Ruth Haines
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, also known as General Mitchell International Airport, is assigned the airport code MKE. The airport is located 5 miles south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. The airport is named after United States Army General Billy Mitchell, who is regarded as the father of the United States Air Force.
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What You'll Learn
- Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is located 5 miles south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- The airport is named after US Army General Billy Mitchell, regarded as the father of the US Air Force
- The airport's weather station has been used for official Milwaukee weather records since 1941
- SkyWest Airlines established a maintenance base at the airport in 2018
- The airport was recognised as one of the best in the world in 2023
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is located 5 miles south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, with the airport code MKE, is located 5 miles south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The airport is named in honour of United States Army General Billy Mitchell, who was raised in Milwaukee and is often regarded as the father of the United States Air Force. Covering 2,314 acres, it features five asphalt and concrete runways and is a civil-military airport. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is the primary airport for Milwaukee, also serving travellers from Southern and Eastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.
The airport was formerly a hub for several airlines, including AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines, Midwest Airlines, and North Central Airlines. In 2018, SkyWest Airlines established a maintenance base at the airport, bringing its total number of bases across the US to 12. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport has been recognised by the Airports Council International as one of the best airports in the world for two consecutive years.
The airport has a rich history, with its former name being General Mitchell International Airport, renamed in February 2019 to highlight its location in Milwaukee. The old name is still used by the FAA and the US government. The airport's weather station has been the official point for Milwaukee weather observations and records since March 1941. Additionally, the airport has a small museum inside the terminal, featuring a B-25 bomber and an old push plane from circa 1910.
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport has been the site of several notable aviation incidents. In 1954, a Miller Brewing Company plane crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all four people on board. In 1968, a mid-air collision occurred between a Convair CV-580 and a Cessna 150F southwest of the airport. In 2001, a Midwest Express flight came dangerously close to United Airlines Flight 175, and in 2007, a Northwest Airlines flight skidded off a snowy runway during takeoff, with only one minor injury reported among the 104 people on board.
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The airport is named after US Army General Billy Mitchell, regarded as the father of the US Air Force
The airport code MKE belongs to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, a civil-military airport located 5 miles south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The airport is named after US Army General Billy Mitchell, regarded as the father of the US Air Force.
General Billy Mitchell was born in Nice, France, on December 29, 1879. He was the son of a wealthy United States senator from Wisconsin. Mitchell himself graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1899. He dropped out of university initially to join the United States Army during the Spanish-American War. He also served in the 1st Wisconsin Infantry as a private. Mitchell's father had served as a first lieutenant in the 24th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War.
Mitchell was an advocate for air power between the two world wars. He believed that future conflicts would take place in the air, not on the ground, and that air power would become the predominant force of war. He testified before Congress in 1913, arguing for a separate Air Force from the Army and Navy. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1920 and continued to push for the importance of air power after World War I. He is regarded as the "father of the US Air Force" due to his early recognition of the importance of aviation in modern warfare.
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport was renamed in honour of General Billy Mitchell in 1986. The airport is the primary hub for Milwaukee and also serves travellers from Southern and Eastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. It covers 2,314 acres and has five asphalt and concrete runways. The airport has been recognised as one of the best in the world by the Airports Council International for two consecutive years.
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The airport's weather station has been used for official Milwaukee weather records since 1941
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, with the airport code MKE, is a civil-military airport located 5 nautical miles (9.3 km or 5.8 miles) south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. The airport is named in honour of United States Army General Billy Mitchell, who is often regarded as the father of the US Air Force and was raised in Milwaukee. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is the primary airport for Milwaukee, also serving travellers from Southern and Eastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.
Since March 1941, the airport's weather station has been used for official Milwaukee weather records and observations. The weather station is utilised by the National Weather Service, whose area office is located in Sullivan.
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport covers an area of 2,180 to 2,314 acres, accommodating five asphalt and concrete runways. The airport has a significant history, being a former hub for several airlines, including AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines, Midwest Airlines, and North Central Airlines. On December 17, 1954, a tragic plane crash occurred shortly after takeoff from the airport, claiming the lives of all four individuals on board, including company president Fred Miller and his son.
Over the years, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport has witnessed several notable incidents. In 1997, an SR-71 declared an in-air emergency and diverted to the airport without any injuries. In 2001, a Midwest Express flight from MKE had a close encounter with another aircraft, resulting in two steep dives that injured passengers and crew. In 2007, a Northwest Airlines flight departing from the airport experienced an engine explosion, forcing an aborted takeoff and resulting in a skidding incident. Despite these events, the airport has received recognition for its quality, being named one of the best airports in the world by the Airports Council International in 2023.
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SkyWest Airlines established a maintenance base at the airport in 2018
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, also known by its airport code MKE, is a civil-military airport located 5 miles south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The airport is named in honour of United States Army General Billy Mitchell, who is often regarded as the father of the United States Air Force.
In 2018, SkyWest Airlines established a maintenance base at MKE, bringing its total number of maintenance bases across the US to 12. SkyWest purchased a double hangar complex from Milwaukee County, measuring 190,000 square feet. This new facility became SkyWest's largest maintenance base in terms of square footage, with the capacity to service up to 12 aircraft simultaneously.
The new hangar complex, located near the Airport Spur from I-94, allowed SkyWest to move from its previous location at the MKE Regional Business Park. This expansion was expected to increase the airline's workforce at MKE from 75 to 100 employees, with the potential for further growth.
SkyWest Airlines operates an extensive network of routes, connecting smaller airports to the large hubs of its partner airlines. As of 2024, the airline operated an average of 2,190 flights per day across North America, with destinations in 45 states, 5 Canadian provinces, and 13 Mexican cities. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is a significant hub for SkyWest, marking 10 years of partnership in 2018. The airline maintains and operates various aircraft types at MKE, including Bombardier CRJ200, CRJ700, CRJ900, and Embraer E175 for Delta, United, and American Airlines.
MKE is a well-connected airport, offering nonstop flights to 49 destinations within the US and connections to 160 international destinations. It has been recognised by the Airports Council International as one of the best airports in the world for two consecutive years, highlighting its efficient operations and passenger-centric facilities.
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The airport was recognised as one of the best in the world in 2023
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, also known by the airport code MKE, was recognised as one of the best airports in the world in 2023. This recognition came from Airports Council International and Airport Service Quality, with the airport receiving the ASQ Best Airport award for the second consecutive year.
The airport is located 5 nautical miles (9.3 km or 5.8 miles) south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It covers an area of 2,314 acres (936 hectares) and has five asphalt and concrete runways. The airport is named after United States Army General Billy Mitchell, regarded as the father of the US Air Force, who was raised in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is the primary airport for Milwaukee and also serves travellers from Southern and Eastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. The airport has a long history, with its weather station being used as the official point for Milwaukee weather observations and records since March 1941. Over the years, the airport has witnessed several incidents, including crashes and near collisions, with some occurring as early as the 1950s and 1960s.
In recent years, the airport has undergone various developments and expansions. There were plans to increase the terminal area, and in 2018, funding was allocated for the replacement of Concourse E with a new international terminal. The airport has also seen changes in its operations, such as the establishment of a maintenance base by SkyWest Airlines in 2018, adding to the 11 others across the US.
The recognition as one of the best airports in the world in 2023 was a significant milestone for Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, especially as it continued to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the airport saw an increase in traffic, with 5.4 million passengers, a rise of almost 1 million from the previous year. This positive trend was expected to continue in 2023, bringing the airport closer to pre-pandemic traffic levels. The airport also had plans to increase international flights with the development of a new international concourse, a project with a substantial budget of over $25 million.
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Frequently asked questions
MKE is the airport code for Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is located 5 miles south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.
The airport is named after United States Army General Billy Mitchell, who is regarded as the father of the United States Air Force.
The airport was formerly a hub for AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines, Midwest Airlines, and North Central Airlines. SkyWest Airlines also has a maintenance base at the airport.
