Lansing Capital City Airport
Encyclopedia
- For other airports with this name, see Capital City Airport (disambiguation).
Capital Region International Airport , formerly known as Lansing Capital City Airport, is a public, Class C airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of downtown Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
in DeWitt Township
DeWitt Charter Township, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,143 people, 4,839 households, and 3,450 families residing in the township. The population density was 383.5 per square mile . There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 161.7 per square mile...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Small portions of the airport are located in Watertown Township
Watertown Township, Clinton County, Michigan
Watertown Charter Township is a charter township of Clinton County, United States in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,836 in the 2010 census, an increase from 4,162 in 2000.-Communities:...
, Delta Township
Delta Charter Township, Michigan
Delta Charter Township, officially known as the Charter Township of Delta and commonly known as simply Delta Township, is a charter township of Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 32,408. Delta Township is currently the fourth largest...
, and the city of Lansing.
The airport is owned and operated by the Capital Region Airport Authority, an eight-member governing board. Three members represent Ingham County
Ingham County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 279,320 people, 108,593 households, and 63,744 families residing in the county. The population density was 500 people per square mile . There were 115,056 housing units at an average density of 206 per square mile...
and three members represent the City of Lansing. Two ex officio members represent Eaton County
Eaton County, Michigan
Eaton County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 107,759. The county seat is Charlotte. Eaton County was named for John Eaton, who was Secretary of War under U.S. President Andrew Jackson, making it one of Michigan's Cabinet counties...
and Clinton County
Clinton County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,753 people, 23,653 households, and 17,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 24,630 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
. The Airport Authority also oversees nearby Jewett Field
Mason Jewett Field
Mason Jewett Field is a public use airport located one nautical mile southeast of the central business district of Mason, in Ingham County, Michigan, United States. It is owned and operated by the Capital Region Airport Authority, which also oversees the nearby Capital Region International...
(TEW) in Mason, Michigan
Mason, Michigan
Mason is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is named after the state's first governor, Stevens T. Mason. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,252. It is the county seat of Ingham County. Mason is the only city in the U.S. that serves as a county seat ahead of a state capital,...
.
According to the Airport Authority, 257,350 people flew to or from the airport in 2010, a 40 percent drop from 2008, and a 61 percent drop since 2000. Capital Region International Airport is a focus city
Focus city
In the airline industry, a focus city is a location that is not a hub, but from which the airline has non-stop flights to several destinations other than its hubs...
for Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
MN Airlines, LLC, operating as Sun Country Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb of Mendota Heights, Minnesota...
.
Early 1900s
The first recorded flight in Lansing took place on October 15, 1911, at an old racecourse (now the Red Cedar Golf Course). More than 20,000 spectators watched pilot Jimmy WardJames J. Ward
James J. Ward was a pioneer aviator who made one of the earliest attempts at transcontinental flight.-Biography:He flew a Curtiss Model D pusher biplane named the "Hearst Pathfinder". On September 13, 1911 he attempted to win the William Randolph Hearst Prize flying from Governors Island in New...
perform stunts in the Shooting Star, his Curtiss biplane
Curtiss Model D
|-See also:-External links:...
. From 1922–1926 Lansing's airport was Creyts Field, located 1 miles (1.6 km) west of the current airport. The 80 acres (32.4 ha) field was operated by Chamber of Commerce Secretary Charley Davis. In 1925 Lt Harry Warner arrived in Lansing to help Davis and others select the current site for Capital City Airport. The selected site was a 300 acres (121.4 ha) state-owned hayfield and marsh (known as Chandler's Marsh), originally planned to be a boys' vocational school.
The dedication of Capital City Airport was held on the weekend of July 14–15, 1928, and attended by 70,000 people, including arctic explorer
Arctic exploration
Arctic exploration is the physical exploration of the Arctic region of the Earth. The region that surrounds the North Pole. It refers to the historical period during which mankind has explored the region north of the Arctic Circle...
George Hubert Wilkins and aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
Carl Eielson
Carl Eielson
Carl Benjamin Eielson was an aviator, bush pilot and explorer.-Background:He was born in Hatton, North Dakota to Norwegian immigrants. His interest in aviation went back to his childhood. Following America’s entry into World War I, Eielson found his chance to become an aviator. Eielson learned to...
. Pilots from Selfridge Field and members of the Michigan National Guard
Michigan National Guard
The Michigan National Guard consists of the Michigan Army National Guard and the Michigan Air National Guard.-Units:Michigan Army National Guard units include:* Joint Forces Headquarters, Lansing, MI* 177th Military Police Brigade, Taylor, MI...
107th Observation Squadron
107th Fighter Squadron
The 107th Fighter Squadron is a Michigan National Guard Squadron based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. It is a part of the 127th Wing. Organized in 1925 as the Michigan National Guard's first flying unit, the squadron consisted of 20 officers and 90 enlisted men meeting weekly in a Detroit...
performed in an exhibition air show
Air show
An air show is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators in aerobatics. Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows"....
. A Stinson Detroiter
Stinson Detroiter
|-See also:...
plane arrived at the airport with Lansing's first air mail delivery on July 5, 1928. Mayor Laird J. Troyer, Chamber of Commerce President Alton J. Hager, and airport committee chairman Clyde B. Smith, among others, were present to witness the plane's arrival. Regular cargo service from Capital City Airport began on July 17, 1928, via Transamerican Airlines. That day pilot C.V. Pickup departed with five sacks of mail en route to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Lansing postmaster Walter G. Rogers was among those present to witness the event.
In 1929 J.D. Foster completed construction on a 60-by-120-foot, 7200 ft2 aircraft hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
, the first building in what would become known as the Francis Aviation Complex at Capital City Airport. By the end of the year, fixed-base operators Foster Airways, SKF Air Service, Inc., and Wolverine Flying Service, Ltd. had constructed hangars at the airport. Passenger service commenced on September 1, 1929, by Kohler Aviation Corp. to Detroit and Milwaukee. By 1934 Pennsylvania Airlines and Transport was providing air mail and passenger service to Detroit, Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, Muskegon
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
, and across Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. The Foster Hangar housed a flight school operated by Harvey Hughes from 1934 to 1936. In the late 1930s, Lansing aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, Lt Arthur J. Davis, operated Michigan Airways, Inc. out of the hangar.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Francis Aviation and Hughes Flying Service provided ground and flight training to 300 pilots per month as part of the U.S. Government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
's Civilian Pilot Training Program
Civilian Pilot Training Program
The Civilian Pilot Training Program was a flight training program sponsored by the United States government with the stated purpose of increasing the number of civilian pilots, though having a clear impact on military preparedness....
and War Training Service. The training included three weeks of instruction at Michigan State College
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
and continued at Capital City Airport.
The airport's original terminal
Airport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
building was constructed in 1940. The same year, a 100-by-100-foot concrete hangar and an adjoining office wing were completed at the west end of the airport. In addition, the airport acquired 67 acres (27.1 ha) of land adjoining the north side of the airport and runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
6/24 was extended by 1000 feet (304.8 m). Also in 1940 the airport unsuccessfully bid for an $8.4 million Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics was a U.S. federal agency founded on March 3, 1915 to undertake, promote, and institutionalize aeronautical research. On October 1, 1958 the agency was dissolved, and its assets and personnel transferred to the newly created National Aeronautics and...
.
1950s–1970s
Increasing demand for air service led to the construction of the current terminal building in 1959. The terminal has undergone several renovations and additions since then. In April 1967 a new $38,000 observation room opened in the terminal. The room allowed viewers to hear radio communications between the airplane pilots and control towerControl tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
through a loud speaker.
In the early 1960s, Lansing Community College
Lansing Community College
Lansing Community College is a two-year public college founded in 1957. The college's main campus is located on an urban, 42-acre site in downtown Lansing, Michigan spanning seven city blocks approximately two blocks from the state capital...
leased the Francis Aviation Complex at Capital City Airport. The college relocated to a new facility near the airport terminal in 1974. In 1963 Capital City Airport served over 100,000 passengers for the first time; by 1968 airport usage had surpassed 250,000 passengers. In April 1968 presidential candidate
United States presidential election, 1968
The United States presidential election of 1968 was the 46th quadrennial United States presidential election. Coming four years after Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson won in a historic landslide, it saw Johnson forced out of the race and Republican Richard Nixon elected...
and senator Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
landed at Capital City Airport. Later that year presidential candidate and senator George McGovern
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern is an historian, author, and former U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the Democratic Party nominee in the 1972 presidential election....
landed at the airport.
In 1970 Michigan Public Act 73 allowed the creation of the Capital Region Airport Authority, transferring jurisdiction of the airport from the State of Michigan to the Airport Authority. The airport's first surveillance radar
Airport Surveillance Radar
An airport surveillance radar is a radar system used at airports to detect and display the position of aircraft in the terminal area.-Digital Airport Surveillance Radar :...
was installed in 1973. By 1977 the approach lighting system
Approach Lighting System
An approach lighting system, or ALS, is a lighting system installed on the approach end of an airport runway and consisting of a series of lightbars, strobe lights, or a combination of the two that extends outward from the runway end...
and instrument landing system
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
for runway 10R was activated. From 1978 to 1991 fixed-base operator and aerial photography
Aerial photography
Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or...
company White Star Photography purchased and operated from the Francis Aviation Complex.
1980s–1990s
In 1980 a 5300 ft2 airport fire station was built. An air carrier terminal apronAirport ramp
The airport ramp or apron is part of an airport. It is usually the area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled or boarded. Although the use of the apron is covered by regulations, such as lighting on vehicles, it is typically more accessible to users than the runway or taxiway...
reconstruction followed in 1982. Between 1988 and 1990 runway 14/32 was decommissioned and became taxiway
Taxiway
A taxiway is a path on an airport connecting runways with ramps, hangars, terminals and other facilities. They mostly have hard surface such as asphalt or concrete, although smaller airports sometimes use gravel or grass....
F.
In January 1987 United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
announced that it was ending flights between Chicago O'Hare International Airport
O'Hare International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
(ORD) and Lansing on April 5, after nearly 56 years of service. United Express
United Express
United Express is a brand name under which eight regional airlines operate feeder flights for United Airlines. They primarily connect smaller cities with United's domestic hub airports and “focus cities,” although they offer some point-to-point service such as Sacramento to Eureka.As of Sept...
, operated by Air Wisconsin
Air Wisconsin
Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation is an airline based at Outagamie County Regional Airport in the town of Greenville, Wisconsin, United States, near Appleton. Air Wisconsin is the largest privately held regional airline in the United States...
, resumed the service to Chicago. In 1989 airport usage surpassed 500,000 passengers for the first time.
During the 1990s, the Francis Aviation Complex was demolished for airport expansion and for compliance with Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA) regulations. In 1992 a major renovation of the terminal building included the addition of 50000 ft2 to the facility. The following year the public parking lot was reconstructed and a new airport surveillance radar
Airport Surveillance Radar
An airport surveillance radar is a radar system used at airports to detect and display the position of aircraft in the terminal area.-Digital Airport Surveillance Radar :...
(ASR-9) was activated.
President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
landed at the airport aboard Air Force One
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft...
on July 22, 1999, to hold a forum on Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
at Lansing Community College.
Flight reductions
During the 2000s, Capital Region International Airport has seen the number of daily flights reduced from 35 to 12. In May 2000 American Eagle AirlinesAmerican Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
discontinued its flights to Chicago-O'Hare, eliminating five daily flights and 23 positions at the Lansing airport. Chicago Express/ATA Connection Airlines ended service from Lansing to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) in 2001. In October 2003 US Airways
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
ended daily flights to its Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
hub. Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
suspended its daily flights to Cleveland
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is a public airport located nine miles southwest of the central business district of Cleveland, a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The airport lies just within the city limits of Cleveland...
effective January 2004. In 2005 Midwest Connect
Midwest Connect
Midwest Connect was the brand name for the regional airline service of Midwest Airlines, rather than a certificated airline carrier. Skyway Airlines was the sole operator of Midwest Connect since its inception in 1989, until SkyWest Airlines began additional Midwest Connect service on April 1, 2007...
ended service to Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
General Mitchell International Airport
General Mitchell International Airport
General Mitchell International Airport is a county-owned public airport located five miles south of the central business district of Milwaukee, a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States....
(MKE). In September 2007 Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
announced three daily flights from Lansing to the airline's hub in Cleveland to begin in May 2008; however, rising fuel costs and the delay of terminal expansion plans at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) caused Continental to suspend these flights before they began. Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
announced in July 2008 that it was ending its three daily non-stop flights (via Comair
Comair
Comair is a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines headquartered on the grounds of Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport in unincorporated Boone County, Kentucky, United States, west of Erlanger, and south of Cincinnati, Ohio...
) from Lansing to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport , sometimes called the Greater Cincinnati Airport is located in Hebron, unincorporated Boone County, Kentucky, United States and serves the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. Despite being located in Boone County, the airport operations are...
(CVG) effective September 1, eliminating 26 jobs at Lansing's airport. Delta also offered non-stop flights (via Atlantic Southeast Airlines
Atlantic Southeast Airlines
Atlantic Southeast Airlines is an American airline based in the A-Tech Center in College Park, Georgia, flying to 144 destinations as a Delta Connection carrier and, as of February 2010, commenced service as a United Express carrier. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc. ASA operates...
) from Lansing to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) from 2005 to 2007.
Low cost airlines
Several low cost carriers offered service to and from Lansing, with varying degrees of success. In July 2003 Allegiant AirAllegiant Air
Allegiant Air is an American low-cost airline owned by Allegiant Travel Co. that operates scheduled and charter flights. Allegiant Travel Company is a publicly traded company with 1,300 employees and one billion USD market capitalization...
began offering nonstop flights from Lansing to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and...
(LAS). The addition of the low cost carrier enabled the average fare from Lansing to drop by 35 percent. Over the next few years, Allegiant added flights to Orlando-Sanford
Orlando Sanford International Airport
Orlando-Sanford International Airport is a public commercial air service airport in Sanford, Florida, near Orlando. It was originally constructed as a military installation known as Naval Air Station Sanford that was in operation as a Master Jet Base for carrier-based attack and reconnaissance...
(SFB) in May 2005 and St. Petersburg-Clearwater
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport
St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is a joint civil-military airport located in unincorporated Pinellas County, Florida, north of St. Petersburg, serving St...
(PIE) in December 2006. In November 2008 Allegiant announced that it would depart Lansing's airport and move to nearby Grand Rapids Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Gerald R. Ford International Airport is a commercial airport located approximately southeast of Grand Rapids, Michigan in Cascade Township. Originally called Kent County Airport and later Kent County International Airport; in December 1999 the airport was renamed for former resident Gerald R....
(GRR) effective January 2009, citing reduced competition from Detroit Metro Airport and financial incentives as the reasons for the move. In July 2004 Independence Air
Independence Air
Independence Air was a low-cost airline, owned by FLYi, Inc., headquartered in the Loudoun Gateway Corporate Center in Dulles, unincorporated Loudoun County, Virginia, United States that operated from 1989 until 2006. Its route network focused on the East Coast of the United States, but it also...
began nonstop flights from Lansing to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
's Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
(IAD). Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
soon followed with similar flights to Dulles. Up to 11 direct flights a day were offered from Lansing to Washington, D.C. between the two airlines, with some flights as low as $29. Independence Air left the Lansing market in January 2005, citing high fuel prices and heavy competition from Northwest. In June 2005 Northwest moved their Lansing flights from Dulles to Reagan National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport located south of downtown Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. It is the commercial airport nearest to Washington, D.C. For many decades, it was called Washington National Airport, but this airport was renamed in 1998 to...
(DCA). By January 2006 Northwest canceled this route, leaving Lansing with no direct flights to Washington, D.C. In March 2009 start-up carrier JetAmerica
JetAmerica
Sun America, Inc., d/b/a JetAmerica, was a proposed American low-cost scheduled public charter airline headquartered in unincorporated Pinellas County, Florida...
(previously known as Air Azul) announced direct flights starting in July 2009 between Lansing, Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, and Baltimore. However, after delaying the start of flights, the company folded on July 17 without operating a single flight.
International flights
There have been several attempts at establishing international passenger service at the airport. In April 2004 Laker Airways Bahamas Ltd.Laker Airways (Bahamas)
-History:Laker Airways was a US-registered airline based in the Bahamas to which Sir Freddie Laker lent his name and operational expertise. The airline was established in 1992 with financial assistance from Oscar Wyatt, a Texas oilman and business partner of Sir Freddie Laker. The initial fleet...
announced flights from Lansing to the Bahamas, with an intermediate stop at Rickenbacker International Airport
Rickenbacker International Airport
Rickenbacker International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located 10 miles south of the central business district of Columbus, near the village of Lockbourne in extreme southern Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The southern end of the airport extends into northern Pickaway...
(LCK) in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, to begin that fall. In January 2008 Kenny Tours announced non-stop flight
Non-stop flight
A non-stop flight, especially in the aviation industry, refers to any flight by an aircraft which does not involve any intermediate stops. A "direct flight" is not the same as a "non-stop flight"...
s from Lansing to Shannon, Ireland
Shannon Airport
Shannon Airport, is one of the Republic of Ireland's three primary airports along with Dublin and Cork. In 2010 around 1,750,000 passengers passed through the airport, making it the third busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland after Dublin and Cork, and the fifth busiest airport on the island...
, dubbed Shamrock Express, to begin in June 2008. In both cases, the service was canceled before flights began. Apple Vacations announced in July 2009 that starting in December they will offer weekly seasonal flights to Cancún, Mexico
Cancún International Airport
Cancún International Airport is located in Cancún, Quintana Roo, on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It is Mexico's second busiest airport, after Mexico City International Airport in Mexico City, but the biggest in Mexico and Latin America for International passengers...
on USA3000 Airlines. These are the first non-stop international flights from Lansing.
Facility upgrades and closures
In January 2008 Capital Region International Airport was designated as an International Port of Entry into the United States, with Customs and Border ProtectionU.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs and immigration. CBP is the...
officers on duty to process international passengers and air freight. By May 2009 a new 14000 ft2 federal inspection station opened in the terminal, capable of processing 200 passengers per hour.
In November 2008 a 500 feet (152.4 m) extension to the largest of the three runways — now 8506 feet (2,592.6 m) — was completed to allow for larger aircraft to use the airport. The $9.9 million project required the temporary closure of nearby DeWitt Road.
In March 2009 the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
announced the planned consolidation of radar control for Lansing's airport, as well as that of airports in Grand Rapids
Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Gerald R. Ford International Airport is a commercial airport located approximately southeast of Grand Rapids, Michigan in Cascade Township. Originally called Kent County Airport and later Kent County International Airport; in December 1999 the airport was renamed for former resident Gerald R....
and Muskegon
Muskegon County Airport
Muskegon County Airport is a public airport located four miles south of the city of Muskegon in Norton Shores, Michigan, USA. The airport has two runways. It is mostly used for general aviation but is also served by United Express flying CRJ-200 regional jets to its Chicago-O'Hare hub...
, to nearby Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport in 2013. The cost saving move will occur upon completion of Kalamazoo Airport's new air traffic control tower (TRACON
Terminal Control Center
A terminal radar approach control is an air traffic control facility usually located within the vicinity of a large airport. Typically, the TRACON controls aircraft within a 20-50 nautical mile radius of the major airport and a number of "satellite airports" between surface and up to between and...
). Despite the consolidation, each airport will still maintain its own air traffic control tower.
In November 2009 Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
, operator of the flight service station
Flight service station
A Flight Service Station is an air traffic facility that provides information and services to aircraft pilots before, during, and after flights, but unlike air traffic control , is not responsible for giving instructions or clearances or providing separation...
located at Capital Region International Airport, announced the closing of the service station, effective February 2010. The Lansing station is one of 13 to close nationwide and provides 25 jobs and $120,000 in annual rent to the airport.
2010s
A Concierge Travel Center opened at the airport in May 2010, offering the ability to book airline tickets, cruisesCruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
, tours, car rentals, and hotel rooms. In June 2010 Apple Vacations and Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
MN Airlines, LLC, operating as Sun Country Airlines, is an American low-cost airline headquartered in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb of Mendota Heights, Minnesota...
announced seasonal flights to Cancún, Mexico
Cancún International Airport
Cancún International Airport is located in Cancún, Quintana Roo, on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It is Mexico's second busiest airport, after Mexico City International Airport in Mexico City, but the biggest in Mexico and Latin America for International passengers...
(CUN); Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ/MKJS); Fort Myers
Southwest Florida International Airport
-Statistics:-Accidents and incidents:* November 28, 2007 - A single-engine fixed wing aircraft crashed about 9:20 a.m. one mile west of Runway 6. The crash killed the pilot...
(RSW); Orlando
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
(MCO); and Las Vegas
McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and...
(LAS) beginning in December.
In October 2010 the airport was awarded a U.S. Department of Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
Small Community Air Service Development grant, worth $750,000, to help reestablish nonstop flights from Lansing to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
These grants are designed to promote air service development from smaller markets. Washington, D.C. is the number one end destination from Lansing, according to the Capital Region Airport Authority. In December Sun Country Airlines announced that it would offer non-stop flights from Lansing to Minneapolis (MSP) and Washington-Reagan National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport located south of downtown Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. It is the commercial airport nearest to Washington, D.C. For many decades, it was called Washington National Airport, but this airport was renamed in 1998 to...
(DCA) beginning in April 2011. The announcement followed the airline being awarded two landing slots at the Washington, D.C. airport by the USDOT
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
. The Minneapolis route is expected to reduce the fares from Lansing-Minneapolis an average of 34 percent, and the Washington, D.C. flights reduced by an average of 21 percent.
In May 2011 Apple Vacations and Sun Country Airlines announced seasonal weekly flights to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Punta Cana International Airport
Punta Cana International Airport is a privately owned commercial airport in Punta Cana, eastern Dominican Republic. The airport is built in a traditional Dominican style with open-air terminals with their roofs covered in palm fronds. built the Punta Cana International Airport in 1984. A number...
(PUJ/MDPC) beginning in December and discontinued flights to Fort Myers and Las Vegas. In July 2011 Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
announced that its flight-training program would begin operating out of the Lansing airport in September, coinciding with the elimination of Lansing Community College's aviation flight program. The Transportation Security Administration
Transportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States....
(TSA) installed a full-body millimeter wave scanner
Millimeter wave scanner
A millimeter wave scanner is a whole–body imaging device used for detecting objects concealed underneath a person’s clothing. Typical uses for this technology include detection of items for commercial loss prevention, smuggling and screening at government buildings and airport security...
at the airport in October.
Current and future development
The Mid-Michigan Business Travel Coalition, Inc., formerly the Lansing Regional Business Travel Trust, was formed by the Airport Authority and the Lansing Regional Chamber of CommerceChamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
in 2004. A coalition of the local business, education, and government community, the Travel Coalition seeks to promote the airport through negotiations with air carriers and area promotions.
In January 2011 the airport, city of Lansing, and DeWitt Township announced the establishment of the Lansing Aerotropolis
Aerotropolis
An aerotropolis is an urban form whose layout, infrastructure, and economy is centered on an airport, offering its businesses speedy connectivity to suppliers, customers, and enterprise partners worldwide. Many of these businesses are much more dependent on distant suppliers or customers than to...
, designed to encourage economic development within 1 miles (1.6 km) of the airport. The plan includes a 50-year 425
425 Agreement
The legislature of the State of Michigan enacted Public Act 425 of 1984 which is also known by the title Intergovernmental Conditional Transfer Of Property By Contract Act. It became effective March 29, 1985 and was subsequently amended in 1998...
land, tax, and services agreement between the city and township.
Master Plan
The airport's most recent Master PlanComprehensive planning
Comprehensive planning is a term used in the United States by land use planners to describe a process that determines community goals and aspirations in terms of community development. The outcome of comprehensive planning is the Comprehensive Plan which dictates public policy in terms of...
was released in December 2006. The Plan identifies four major goals for the airport: Retain and expand scheduled passenger flights, increase charter
Air charter
Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft as opposed to individual aircraft seats...
operations, increase corporate and general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
activities, and increase cargo
Cargo airline
Cargo airlines are airlines dedicated to the transport of cargo. Some cargo airlines are divisions or subsidiaries of larger passenger airlines.-Logistics:...
activities. In order to achieve these goals, the airport over the long term endeavors to, among other things:
- Construct a new terminal building at the airport
- Interim terminal improvements including additional passenger loading bridges, rental car, and baggage claimBaggage claimIn airport terminals, a baggage claim area is an area where arriving passengers claim checked-in baggage after disembarking from an airline flight. The alternative term baggage reclaim is used to mean the same thing at many airports outside the USA In airport terminals, a baggage claim area is an...
facilities, and passenger security screeningAirport securityAirport security refers to the techniques and methods used in protecting airports and aircraft from crime.Large numbers of people pass through airports. This presents potential targets for terrorism and other forms of crime due to the number of people located in a particular location...
improvements - Construct a new control towerControl towerA control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
- Construct a new 9000 feet (2,743.2 m) runway and connector taxiway to replace the existing 10L/28R runway
- Extend the existing 6/24 runway to 7785 feet (2,372.9 m)
- Expand vehicle parking lotParking lotA parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
parking areas - Local road improvements for better access to nearby freeway I-69Interstate 69 in MichiganInterstate 69 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that currently runs from Indianapolis, Indiana, to the US–Canadian border at Port Huron, Michigan. In Michigan, it is a state trunkline highway that enters the state south of Coldwater and passes through the cities of Lansing and Flint...
- Expand the existing business parkBusiness parkA business park or office park is an area of land in which many office buildings are grouped together. All of the work that goes on is commercial, not industrial or residential....
at the airport - Cargo and sort facility expansions
- T-hangar and access taxiway expansions for general aviationGeneral aviationGeneral aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
Port Lansing
The airport received U.S. Port of EntryPort of entry
In general, a port of entry is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has a staff of people who check passports and visas and inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a...
status in January 2008. The name "Port Lansing
Port Lansing
Port Lansing is a United States Port of Entry located at Capital Region International Airport, adjacent to Lansing, Michigan. The Port allows passengers and cargo to clear customs through a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Federal Inspection Station....
" reflects this designation. Capital City Airport was renamed "Capital Region International Airport" to emphasize the Port of Entry status. By June an interim U.S. Customs
United States Customs Service
Until March 2003, the United States Customs Service was an agency of the U.S. federal government that collected import tariffs and performed other selected border security duties.Before it was rolled into form part of the U.S...
Inspection Station was established. To promote increased international commerce in and around the airport, a Foreign Trade Zone
Foreign trade zone
A foreign-trade zone in the United States is a geographical area, in United States Ports of Entry Ports of Entry, where commercial merchandise, both domestic and foreign receives the same Customs treatment it would if it were outside the commerce of the United States...
was activated, effective August 24, 2009. The Foreign Trade Zone includes 840 acre of property near the terminal and runways. The trade zone allows goods to be delivered there duty free
Duty (economics)
In economics, a duty is a kind of tax, often associated with customs, a payment due to the revenue of a state, levied by force of law. It is a tax on certain items purchased abroad...
— with reduced, deferred, or eliminated customs fees — providing a competitive advantage to companies doing business within the trade zone. According to the Airport Authority, the airport has over 100 acre of land available for immediate development.
Facilities and operations
Capital Region International Airport covers 2160 acre. Located at the boundary of three counties, most of the airport lies in DeWitt Township (Clinton CountyClinton County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,753 people, 23,653 households, and 17,976 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 24,630 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
), with small portions in Watertown Township
Watertown Township, Clinton County, Michigan
Watertown Charter Township is a charter township of Clinton County, United States in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,836 in the 2010 census, an increase from 4,162 in 2000.-Communities:...
(Clinton County), Delta Township
Delta Charter Township, Michigan
Delta Charter Township, officially known as the Charter Township of Delta and commonly known as simply Delta Township, is a charter township of Eaton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 32,408. Delta Township is currently the fourth largest...
(Eaton County
Eaton County, Michigan
Eaton County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 107,759. The county seat is Charlotte. Eaton County was named for John Eaton, who was Secretary of War under U.S. President Andrew Jackson, making it one of Michigan's Cabinet counties...
), and the city of Lansing (Ingham County
Ingham County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 279,320 people, 108,593 households, and 63,744 families residing in the county. The population density was 500 people per square mile . There were 115,056 housing units at an average density of 206 per square mile...
).
Terminal
The current terminal building, constructed in 1959, is 161500 ft2 and has four floors. The lower two floors are passenger levels. The third floor houses the airport's administrative offices and the fourth floor contains the control tower. The terminal has nine gates, including six jetways. Located in the terminal is the Capital Market, a gift shopGift shop
A gift shop is a store primarily selling souvenirs relating to a particular topic or theme. The items sold often include coffee mugs, stuffed animals, t-shirts, postcards, handmade collections and other souvenirs....
featuring many items unique to mid-Michigan
Central Michigan
Central Michigan, often called Mid Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Southern Michigan can be considered as a subregion of Central Michigan. As its name implies, it is the central area of the Lower Peninsula. Lower Michigan is said to resemble a mitten, and...
. Café Lan, on the first level of the terminal, is a full service restaurant and grill serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Concierge Travel Center offers the ability to book airline tickets, cruises, hotels, tours, foreign currency exchange, and limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
rentals. The Spartan Pub, on the second level, is a cocktail bar and coffee shop (serving Biggby Coffee brand) with a deli menu. A business center is located near gate 6, and it provides complimentary wireless
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
(SSID
Service set (802.11 network)
A service set is all the devices associated with a local or enterprise IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network .-Service set identifier :...
"CRAA") Internet access.
Aeronautics
The Michigan Department of TransportationMichigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation is a constitutional government agency in the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate, US and state highways in Michigan with the exception of the Mackinac...
Bureau of Aeronautics and Freight Services is located along the airport's southeast ramp
Airport ramp
The airport ramp or apron is part of an airport. It is usually the area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled or boarded. Although the use of the apron is covered by regulations, such as lighting on vehicles, it is typically more accessible to users than the runway or taxiway...
. The Michigan State Transportation Commission meets at the airport monthly; the Michigan Aeronautics Commission meets at the airport bimonthly.
Runways
Capital Region International Airport has three runways:- Runway 10R/28L: 8506 feet (2,592.6 m) x 150 feet (45.7 m), Surface: Asphalt, grooved, ILSInstrument Landing SystemAn instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
equipped - Runway 6/24: 5002 feet (1,524.6 m) x 120 feet (36.6 m), Surface: Asphalt/Concrete, grooved
- Runway 10L/28R: 3601 feet (1,097.6 m) x 75 feet (22.9 m), Surface: Asphalt
Parking
The airport has both short and long term parking lots, with a combined capacity of 1,500 parking spaces. There is a 15 minute grace period in the short term parking lot. The short term lot is closer to the terminal building, though the long term lot generally provides lower rates. Several area hotels participate in the airport's "Park and Fly" program, in that they offer special room rates and free shuttle service for airport patrons.Aircraft operations
For the 12-month period ending November 30, 2010, the airport had 43,093 total aircraft operations (a 7 percent decrease from 2008 and a 48 percent decrease from 2007), with an average of 118 per day. 63% of the aircraft operations were general aviationGeneral aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
, 33% were air taxi
Air taxi
An air taxi is an air charter passenger or cargo aircraft which operates on an on-demand basis.-Regulation:In the United States, air taxi and air charter operations are governed by Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations , unlike the larger scheduled air carriers which are governed by more...
, 2% were scheduled commercial
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
, and 2% were military
Military aircraft
A military aircraft is any fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft that is operated by a legal or insurrectionary armed service of any type. Military aircraft can be either combat or non-combat:...
. Of the 82 aircraft based at the airport, 66% were single engine
Aircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
, 26% were multi-engine, 5% were jet aircraft
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
, and the remaining were helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s and military aircraft.
Passenger aircraft landings dropped from 12,224 in 2000 to 3,623 in 2009, according to the Capital Region Airport Authority.
| Year | | Departure % | | Arrival % | % canceled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 84% | 76% | 3.3% |
| 2006 | 81% | 73% | 3.5% |
| 2007 | 76% | 69% | 5.2% |
| 2008 | 78% | 72% | 4.5% |
| 2009 | 87% | 81% | 2.7% |
| 2010 | 85% | 77% | 3.1% |
Airlines and destinations
The following passenger airlines fly to and from Capital Region International Airport:The majority of passenger flights serving the airport are on CRJ200 regional airliner
Regional airliner
A regional airliner or a feederliner is a small airliner designed to fly up to 100 passengers on short-haul flights, usually feeding larger carriers' hubs from small markets. This class of airliners are typically flown by the regional airlines that are either contracted by or subsidiaries of the...
s; some flights are on Embraer ERJ 145
Embraer ERJ 145 family
The Embraer ERJ 145 family is a series of regional jets produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. Family members include the ERJ 135 , ERJ 140 , and ERJ 145 , as well as the Legacy business jet and the R-99 family of military aircraft. The ERJ 145 is the largest of the group...
aircraft. Sun Country Airlines flights are on Boeing 737–700 and Boeing 737–800 aircraft.
Passenger statistics
The peak year for passenger activity at Capital Region International Airport was in 1997 with 720,365 total passengers.EWLINE
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EWLINE
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EWLINE
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Competition
Capital Region International Airport competes with nearby Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County AirportDetroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport....
(DTW), Grand Rapids Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Gerald R. Ford International Airport is a commercial airport located approximately southeast of Grand Rapids, Michigan in Cascade Township. Originally called Kent County Airport and later Kent County International Airport; in December 1999 the airport was renamed for former resident Gerald R....
(GRR), and the recent growth of Flint Bishop International Airport
Bishop International Airport
Bishop International Airport is an airport located in the city of Flint, Michigan. The third busiest airport in Michigan, it surpassed competitor MBS International Airport in terms of airline operations in 2002. In 2007, 1,072,420 passengers used Bishop Airport, followed by a slight drop to...
(FNT). In addition, the Michigan Flyer provides motorcoach service roundtrip from nearby East Lansing to Detroit Metro Airport eight times daily. In 2006 the Capital Region Airport Authority estimated that the airport lost approximately 162,000 passengers that year to nearby competing airports. The airport lost about $53 million in annual revenue as a result of the passenger losses. According to the Airport Authority, a January 2010 leakage study found that 550,000 of the 873,000 airline tickets sold from mid-Michigan in 2009 were to travelers using other Michigan airports: 45% of travelers flew (originated) from Detroit Metro Airport, 37% from Lansing, 8% from Grand Rapids, and 7.6% from Flint. This resulted in an economic loss
Pure economic loss
Economic loss refers to financial loss and damage suffered by a person such as can be seen only on a balance sheet rather than as physical injury to the person or destruction of property...
of $108 million to the Mid-Michigan region. The lost revenue to Lansing's airport was approximately $17 million.
In March 2009 the Lansing State Journal
Lansing State Journal
The Lansing State Journal is a daily newspaper published in Lansing, Michigan owned by Gannett.-Overview:The Lansing State Journal is the sole daily newspaper published in metropolitan Lansing...
cited a 2008 Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
study finding that passengers out of Capital Region International Airport feel the airport is convenient to use, but more than two-thirds of those surveyed also flew from other Michigan airports during the previous year. This is despite 84% of passengers being satisfied with the airline service offered at Lansing's airport, a drop from 93% passenger satisfaction in 2002. The 2008 study noted that 49% of travelers thought Lansing's airport was more expensive to fly out of than Detroit Metropolitan Airport; 13% of travelers thought Lansing was less expensive. The same study in 2002 found that 41% of travelers thought that Lansing was more expensive to fly out of than Detroit, and 14% thought Lansing was less expensive.
Forbes Magazine in February 2009 ranked Capital Region International Airport tied for the 18th most expensive airport to fly from in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with an average fare of 35¢ per mile. The magazine ranked two other Michigan airports as more expensive. Cherry Capital Airport
Cherry Capital Airport
Cherry Capital Airport is a public-use airport located two nautical miles south of the central business district of Traverse City, in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, United States...
(TVC) in Traverse City
Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,674 at the 2010 census, with 143,372 in the Traverse...
was ranked second (41¢ per mile), and MBS International Airport
MBS International Airport
MBS International Airport is located in Freeland, Michigan, serving the nearby cities of Midland, Bay City, and Saginaw. It was formerly named Tri City Airport or Freeland Tri-City Airport...
(MBS) northwest of Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
was tied for the 11th most expensive airport in the country (36¢ per mile).
An April 2011 New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
study determined that the average fare from Capital Region International Airport was overpriced by $117. The regression analysis
Regression analysis
In statistics, regression analysis includes many techniques for modeling and analyzing several variables, when the focus is on the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables...
, based on third quarter 2010 data from the USDOT
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics , as part of the United States Department of Transportation, compiles, analyzes, and makes accessible information on the nation's transportation systems; collects information on intermodal transportation and other areas as needed; and improves the quality and...
, considered factors such as market size and average distance to destination. Fares at other Michigan airports were overpriced to a lesser extent: MBS airport by $114, Detroit Metro by $25, and Grand Rapids by $9; Flint airport was underpriced by $42. Kalamazoo airport fares were overpriced by $187.
| Year | | Lansing (LAN) | | Detroit (DTW) | | Grand Rapids (GRR) | | Flint (FNT) | | Kalamazoo (AZO) | | Saginaw (MBS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | $370.61 | $322.83 | $413.74 | $298.89 | $472.93 | $441.26 |
| 2007 | $364.39 | $307.29 | $420.68 | $281.37 | $471.01 | $441.08 |
| 2008 | $397.75 | $334.18 | $463.96 | $314.89 | $517.32 | $481.39 |
| 2009 | $434.59 | $313.67 | $409.85 | $275.23 | $500.55 | $434.69 |
| 2010 | $482.76 | $353.75 | $377.29 | $298.40 | $563.92 | $470.47 |
Airports included are within 100 miles (160.9 km) or a 100 minute drive of LAN. Source: Airline Origin & Destination Survey, RITA
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
The Research and Innovative Technology Administration is a unit of the United States Department of Transportation . It was created in 2005 to advance transportation science, technology, and analysis, and to improve the coordination of transportation research within the Department and throughout...
, Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics , as part of the United States Department of Transportation, compiles, analyzes, and makes accessible information on the nation's transportation systems; collects information on intermodal transportation and other areas as needed; and improves the quality and...
, USDOT
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
Cargo
Cargo tenants at Capital Region International Airport moved 41022051 pounds (18,607,289.3 kg) of cargo in 2010.- MartinaireMartinaireFor the Dutch airline, see Martinair.Martinaire Aviation, L.L.C. is an American cargo airline based on the grounds of Addison Airport in Addison, Texas, USA, near Dallas. It operates feeder flights for overnight package delivery services, including UPS and DHL...
offers scheduled and on demand air freight feeder services. In October 2006 Martinaire acquired a hangar facility at the airport. - UPS AirlinesUPS AirlinesUPS Airlines is an American cargo airline owned by United Parcel Service Inc. . The company is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Its home airport is located at Louisville International Airport...
is a worldwide cargo carrier owned by United Parcel ServiceUnited Parcel ServiceUnited Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
. The majority of cargo flights are on Airbus A300Airbus A300The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS...
F4-600 aircraft. - Superior AviationSuperior AviationSuperior Aviation is an American airline based in Lansing, Michigan, USA. It was established in 1979 and operates scheduled passenger services, passenger and cargo charter flights and aircraft sales and maintenance...
provides aircraft sales, maintenance, IFR certifications, flight training, and 24 hour air charter services.
Cargo statistics
The peak year for total cargo activity at Capital Region International Airport was in 2007 with 65415031 pounds (29,671,758.9 kg) of cargo.| Year | Total Cargo (lbs) | % change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 64,844,276 | +5.3% |
| 2001 | 52,756,663 | −18.6% |
| 2002 | 49,997,799 | −5.2% |
| 2003 | 50,106,933 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 52,791,955 | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 54,340,061 | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 60,057,174 | +10.5% |
| 2007 | 65,415,031 | +8.9% |
| 2008 | 53,341,818 | −18.5% |
| 2009 | 42,045,568 | −21.2% |
| 2010 | 41,022,051 | −2.4% |
General and corporate aviation
Capital Region International Airport is served by two fixed-base operators.- AvFlight provides charter, cargo, and freight services as well as aircraft maintenance. They operate a 24-hour facility at the airport with satellite weather, deicing, and fuel services.
- Beacon Aviation offers aircraft maintenance, inspections, and avionics certification, services, and autopilot installations.
The Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
Eagle Flight Centre, located at the southwest end of the airport, offers flight-training programs.
In addition to nearby Mason Jewett Field
Mason Jewett Field
Mason Jewett Field is a public use airport located one nautical mile southeast of the central business district of Mason, in Ingham County, Michigan, United States. It is owned and operated by the Capital Region Airport Authority, which also oversees the nearby Capital Region International...
(TEW) located 15 miles (24.1 km) southeast, other local general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
airports include University Airpark
University Airpark
University Airpark is a general aviation airport located west northwest of Bath, Michigan in Clinton County, Michigan, USA. Nearby Lansing Capital Region International Airport is located southwest.-Transit:...
(41G) 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast in Bath Township
Bath Township, Michigan
Bath Charter Township is a charter township of Clinton County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 11,598, an increase from 7,541 in 2000...
and Abrams Municipal Airport
Abrams Municipal Airport
Abrams Municipal Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles north of the central business district of Grand Ledge, a city in Clinton County, Michigan, United States...
(4D0) 6 miles (9.7 km) west in Watertown Township
Watertown Township, Clinton County, Michigan
Watertown Charter Township is a charter township of Clinton County, United States in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,836 in the 2010 census, an increase from 4,162 in 2000.-Communities:...
, Michigan.
Ground transportation
- Lansing's airport is accessible by road from Grand River Avenue to the south (main entrance), Airport Road from the west, and DeWitt Road from the east. The airport is close to freeways I-69 (exits 84, 85), I-96 (exit 90), I-496 (exit 3), and U.S. Route 127U.S. Route 127U.S. Route 127 is a long north–south United States highway in the eastern half of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 27 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The northern terminus is at Interstate 75 near Grayling, Michigan...
(exit 82B). From downtown Lansing, follow westbound Business Route 96 (BR-96)Business routes of Interstate 96There have been five business routes for Interstate 96 in the state of Michigan. Of these, only the business loops in Lansing and Howell are still currently designated...
to the airport. - Capital Area Transportation AuthorityCapital Area Transportation AuthorityThe Capital Area Transportation Authority provides mass transit bus service and paratransit within the metro Lansing, Michigan area including Michigan State University .- CATA system :...
(CATA) Bus Route 14 runs between the airport and downtown Lansing. To get to East LansingEast Lansing, MichiganEast Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
or the Michigan State UniversityMichigan State UniversityMichigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
campus, riders may transfer from the Lansing downtown end of Route 14 onto Route 1, Route 4, or Route 15. - A CSX TransportationCSX TransportationCSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
rail lineRail transportRail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
is located at the south end of the airport. The railroad runs from Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
to DetroitDetroit, MichiganDetroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. - Both short term and long term parking are available at lots close to the terminal building, as well as several car rentalCar rentalA car rental or car hire agency is a company that rents automobiles for short periods of time for a fee...
agencies.
Incidents and accidents
On July 17, 1985, a single-engine plane, piloted by a passenger, landed at the airport after the pilot suffered a fatal heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. The plane, which departed from Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
, incurred a damaged nose
Nose cone
The term nose cone is used to refer to the forwardmost section of a rocket, guided missile or aircraft. The cone is shaped to offer minimum aerodynamic resistance...
and blown tire upon landing. The pilot of a nearby plane flew alongside and guided the troubled aircraft to the airport.
In February 1988 Kenneth Hasson, of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, was arrested for bringing 30 pounds (13.6 kg) of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, worth $11 million, through the airport. Hasson and an accomplice were sentenced to life terms in prison.
On May 20, 1990, a Piper PA-28-181
Piper Cherokee
The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of light aircraft designed for flight training, air taxi, and personal use. It is built by Piper Aircraft....
crashed in East Lansing
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
on approach to the Lansing airport, fatally wounding the pilot. The single-engine plane, en route from Mason, Michigan
Mason Jewett Field
Mason Jewett Field is a public use airport located one nautical mile southeast of the central business district of Mason, in Ingham County, Michigan, United States. It is owned and operated by the Capital Region Airport Authority, which also oversees the nearby Capital Region International...
, encountered instrument problems and cloudy conditions.
On February 11, 1991, a Glasair
Glasair Aviation
Glasair Aviation, LLC is an aircraft manufacturer based in Arlington, Washington that produces the Glasair and Sportsman 2+2 line of homebuilt aircraft.-History:...
3 two-passenger plane skidded off a runway into a field after experiencing problems with the landing gear. The plane caught fire; however, the pilot and passenger were not injured.
On August 23, 1991, about 250 hamsters and gerbils shipped from Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
chewed through packing boxes, escaped, and scattered throughout Lansing's airport.
On September 27, 1993, a Midwest Flying Service Aero Commander 690A twin-engine turbo prop crashed near Lansing en route to Battle Creek, Michigan (BTL) shortly after take off. The plane was experiencing electrical problems and reportedly changed direction and altitude continually before colliding with trees. The crew of two was killed.
On June 6, 1996, Continental Express
Continental Express
Continental Express is the operating brand name used by a number of independently owned regional airlines providing regional jet feeder service under agreement with Continental Airlines...
flight 3123 from Cleveland
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is a public airport located nine miles southwest of the central business district of Cleveland, a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The airport lies just within the city limits of Cleveland...
sustained minor damage from a small cockpit fire en route to Lansing. The Beech 1900
Beechcraft 1900
The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop airplane manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of the Raytheon Company . It was designed, and is primarily used, as a regional airliner...
aircraft landed safely in Lansing with no injuries to the two crew and 16 passengers.
On November 24, 2004, Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
Flight 1933 from Detroit
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport....
slid off the runway into a field. The flight had been delayed due to inclement weather. No injuries were reported.
On July 22, 2007, Northwest Flight 619 to Minneapolis had to return to Lansing after takeoff due to smoke appearing in the cockpit. No injuries were reported.
On April 18, 2008, a Beech twin-engine airplane flying from Tomahawk, Wisconsin
Tomahawk, Wisconsin
Tomahawk is a city in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,346 at the 2010 census. The city is located to the northeast of the Town of Tomahawk and is not contiguous with it.-History:...
, sustained heavy damage when its landing gear retracted while landing. No serious injuries to the pilot and passenger were reported.
On July 5, 2009, a Cessna
Cessna
The Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
single-engine airplane made an emergency landing after circling the airport for 45 minutes due to faulty landing gear
Undercarriage
The undercarriage or landing gear in aviation, is the structure that supports an aircraft on the ground and allows it to taxi, takeoff and land...
. The plane was damaged; the pilot and two passengers were not injured.
On February 14, 2010, Delta Connection
Delta Connection
Delta Connection is the name under which a number of individually owned regional airlines and one wholly owned regional carrier operate short and medium haul routes in association with Delta Air Lines Inc...
flight 3679 with 35 passengers returned to the airport terminal after a passenger became unruly and tried to exit the plane while taxiing prior to takeoff. The Bombardier CRJ200
Bombardier CRJ200
The Bombardier CRJ100 and CRJ200 are a family of regional airliner manufactured by Bombardier, and based on the Canadair Challenger business jet.-Development:...
, en route to Detroit, was delayed for three hours. The passenger was detained by airport police and Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
agents.
On June 10, 2010, a Transportation Security Administration
Transportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States....
(TSA) official noticed a deceased person in a vehicle parked in the airport's long term parking lot. The driver, a victim of a suicide, parked the vehicle on February 25 and was not in plain view.
See also
- List of Airports in Michigan
- Port LansingPort LansingPort Lansing is a United States Port of Entry located at Capital Region International Airport, adjacent to Lansing, Michigan. The Port allows passengers and cargo to clear customs through a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Federal Inspection Station....
- Port of Entry
- Foreign Trade ZoneForeign trade zoneA foreign-trade zone in the United States is a geographical area, in United States Ports of Entry Ports of Entry, where commercial merchandise, both domestic and foreign receives the same Customs treatment it would if it were outside the commerce of the United States...
- Lansing, Michigan Transportation
- Mason Jewett FieldMason Jewett FieldMason Jewett Field is a public use airport located one nautical mile southeast of the central business district of Mason, in Ingham County, Michigan, United States. It is owned and operated by the Capital Region Airport Authority, which also oversees the nearby Capital Region International...
External links
- Port Lansing (official site)
- Capital Region Airport Authority
- Mid-Michigan Business Travel Coalition
- Capital Region International Airport at city-data.com at Michigan DOT Airport Directory
-
- OpenNav airspace and charts for KLAN