Owais Crawford
Minneapolis is served by seven airports, including the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (also known as Wold–Chamberlain Field), which is one of the nation's largest and busiest airports. The airport is located within 10 miles of both downtown Minneapolis and downtown Saint Paul and is revered for its ease of check-in, security, and amenities. The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and maintains the seven-airport system, which includes six general aviation airports, also known as reliever airports.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Airport | Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) |
| Other Names | Wold–Chamberlain Field |
| Owner | The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) |
| Number of Airports in the MAC System | Seven |
| Location | Minneapolis-St. Paul |
| Other Airports in the MAC System | Flying Cloud (FCM), Airlake Airport, Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE), St. Paul Downtown Airport (Holman Field) |
| Amenities | Great food, shops, cafes, conference centers |
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What You'll Learn
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has two terminals with a total of 131 gates. Terminal 1 (Lindbergh) contains 117 gates across seven concourses, lettered A–G, while Terminal 2 (Humphrey) contains 14 gates across one concourse, lettered H. International arrivals are processed in Concourse G of both terminals. The terminals are located about a mile apart and are accessed from separate exits of Minnesota State Highway 5, with Metro Transit's Blue Line providing a light rail connection between them.
The airport has a long history, starting in 1919 as Speedway Field. In 1923, it was renamed Wold–Chamberlain Field after World War I pilots Ernest Groves Wold and Cyrus Foss Chamberlain. Passenger services began in 1929, and in 1944, the site was renamed Minneapolis–St. Paul Metropolitan Airport/Wold-Chamberlain Field, with "International" added to the name in 1948. Today, the airport is rarely referred to by its full name, with "Wold–Chamberlain" being especially uncommon.
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is home to several United States Air Force and Minnesota Air National Guard operations, including the 934th Airlift Wing and the 133d Airlift Wing, which fly the C-130 Hercules. It also serves as a major hub for Delta Air Lines and as the home airport for Minnesota-based airlines Sun Country Airlines and Endeavor Air, a Delta subsidiary. Delta and its regional affiliates account for about 70% of the airport's passenger traffic. The airport is operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and maintains a total of seven airports in the region.
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Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport's terminals
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (IATA: MSP, ICAO: KMSP, FAA LID: MSP), also less commonly known as Wold–Chamberlain Field, is a joint civil-military public international airport serving the Twin Cities in Minnesota. It is located in Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory, within 10 miles of downtown Minneapolis and downtown Saint Paul. It is one of the nation's largest airports and a key airline hub, serving as a major hub for Delta Air Lines and housing operations for several US Air Force and Minnesota Air National Guard units. The airport is also used by a variety of air cargo operators.
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 (Lindbergh) and Terminal 2 (Humphrey). Terminal 1, the larger of the two, boasts 117 gates across seven concourses labelled A to G. It offers a wide range of restaurants, shops, and lounges, including the Escape lounge, which is open to all passengers. Terminal 1 also provides check-in and bag check services in the Ticketing Lobby on Level 2, one level above Baggage Claim.
Terminal 2 of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has 14 gates across one concourse, labelled H. It also offers various dining and shopping options. Upon arrival at Terminal 2, passengers can purchase tickets, obtain boarding passes, and check their luggage in the Ticketing Lobby on Level 1. Security checkpoints are located on Level 2, near the Orange and Purple Ramp skyways. Both terminals can be easily accessed via Minnesota State Highway 5, and passengers can travel between them for free using the Blue Line, a light rail route operated by Metro Transit.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which also manages six smaller reliever airports in the region: Crystal Airport, Flying Cloud (the busiest reliever airport), Airlake Airport, Anoka County-Blaine Airport, Lake Elmo Airport, and St. Paul Downtown Airport (Holman Field). These reliever airports attract traffic away from MSP and serve corporate aircraft and recreational fliers.
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Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport's accolades
The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is one of the nation's largest airports and a key airline hub. It is a joint civil-military public international airport serving the Twin Cities in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The airport is located in Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory, within 10 miles of both downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul.
MSP covers 2,930 acres of land and is a major hub for Delta Air Lines. It is also the home airport for Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines and Endeavor Air, a Delta subsidiary. Delta Air Lines and its regional affiliates account for about 70% of the airport's passenger traffic. The airport is operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), which also operates six smaller airports in the region.
In 2023, MSP was recognised by analytics company Cirium as the world's most punctual international airport, with on-time departure and arrival rates of 84.44% and 84.62% respectively. MSP was also ranked as the No. 1 airport in the United States in a 2024 survey by Travel+Leisure, with participants ranking the airport in categories such as access, check-in and security, restaurants and bars, shopping, and design.
The airport is an important economic driver for the region, generating an estimated $15.9 billion annually for the Twin Cities' economy and supporting 87,000 workers.
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Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport's transport links
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is one of the largest airports in the US and a key airline hub. It is located in Fort Snelling, within 10 miles of both downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. The airport is easily accessible by car, with several major highways bordering it, including Minnesota State Highway 5, Minnesota State Highway 62, and Minnesota State Highway 77, and Interstate 494.
The airport has two terminals, Terminal 1 (Lindbergh) and Terminal 2 (Humphrey), which are located about a mile apart and are accessible from separate exits of Minnesota State Highway 5. A light rail route called the Blue Line, operated by Metro Transit, connects the two terminals, and travellers can use this service for free when moving between them. The Blue Line also provides connections to downtown Minneapolis and the Mall of America in Bloomington.
Several transport options are available at both terminals. At Terminal 1, taxis can be found on the Tram Level (Level T), with airport staff available to assist passengers. Terminal 2 also offers a taxi service at the Ground Transport Center on the ground level of the Purple parking ramp. Downtown Minneapolis is about 12 miles from the airport, with taxi fares averaging $38-$49, while downtown St. Paul is approximately 8 miles away, with fares averaging $30-$37.
In addition to taxis, Terminal 2 offers car rental services from companies such as Alamo, Avis, Budget, and Hertz, with counters located in the Ground Transport Center. Another option for getting around is Evie Carshare, an electric car-sharing service with over 170 vehicles in the Twin Cities.
For those looking for a more luxurious experience, companies like SuperShuttle offer private van, SUV, or black car services to and from the airport. These services can be booked in advance, providing a stress-free and comfortable journey.
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Minneapolis's reliever airports
Minneapolis is served by a seven-airport system, managed by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC). The MAC's flagship facility is the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), one of the nation's largest and busiest airports. In addition to MSP, MAC also operates six general aviation airports, also known as reliever airports, which are within 35 miles of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. These reliever airports help to reduce congestion at MSP by attracting traffic away from the larger airport.
The reliever airports in the Minneapolis area include:
- Crystal Airport: Located adjacent to Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center, Crystal Airport has two paved and one turf runway, as well as 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 (FCM): Situated just 10 miles south of Minneapolis, Flying Cloud is the busiest reliever airport in the MAC system, with over 100,000 takeoffs and landings per year. It is a popular base for corporate jets and flight schools.
- Lake Elmo Airport: Conveniently located for both business and leisure travellers, Lake Elmo Airport offers easy access to the St. Paul business district and scenic destinations along the St. Croix River, such as Stillwater, Minnesota, and Hudson, Wisconsin.
- Airlake Airport: Located just south of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Lakeville, Airlake Airport primarily serves recreational fliers but is also well-suited for business aviation.
- Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE): North of Minneapolis and St. Paul, ANE serves the most diverse range of aircraft among the MAC's general aviation airports.
By providing a range of facilities and services, these reliever airports ensure efficient and convenient air travel options for both business and recreational travellers in the Minneapolis region.
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Frequently asked questions
The Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, also known as MSP, is the main airport in Minneapolis.
The airport has also been known as Wold–Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis–St. Paul Metropolitan Airport/Wold-Chamberlain Field, and Minneapolis-St Paul Airport.
There are six general aviation airports in Minneapolis, sometimes called reliever airports as they attract traffic away from MSP. These include Crystal Airport, Flying Cloud, Lake Elmo Airport, Airlake Airport, and the Anoka County-Blaine Airport.
