Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
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Name	Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport
Iata	MSP
Icao	KMSP
Type	Public
Owner	Metropolitan Airports Commission
City-served	Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Location	Fort Snelling, Hennepin County, Minnesota
Elevation-ft	841
Website	Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport

Contents

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is the primary commercial airport serving the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, located on land adjacent to Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota near Fort Snelling and the Mississippi River. The airport operates as a major hub for Delta Air Lines and a focus city for Sun Country Airlines, linking the Twin Cities to domestic markets like Los Angeles International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Chicago O'Hare International Airport as well as international gateways such as Heathrow Airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, and Vancouver International Airport. The facility is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (Minnesota) and has played roles in regional development, aviation innovation, and transportation planning involving entities such as Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

History

The airport originated as Speedway Field and expanded through aviation milestones that involved figures associated with Charles Lindbergh, Transcontinental Air Transport, and Northwest Airlines. During World War II the site interacted with Fort Snelling and supported operations connected to Army Air Forces Training Command and aircraft types such as the Douglas DC-3 and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Postwar growth saw the influence of carriers including Northwest Orient Airlines and the emergence of hub-and-spoke models promoted by executives from Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines competitors, while regulatory shifts from the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Airline Deregulation Act reshaped route patterns. Major capital programs in the late 20th and early 21st centuries paralleled projects at airports like Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, O'Hare International Airport, and Denver International Airport and involved architects and planners with portfolios including HOK (firm) and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Security and customs capabilities were enhanced after events that prompted actions by Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration, and the airport has hosted visits by dignitaries from President of the United States, delegations related to NATO, and sports team charters for Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins.

The complex comprises two primary terminals, Terminal 1 (Lindbergh) and Terminal 2 (Humphrey), with concourses, gates, and support infrastructure analogous to layouts at Logan International Airport, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport. Terminal 1 was named after Charles Lindbergh and has concourses connected by an automated people mover system influenced by designs used at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Terminal 2, originally developed for low-cost carriers, houses operations comparable to facilities pioneered by Southwest Airlines at Chicago Midway International Airport. Airfield assets include multiple runways constructed per Federal Aviation Administration standards and navigational aids interoperable with systems from Nav Canada and international providers like Eurocontrol. Ground services, deicing facilities, cargo ramps, and maintenance bases support operators including FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, and maintenance providers such as Lufthansa Technik USA affiliates and heavy-maintenance contractors that have worked on fleets like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family.

Access modes include connections to the Metro Transit (Minnesota) light rail Blue Line (Metro Transit) and Green Line (Metro Transit) extensions, regional bus service operated by Metro Transit (Minnesota), and roadway links via Minnesota State Highway 5 and Interstate 494. Rental car facilities, shuttle services from companies like SuperShuttle and private operators, and taxi and ride-hailing providers including Uber Technologies and Lyft, Inc. serve passengers, while surface freight movements coordinate with logistics firms such as XPO Logistics and J.B. Hunt Transport Services. Parking structures, short-term lots, and curbside management have been planned with guidance from urban planners familiar with projects at Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

Operational metrics report annual passenger volumes comparable to other large U.S. airports such as Salt Lake City International Airport and Portland International Airport, and cargo throughput metrics that integrate with national air freight networks coordinated by the Federal Aviation Administration and Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The airport is a major employment center for regional employers including Delta Air Lines, Sun Country Airlines, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (Minnesota), concessions operators such as Hudson Group and SSP Group, and airport support firms that contract with entities like Aramark and Johnson Controls. Economic studies by regional development agencies and universities such as the University of Minnesota quantify impacts across tourism, business travel, and air cargo, with multiplier effects similar to analyses conducted for Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area projects and statewide infrastructure programs administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Category:Airports in Minnesota