for travellers in the region, offering domestic flights to and from Matamoros.

Having three airports in the area provides Brownsville residents and visitors with a range of travel options and ensures efficient air connectivity to nearby cities and international destinations. The airports cater to different needs, with the international airports providing more comprehensive services and the regional airport serving local aviation enthusiasts and smaller aircraft.

Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport is 5 miles from Brownsville

Brownsville, Texas, is served by three airports, both public and private. The Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport is 5 miles from Brownsville, Texas. The airport is located 5 miles (8 km) east of downtown Brownsville, in Cameron County. It is the nearest airport to Brownsville and is served by three airlines and six air taxis, with two fixed-base operations (FBOs) for general aviation. The airport has two asphalt runways, with the larger runway measuring 7,399 by 150 feet (2,255 by 46 m) and the smaller one measuring 6,000 by 150 feet (1,829 by 46 m).

The Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport has a rich history in aviation. In 1929, Pan American World Airways began operating flights between Brownsville and Mexico City, with Charles Lindbergh inaugurating the service. During World War II, the airport was renamed the Brownsville Army Air Field and was used for pilot training and engine testing. In the following decades, various airlines served the airport, including Braniff Airways, Eastern Air Lines, and Texas International Airlines. In 1983, the airport was renamed the Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport.

The airport has undergone several expansions and upgrades over the years. In 2019-2020, a new modern and spacious terminal was built, replacing the old terminal. In 2021, a new 91,000 square foot terminal was opened to accommodate the increasing tourism and migration to the area. The airport also has a dedicated area for service animals and a nursing area for mothers.

The Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport offers scheduled nonstop passenger flights to several destinations, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), and Monterrey International Airport (MTY) in Mexico. It is easily accessible from Brownsville, with a driving distance of approximately 20 minutes.

The airport has two asphalt runways

Brownsville, Texas, is served by three airports: Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, Columbia Valley Regional Airport, and General Servando Canales International Airport. The focus of this text will be on the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, which is located 5 miles (8 km) east of downtown Brownsville.

The two-runway configuration allows for efficient aircraft movement and helps to reduce air traffic congestion. It also provides flexibility in terms of wind conditions, as pilots can choose the runway with the most favourable headwind or tailwind depending on the direction of their flight. The runways are equipped with precision approach path indicators (PAPIs) that provide visual guidance to incoming aircraft, ensuring safe and accurate approaches during landing.

In addition to the runways, the airport also has a modern and spacious terminal that was built in 2019-2020 to replace the old, crowded terminal. The new terminal covers 91,000 square feet and features a dedicated nursing area for mothers, a service animal relief area, and a 360-degree 3D virtual experience for travellers. The airport also has jet bridges, which are passenger boarding bridges that allow passengers to board and disembark aircraft easily and comfortably. These jet bridges were enhanced with funding from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The airport offers nonstop flights to Dallas, Houston, and Monterrey

Brownsville, Texas, is served by three airports: Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, Columbia Valley Regional Airport, and General Servando Canales International Airport. The Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport is the closest, located 5-6.6 kilometres or 5 miles from the city centre. This airport offers non-stop flights to Dallas, Houston, and Monterrey.

The airport is located in Cameron County, Texas, and is about 8 kilometres east of downtown Brownsville. It serves three airlines, six air taxis, and offers two fixed-base operations for general aviation. The airport has two asphalt runways, with the larger one measuring 2,255 by 46 metres, and the smaller one measuring 1,829 by 46 metres.

The Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport offers non-stop flights to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, and Monterrey International Airport (MTY) in Mexico. These flights are operated by American Eagle, United Express, and Aerus. American Eagle operates Bombardier CRJ-700 and Embraer E-Jet family regional jets on their route to Dallas/Fort Worth, while United Express offers Embraer ERJ-175 and Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets for their Houston route. Aerus provides daily service to Monterrey using the Cessna Grand Caravan.

In addition to these non-stop flights, the airport has also seen several airlines operating seasonal routes. For example, Avelo Airlines offered non-stop flights to Burbank and Orlando from May 2023 to August 2024. Similarly, Allegiant Air previously provided non-stop flights to Las Vegas, but this service was discontinued.

The airport was once the main terminal for air service between the US and Mexico

Brownsville, Texas, is home to the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, located 5 miles (8 km) east of downtown Brownsville. The airport serves three airlines and six air taxis, and offers two fixed-base operations for general aviation. It is categorised as a primary commercial service facility.

On March 9, 1929, Charles Lindbergh inaugurated the new air route between Brownsville and Mexico City, landing at the Brownsville airport after a five-hour , 38-minute flight from Mexico City. This historic flight established the first international airmail service between the two countries. Over 20,000 people gathered to greet Lindbergh, including the famous aviator Amelia Earhart, for whom the main street in front of the airport is now named.

Pan Am's service to Brownsville thrived, and the city became a gateway to the US from Mexico. Passengers arriving in Brownsville could take the Missouri Pacific Railroad to St. Louis, Missouri, for connections to other cities in the northern US. In 1931, American Airways began a multi-stop route from Brownsville to Dallas, with further connections to Chicago, Los Angeles, and beyond. Other airlines soon followed, with Braniff Airways starting service in 1934, and Eastern Air Lines arriving in 1939.

During World War II, the airport was renamed the Brownsville Army Air Field and was used by the military for pilot training, engine testing, and overhauls. After the war, in 1947, Pan Am's Mexico City route was extended to Houston, with Brownsville as an intermediate stop. However, in 1962, Pan Am's service to Brownsville ended as the Mexico City flight became a nonstop DC-8 flight from Houston.

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