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St. Louis Lambert International Airport (IATA: STL) is the primary international airport serving metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri, United States. The airport has been a hub for several airlines, including Trans World Airlines (TWA), Ozark Air Lines, and American Airlines. TWA, which was headquartered in New York City, established its hub at Lambert in the 1950s and expanded its operations in St. Louis in the 1970s due to issues with its Kansas City hub. By the 1990s, Lambert had become TWA's main hub, with over 500 daily flights to more than 100 destinations. However, TWA filed for bankruptcy in 1992, and in 2001, it was acquired by American Airlines, which eventually closed the St. Louis hub in 2009. Following American Airlines' departure, Southwest Airlines became the dominant carrier at the airport, with a significant increase in service. Today, St. Louis Lambert International Airport remains a busy airport, serving nearly 15 million passengers annually and offering nonstop service to numerous destinations within the United States and internationally.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | St. Louis Lambert International Airport |
| IATA | STL |
| ICAO | KSTL |
| FAA LID | STL |
| Location | 14 miles (22-23 km) northwest of downtown St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
| Area | 3,793 acres (1,535 ha) |
| Destinations | 80+ nonstop domestic and international destinations |
| Passengers | 14.9 million (2023), 15 million (2023), 16 million (2024) |
| Daily Departures | 250+ |
| Terminals | 2 |
| Main Carriers | Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines |
| Former Carriers | Trans World Airlines (TWA), Ozark Air Lines |
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What You'll Learn
- St. Louis Lambert International Airport is the primary airport serving metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri, US
- The airport is commonly referred to as Lambert Field or simply Lambert
- In 1986, TWA acquired Ozark Air Lines, a regional carrier based at St. Louis, making it the dominant carrier at the airport
- Southwest Airlines is now the dominant carrier at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, accounting for 59% of the airport's annual passenger traffic
- The airport has two terminals, with the larger operating domestic flights only
St. Louis Lambert International Airport is the primary airport serving metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri, US
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (IATA: STL, ICAO: KSTL, FAA LID: STL) is the primary airport serving metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri, US. It is located 14 miles (22-23 km) northwest of downtown St. Louis, in St. Louis County, between Berkeley and Bridgeton. The airport is named after Albert Bond Lambert, an Olympic medallist and prominent St. Louis aviator. It covers 3,793 acres (1,535 ha) of land.
The airport has two terminals, with domestic flights operating out of the larger Terminal 1 and both domestic and international flights out of Terminal 2. In 2023, St. Louis Lambert International Airport served nearly 15 million passengers, with 250-259 daily departures to 70+ destinations, including airports in the US, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe. The airport has four lounges, including the Admirals Club and the Wingtips Lounge, which can be accessed by Priority Pass members.
Historically, St. Louis Lambert International Airport has been a hub for several major airlines, including Trans World Airlines (TWA), Ozark Air Lines, and American Airlines. TWA, which was headquartered in New York City, chose St. Louis as its main base of employment due to issues with terminal development in Kansas City. By 1982, St. Louis accounted for 20% of TWA's domestic capacity. TWA further expanded its presence at the airport after acquiring Ozark Air Lines in 1986. However, TWA eventually faced financial difficulties and was acquired by American Airlines in 2001.
Following the acquisition, American Airlines reduced its operations at the airport, and by 2009, it had closed its hub at St. Louis. After American Airlines ended its hub, Southwest Airlines became the largest carrier at the airport, with a significant increase in service. As of 2024, Southwest Airlines was the dominant operator at the airport, carrying almost 65% of passengers.
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The airport is commonly referred to as Lambert Field or simply Lambert
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (IATA: STL, ICAO: KSTL, FAA LID: STL) is commonly referred to as Lambert Field or simply Lambert. It is the primary international airport serving metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri, United States. The airport is named after Albert Bond Lambert, an Olympic medalist and prominent St. Louis aviator. It is located 14 miles (22-23 km) northwest of downtown St. Louis in unincorporated St. Louis County between Berkeley and Bridgeton. Covering 3,793 acres (1,535 ha) of land, it is the largest and busiest airport in the state of Missouri.
Lambert Field has two terminals, with domestic flights operating from the larger Terminal 1 and international flights from Terminal 2. The airport offers nonstop service to over 80 destinations within the United States and to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe. In 2023, the airport served nearly 15 million passengers, with 250-260 daily departures. Southwest Airlines is the dominant carrier at Lambert Field, with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines also operating from the airport.
Lambert Field has a rich history in American aviation. It rose to prominence in the 20th century due to its association with Trans World Airlines (TWA), which established its hub at the airport in the 1970s. TWA's presence grew significantly when it acquired Ozark Air Lines, a regional carrier based at Lambert Field, in 1986. By the 1990s, the airport was TWA's main hub, serving 103 destinations with 515 daily flights. However, TWA declared bankruptcy in 1992 and was acquired by American Airlines in 2001, which eventually closed its hub at Lambert Field in 2009.
Despite the loss of TWA and American Airlines as hub operators, Lambert Field remains an important airport in the Midwest. It features various shopping and dining options, as well as amenities such as lactation suites and service animal relief areas. The airport also offers easy access to nearby attractions such as the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Gateway Arch, and the historic district of St. Charles.
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In 1986, TWA acquired Ozark Air Lines, a regional carrier based at St. Louis, making it the dominant carrier at the airport
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (IATA: STL) is the primary international airport serving metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state of Missouri, covering 3,793 acres of land.
In the mid-1980s, Ozark Air Lines and Trans World Airlines (TWA) had a duopoly at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, with Ozark accounting for 26.3% of boardings at STL in 1985, and TWA accounting for 56.6%. Ozark Air Lines was a local service carrier (initially known as a feeder airline) in the United States, that operated from 1950 until 1986, when it was purchased by TWA.
On March 1, 1986, the two airlines announced plans to merge, with TWA buying Ozark for $242 million in cash (equivalent to $694 million in 2024). The merger was approved by the United States Department of Transportation on September 12, 1986, and Ozark ceased to exist as an independent company on October 27, 1986. This transaction increased TWA's share of enplanements in St. Louis from 56.6% to 82%.
TWA had already established a strong presence at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, with the airport becoming its main hub by September 1999, serving 103 destinations with 515 daily flights. TWA's dominance at the airport was further solidified by its acquisition of Ozark Air Lines, a regional carrier based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.
Over time, TWA faced financial difficulties and eventually merged into American Airlines in 2001. Despite this change, St. Louis Lambert International Airport continues to be an important aviation hub, serving nearly 16 million passengers to over 80 nonstop domestic and international destinations as of 2024.
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Southwest Airlines is now the dominant carrier at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, accounting for 59% of the airport's annual passenger traffic
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (IATA: STL) is the largest and busiest airport in the state of Missouri. Located 14 miles (22-23km) northwest of downtown St. Louis, the airport covers 3,793 acres of land.
In the past, St. Louis Lambert International Airport was served by airlines including Robertson Air Lines, Marquette Airlines, Eastern Air Lines, Ozark Air Lines, and Transcontinental & Western Air (later renamed Trans World Airlines, or TWA). Ozark established its only hub at Lambert in the late 1950s, and TWA followed suit in the 1970s. By 1979, TWA and Ozark were the airport's dominant carriers, and by 1982, St. Louis accounted for 20% of TWA's domestic capacity.
However, Southwest Airlines is now the dominant carrier at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, accounting for 59% of the airport's annual passenger traffic. Southwest Airlines has been Lambert's largest carrier for over a decade, and the airline has been steadily growing at the airport since the mid-1990s. In 1998, the East Terminal (now Terminal 2) and Concourse E were opened to accommodate Southwest's growth, and the airline continues to expand its operations at the airport.
Today, St. Louis Lambert International Airport has more than 250 daily departures to 70+ destinations, serving nearly 15 million passengers annually. The airport has two terminals, located about half a mile from each other, with Terminal 1 serving domestic flights and Terminal 2 serving international flights and departures by Southwest Airlines.
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The airport has two terminals, with the larger operating domestic flights only
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (IATA: STL) is the primary international airport serving metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri, United States. The airport covers 3,793 acres of land and is located 14 miles (22-23 km) northwest of downtown St. Louis. It is named after Albert Bond Lambert, an Olympic medalist and prominent St. Louis aviator.
The airport has two terminals, with the larger (Terminal 1) operating domestic flights only. Terminal 1 has two levels, with arrivals on the lower level and departures on the upper level. The upper level is served by Departures Drive and provides access to airline ticketing counters and the MetroLink station via exit 1. The lower level is served by Arrivals Drive and has baggage claim, shops, and cafes, as well as access to concourses via security checkpoints. Concourse A is at the northwest end of the terminal and is accessible from the lower level via a security checkpoint.
Terminal 2 does not have a Global Entry Enrollment Center, with the nearest location being just off airport property at 4349 Woodson Road, #201 St. Louis, Missouri, 63134. Terminal 2 does, however, offer the Wingtips Lounge, which is accessible to Priority Pass members.
In 2023, the airport served nearly 15 million passengers, with 250-259 daily departures to 70+ nonstop domestic and international destinations. Southwest Airlines is the dominant carrier at the airport, accounting for 59-65% of the airport's annual passenger traffic.
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Frequently asked questions
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) has been a hub for several airlines, including Trans World Airlines (TWA), Ozark Air Lines, and American Airlines. However, as of 2009, it is no longer a hub for any major airline.
St. Louis Airport faced competition from other airports and issues with congestion and delays. Additionally, airlines such as American Airlines reduced their operations and eventually ended their hub status due to declining traffic.
The loss of hub status impacted travel options and convenience for passengers. Some international routes that were previously accessible with one domestic stop now require two stops.
While there have been discussions and renovations, no major airline has committed to making St. Louis Airport a primary hub in recent years. Southwest Airlines, which is the dominant carrier at the airport, considers it a "main operating base."
Travellers in the region can also fly from MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, or other nearby airports such as Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Kansas City International Airport (MCI).
