St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
The primary commercial airport providing scheduled air service for the bi-state St. Louis region, St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) is the largest and busiest airport in Missouri. Hosting operations of 14 airlines with Southwest Airlines offering the most daily flights, it served 15.9 million passengers in calendar year (CY) 2019 and was ranked as the 33rd busiest airport nationwide in terms of total passengers by the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA). The latest economic impact study for the airport projects passenger service will grow to more than 21 million annually by 2040.
In June of 2022, STL added direct international service to Frankfurt, Germany, marking the first time in nearly two decades that the airport offers non-stop flights to continental Europe. Many St. Louis businesses have an international reach, so this direct connection to Europe is a crucial step in growing the region and making it easier to do business here.
In 2020, the airport also added livestock as a new source of air cargo. In all, the airport handled 160 million pounds of air cargo in 2023. With all this activity, the airport generates significant business revenues, jobs, and incomes as an economic hub.
In May of 2023, St. Louis Lambert International Airport received initial federal approval for an estimated $2.8 billion plan to consolidate its two terminals into one new, single passenger concourse and replace the parking garage with a larger one. Federal Aviation Administration approval is contingent to environmental approval and lease agreement negotiations with airlines. Once completed, architectural designs could start in 2024.
According to a new report released by Greater St. Louis, Inc. in early 2023, St. Louis Lambert International Airport could add nearly $5 billion in annual economic impact and support nearly 30,000 new jobs in the metro area by 2032. (Learn more about STL’s economic impact here)
St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS)
Located just minutes from downtown St. Louis and the Gateway Arch in Cahokia Heights and Sauget, Illinois, St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS) is positioned as the St. Louis region’s downtown front door for business aviation. An FAA-designated reliever airport and National General Aviation Airport, KCPS is the busiest general aviation airport in Illinois outside of Chicago due to its strategic location. KCPS’ annual regional economic impact exceeds $422 million, according to the latest study released in 2021 by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).
The airport supports significant activity from recreational and business flying to flight instruction from Saint Louis University’s Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation Science, the nation’s oldest flight school, along with Ideal Aviation and St. Louis Flight Training. Among the aircraft and helicopter maintenance organizations who are tenants is Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., one of the largest maintenance, repair, and overhaul organizations in the world. The airport is served by Jet Aviation, a world-class Fixed Base Operator.
St. Louis Downtown Airport’s operations are driven by a wide variety of general aviation activities ranging from business, medical, and charter traffic to fixed and rotor wing flight instruction and banner towing fun. The airport is a major employer, contributing to more than 1,500 full-time and part-time jobs in the region, a number that continues to grow in the wake of a $28.5 million expansion by Gulfstream.
To support Gulfstream and other aircraft maintenance providers, construction was completed in 2023 on a new Ground Engine Run-Up and Compass Calibration Pad. This project supports existing and future high-tech aerospace manufacturing jobs at the airport by improving production safety, reliability and efficiency.
St. Louis Downtown Airport is owned and operated by Bi-State Development.
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV)
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is a commercial service airport located in St. Clair County, Illinois and governed by the St. Clair County Public Building Commission. The airport is a joint-use military/civilian facility including MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and Scott Air Force Base (SAFB), which collectively serve as a $3.1 billion economic engine for the bi-state St. Louis region. In addition to significant air carrier activity, BLV sees regular use for corporate/business, military, air cargo operations, aerospace manufacturing, and aerospace technology research. The facility accounts for approximately 23,500 jobs between the operations at the airport, SAFB and the various tenants onsite.
BLV is located in Mascoutah, Illinois, in the eastern portion of the St. Louis metropolitan area, where it enjoys easy access to five interstate highways via I-64. Low-cost passenger service to approximately a dozen different destinations is offered by Allegiant. The airport has an annual capacity of 200,000+ operations. Significant tenants include Boeing, North American Helicopter and North Bay Produce.
Boeing announced in 2021, it would be investing $200 million in a new manufacturing facility totaling approximately 300,000 square-foot at MidAmerica. Upon completion in 2024, it initially will employ approximately 150 mechanics, engineers and support staff who will build the MQ-25 Stingray, the Navy’s first operational, carrier-based unmanned aircraft.
Construction was completed in 2023 on the $34 million expansion of the terminal at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport and the $37 million Taxiway Lima project to serve the Boeing expansion and other future tenants. Construction is also underway on the $96 million MetroLink extension from Scott Air Force Base to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, which will serve both passengers and tenants at the airport.
St. Louis Regional Airport (ALN)
At the crossroads of major interstate and Illinois highways, St. Louis Regional Airport is centered on 2,300 acres in flourishing southwestern Illinois only thirty minutes from downtown St. Louis. This general aviation airport provides more than 1,500 jobs and has an annual economic impact of $480 million, serving a diverse clientele from private aviators to Fortune 500 companies, the U.S. military, and regional aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul customers.
Its role as an economic engine for the region is largely driven by tenant West Star Aviation, which has nearly 600 employees on site and is expanding. West Star Aviation has ranked as the top maintenance, repair and overhaul services provider for eight consecutive years in an annual survey compiled for Professional Pilot magazine.
With West Star serving as the airport’s Fixed Base Operator (FBO), pilots can expect prompt fueling, quality maintenance, aircraft rental and a full-service pilot’s lounge. Pilots also appreciate the fast, tower-guided approach to St. Louis 31 Regional with wide, long runways able to accommodate aircraft as large as a C-5A or Boeing 747. Around the clock security, firefighting and rescue capabilities rank St. Louis Regional with large hub airports in readiness.
The airport has several sites totaling more than 600 acres available for future development and is focused on facility improvements. This includes a $5.5 million runway rehabilitation project completed in September 2023 and an $18 million investment by West Star Aviation. Additional fuel facility improvements, parking lot rehabilitations, and apron construction projects are further enhancing ALN.
St. Louis Regional also hosts an annual Fly-in and Car Show event for families, featuring an assortment of modern Cessna, Piper and Beach aircraft, a number of ultra-lights, several helicopters, and, occasionally, even historic planes and specialty aircraft.
Spirit Of St. Louis Airport (SUS)
Spirit of St. Louis Airport is the busiest business aviation airport in the FAA Central Region and is consistently second or third busiest of all airports in the region and one of the highest rated when it comes to FAA Annual 139 Air Carrier Certification Inspections.
Spirit is the Business Aviation Center of the Midwest and, as one of five Ports of Entry in Missouri, clears more than 330 international arrivals per year. As one of busiest airports in the region, only behind STL, Spirit has nearly 155,000 operations per year.
A self-supporting Enterprise Fund of St. Louis County Government, Spirit has strong reserves and receives no taxpayer dollars from the General Revenue Fund. It also gives back to community through the Spirit of St. Louis Air Show, supporting STEM education and our veterans. The airport also is proud to be a partner in the Red Tail Cadet Program, which offers young people from Ferguson, MO, the opportunity to learn to fly and gain other valuable life experiences at Spirit.
We’re a small, mighty staff of 11. So, we like to rely on our partnerships, whether it’s Hanson Professional Services, the Leadership Council, Bethalto Chamber of Commerce or River Bend Growth Association, and even the other airport directors are very helpful.