Capital Region International Airport , formerly Lansing Capital City Airport, is a public,
Class C airport located northwest of downtown
Lansing
Lansing () is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mostly in Ingham County, although portions of the city extend west into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. The 2020 census placed the city's population at 112,644, makin ...
in a portion of
DeWitt Township,
Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
that has been annexed to the
City of Lansing via
Public Act 425. Small areas of the airport are located in
Watertown Township, and
Delta Township. It is included in the
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...
(FAA)
National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) is an inventory of U.S. aviation infrastructure assets. NPIAS was developed and now maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
It identifies existing and proposed airports tha ...
for 2017–2021, in which it is
categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.
The airport is owned and operated by the Capital Region Airport Authority, an eight-member governing board. Three members represent
Ingham County
Ingham County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 284,900. The county seat is Mason. Lansing, the state capital of Michigan, is largely located within the county. (Lansing is the only ...
and three members represent the City of Lansing. Two
ex officio member
An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by right ...
s represent
Eaton County
Eaton County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 109,175. The county seat is Charlotte. The county was organized in 1837 and was named for John Eaton, who was Secretary of War under ...
and
Clinton County Clinton County may refer to:
*Counties named for George Clinton, first and third Governor of New York, and later the fourth Vice President of the United States:
**Clinton County, New York
** Clinton County, Ohio
*Counties named for DeWitt Clinton, ...
.
[About CRAA](_blank)
FlyLansing.com. Retrieved March 16, 2011 The Airport Authority also oversees nearby
Jewett Field (TEW) in
Mason.
[Ingham County]
Capital Region International Airport Authority
, Ingham.org. Retrieved July 6, 2012
The Airport Authority reported 180,385 scheduled passengers and 8,085 charter passengers flew to or from the airport in 2021.
History
Early 1900s
The first recorded flight in Lansing took place on October 15, 1911 at an old racecourse (later the Red Cedar Golf Course). More than 20,000 spectators watched pilot
Jimmy Ward perform stunts in the ''Shooting Star'', his
Curtiss biplane
The 1911 Curtiss Model D (or frequently "Curtiss Pusher") was an early United States pusher aircraft with the engine and propeller behind the pilot's seat. It was among the first aircraft in the world to be built in any quantity, during an era ...
.
In 1919, the first airfield in Lansing opened approximately west of downtown. The second airfield opened the following year south of downtown. From 1922 to 1926, Lansing's airport was ''Creyts Field'', located west of the current airport. The field was operated by
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, 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 ad ...
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 state-owned hayfield and marsh (known as Chandler's Marsh), originally planned to be a boys' vocational school.
The first planes flew from the site northwest of Lansing on May 1, 1926.
The formal dedication of Capital City Airport was held on the weekend of July 14–15, 1928, and was attended by 70,000 people, including
arctic explorer George Hubert Wilkins
Sir George Hubert Wilkins MC & Bar (31 October 188830 November 1958), commonly referred to as Captain Wilkins, was an Australian polar explorer, ornithologist, pilot, soldier, geographer and photographer. He was awarded the Military Cross afte ...
and aviator
Carl Eielson
Carl Benjamin "Ben" Eielson (July 20, 1897 – November 9, 1929) was an American aviator, bush pilot and explorer. Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska is named in his honor.
In 1997 Carl Ben Eielson was inducted into the North Dakota Aviation Ha ...
. Pilots from
Selfridge Field
Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens. Selfridge Field was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the Unit ...
and members of the
Michigan National Guard
The Michigan National Guard consists of the Michigan Army National Guard and the Michigan Air National Guard. The State adjutant general is Major general Paul D. Rogers.
Units
Michigan Army National Guard units include:
* Recruiting Office: Bay ...
107th Observation Squadron
The 107th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Michigan Air National Guard 127th Wing. It is assigned to Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan and is equipped with the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft.
The squadron is a de ...
performed in an exhibition
air show
An air show (or airshow, air fair, air tattoo) is a public event where aircraft are exhibited.
They often include aerobatics demonstrations, without they are called "static air shows" with aircraft parked on the ground.
The largest air show m ...
.
A
Stinson Detroiter
The Stinson Detroiter was a six-seat cabin airliner for passengers or freight designed and built by the Stinson Aircraft Syndicate, later the ''Stinson Aircraft Corporation''. Two distinct designs used the Detroiter name, a biplane and a monopla ...
plane arrived at the airport with Lansing's first
air mail
Airmail (or air mail) is a mail transport service branded and sold on the basis of at least one leg of its journey being by air. Airmail items typically arrive more quickly than surface mail, and usually cost more to send. Airmail may be the ...
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. 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, aircraft
hangar
A hangar is a building or structure designed to hold aircraft or spacecraft. Hangars are built of metal, wood, or concrete. The word ''hangar'' comes from Middle French ''hanghart'' ("enclosure near a house"), of Germanic origin, from Frankish ...
, 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 operator
A fixed-base operator (FBO) is an organization granted the right by an airport to operate at the airport and provide aeronautical services such as fueling, hangaring, tie-down and parking, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance, flight instruction, ...
s 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
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...
. By 1934,
Pennsylvania Airlines and Transport was providing air mail and passenger service to Detroit,
Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the second most-populated city in the state after Detroit. Grand Rapids is the ...
,
Muskegon
Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Muskegon County. Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, pleasure boating, and as a commercial and cruise ship port. It is a popular vacation destination because of the expan ...
, and across
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the east, its basin is conjoined with that o ...
.
The Foster Hangar housed a
flight school
Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills.
Flight training can be conducted under a str ...
operated by Harvey Hughes from 1934 to 1936. In the late 1930s, Lansing aviator Lt Arthur J. Davis operated Michigan Airways, Inc. out of the hangar.
During World War II, Francis Aviation and Hughes Flying Service provided ground and flight training to 300 pilots per month as part of the
U.S. Government's
Civilian Pilot Training Program
The Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) was a flight training program (1938–1944) sponsored by the United States government with the stated purpose of increasing the number of civilian pilots, though having a clear impact on military prepare ...
and
War Training Service
The Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) was a flight training program (1938–1944) sponsored by the United States government with the stated purpose of increasing the number of civilian pilots, though having a clear impact on military prepare ...
. The training included three weeks of instruction at
Michigan State College
Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the first of its kind in the United States. It i ...
and continued at Capital City Airport.
In 1940, the original
terminal
Terminal may refer to:
Computing Hardware
* Terminal (electronics), a device for joining electrical circuits together
* Terminal (telecommunication), a device communicating over a line
* Computer terminal, a set of primary input and output dev ...
building, a 100-by-100-foot concrete hangar, and an adjoining office wing at the west end of the airport were built. The airport acquired next to the north side of the airport, and
runway
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft". Runways may be a man-made surface (often asphalt concrete, as ...
06/24 was extended by .
Pennsylvania Central Airlines
Capital Airlines was an airline serving the eastern, southern, southeastern, and midwestern United States. Capital's headquarters were located at Washington Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, National Airport (now Reagan Washington Natio ...
began
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is a propeller-driven airliner
manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company, which had a lasting effect on the airline industry in the 1930s to 1940s and World War II.
It was developed as a larger, improved 14-bed sleeper version ...
service on June 5, 1940.
The same year, the airport unsuccessfully bid for an $8.4 million ''Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory'' of the
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was a United States 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 ...
.
1950s–1970s
Demand for air service led to the building of the current terminal building in 1959. The terminal has had several renovations and additions since then.
In April 1967, a new $38,000 observation room opened, where viewers can hear radio communications between pilots and the
control tower
Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airsp ...
through a loud speaker.
In the early 1960s,
Lansing Community College
Lansing Community College is a public community college with its main campus in Lansing, Michigan. Founded in 1957, the college's main campus is located on an urban, site in downtown Lansing spanning seven city blocks approximately two block ...
leased the Francis Aviation Complex at Capital City Airport. The college moved to a new facility near the airport terminal in 1974.
In March 1960, Francis Aviation Co. built two circular (roundtable) airport hangars costing $400,000 at the airport, believed to be the world's first.
[Lansing airport to get first circle hangars](_blank)
''Owosso Argus-Press
''The Argus-Press'' is a daily newspaper published in Owosso, Michigan. The name comes from two preceding papers: the ''Evening Argus'' and ''Press-American'', which merged in 1916. The paper's earliest antecedent is the Owosso ''American'', whic ...
'', Google News, March 11, 1960. Retrieved March 5, 2013 In 1963, Capital City Airport served over 100,000 passengers for the first time; by 1968, airport usage had surpassed 250,000 passengers.
That April,
1968 presidential candidate and Senator
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis Kennedy (November 20, 1925June 6, 1968), also known by his initials RFK and by the nickname Bobby, was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 64th United States Attorney General from January 1961 to September 1964, ...
landed at Capital City Airport.
Later that year, presidential candidate and Senator
George McGovern
George Stanley McGovern (July 19, 1922 – October 21, 2012) was an American historian and South Dakota politician who was a U.S. representative and three-term U.S. senator, and the Democratic Party presidential nominee in the 1972 pres ...
also landed at the airport.
[George McGovern at the Capital City Airport](_blank)
, Capital Area District Library
Capital Area District Libraries (CADL) is a system of libraries in Ingham County, Michigan, United States. It was formed in 1998 by an agreement between Ingham County and the City of Lansing. It consists of thirteen libraries and a mobile library. ...
, cadl.org. Retrieved March 6, 2011
In 1970, the Capital Region Airport Authority was created pursuant to Michigan Public Act Number 73.
[1970 PA 73]
§15 (Capital city airport; transfer)
/ref> The following year, jurisdiction of Capital City Airport was transferred from the State of Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
to the Airport Authority. The airport's first surveillance radar was installed in 1973. By 1977, the approach lighting system and instrument landing system
In aviation, the instrument landing system (ILS) is a precision radio navigation system that provides short-range guidance to aircraft to allow them to approach a runway at night or in bad weather. In its original form, it allows an aircraft to ...
for runway 10R were activated. The same year, Mason Jewett Field was purchased as a reliever airfield for Capital City Airport. A Michigan historical marker was erected at the terminal for local aviator Philip Orin Parmelee in 1978. From 1978 to 1991 fixed-base operator
A fixed-base operator (FBO) is an organization granted the right by an airport to operate at the airport and provide aeronautical services such as fueling, hangaring, tie-down and parking, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance, flight instruction, ...
and aerial photography
Aerial photography (or airborne imagery) is the taking of photographs from an aircraft or other airborne platforms. When taking motion pictures, it is also known as aerial videography.
Platforms for aerial photography include fixed-wing aircra ...
company White Star Photography purchased and operated from the Francis Aviation Complex.
1980s–1990s
In 1980, a airport fire station was built. An air carrier
An airline is a company that provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines use aircraft to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for codeshare agreements, in which ...
terminal apron reconstruction followed in 1982. Between 1988 and 1990, runway 14/32 was decommissioned and became taxiway
A taxiway is a path for aircraft at an airport connecting runways with aprons, hangars, terminals and other facilities. They mostly have a hard surface such as asphalt or concrete, although smaller general aviation airports sometimes use gravel ...
F.
In January 1987, United Airlines
United Airlines, Inc. (commonly referred to as United), is a major American airline headquartered at the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois. announced it was ending flights between Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport , sometimes referred to as, Chicago O'Hare, or simply O'Hare, is the main international airport serving Chicago, Illinois, located on the city's Northwest Side, approximately northwest of the Chicago Loop, ...
(ORD) and Lansing on April 5 after nearly 56 years of service. United Express
United Express is the brand name for the regional branch of United Airlines, under which six individually owned regional airlines operate short- and medium-haul feeder flights.
On October 1, 2010, UAL Corporation and Continental Airlines merged t ...
, operated by Air Wisconsin
Air Wisconsin Airlines is a regional airline based at Appleton International Airport in the town of Greenville, Wisconsin near Appleton. Air Wisconsin originally operated as one of the original United Express partners in 1985, and operated ...
, resumed the service to Chicago. In 1989, Thomas Schmidt was hired as Airport Manager, replacing Russ Brown, and airport usage surpassed 500,000 passengers for the first time.
During the 1990s, the Francis Aviation Complex was demolished for airport expansion and compliance with Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...
(FAA) regulations. UPS Airlines
UPS Airlines is a major American cargo airline based in Louisville, Kentucky. The second-largest cargo airline worldwide ( in terms of freight volume flown), UPS Airlines flies to 815 destinations worldwide. A wholly owned subsidiary of UPS (Unit ...
began cargo service from Lansing in 1990. In 1992, a major renovation of the terminal building, designed by Greiner, Inc., included the addition of to the facility, began. The following year the public parking lot was reconstructed and a new airport surveillance radar (ASR-9) was activated.
President Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...
landed at the airport aboard Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control designated call sign for a United States Air Force aircraft carrying the president of the United States. In common parlance, the term is used to denote U.S. Air Force aircraft modified and used ...
on July 22, 1999 to hold a forum on Medicare at Lansing Community College.[Pickler, Nedra. Associated Press]
Clinton in Lansing Today to Discuss Medicare
''Owosso Argus-Press
''The Argus-Press'' is a daily newspaper published in Owosso, Michigan. The name comes from two preceding papers: the ''Evening Argus'' and ''Press-American'', which merged in 1916. The paper's earliest antecedent is the Owosso ''American'', whic ...
'', Google News, July 22, 1999. Retrieved April 20, 2010
2000s
Flight reductions
During the 2000s, Lansing saw flights reduced from 35 to 12 a day.[Epstein, Victor. Associated Press]
New low-cost airline targets smaller markets
''USA Today
''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...
'', May 27, 2009 In May 2000 American Eagle Airlines
Envoy Air Inc. is an American regional airline headquartered in Irving, Texas, in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The airline is a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Airlines Group and it is paid by fellow group member American Airline ...
ended its flights to Chicago–O'Hare, eliminating five daily flights and 23 positions at the Lansing airport.[American Eagle Discontinues Lansing Service](_blank)
, thetracon.com, March 7, 2000 Chicago Express
The Chicago Express were a professional ice hockey team located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, serving the Chicago market. The Express were a member of the North Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The team played its home games at the Se ...
/ATA Connection Airlines ended service from Lansing to Midway International Airport
Chicago Midway International Airport , typically referred to as Midway Airport, Chicago Midway, or simply Midway, is a major commercial airport on the Southwest side of Chicago, Illinois, located approximately 12 miles (19 km) from the Lo ...
(MDW) in 2001. In October 2003 US Airways
US Airways (formerly USAir) was a major United States airline that operated from 1937 until its merger with American Airlines in 2015. It was originally founded in History of aviation in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh as a mail delivery airline called ...
ended daily flights to its Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
hub.[Capital Region Airport Authority]
Proposal Under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket DOT-OST-2010-0124
regulations.gov, August 27, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2011 Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines, simply known as Continental, was a major United States airline founded in 1934 and eventually headquartered in Houston, Texas. It had ownership interests and brand partnerships with several carriers.
Continental started o ...
suspended its daily flights to Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
effective January 2004.[Associated Press]
Capital City Airport loses Continental as carrier
''USA Today
''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...
'', January 19, 2004 In 2005 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 be ...
ended service to Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...
(MKE).[Ingham County Board of Commissioners]
County Services Minutes
ingham.org, March 21, 2006 In September 2007 Continental Airlines announced three daily flights from Lansing to the airline's hub in Cleveland to begin in May 2008;[Press Release]
Continental Airlines to Inaugurate Services at Lansing with New Nonstop Flights to Cleveland Hub
September 14, 2007, web.archive.org ''flylansing.com'' archived on October 23, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2012 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.[Grant, Alison]
Hopkins Expansion Curtailed As Continental Hits Bumpy Times
''The Plain Dealer
''The Plain Dealer'' is the major newspaper of Cleveland, Ohio, United States. In fall 2019, it ranked 23rd in U.S. newspaper circulation, a significant drop since March 2013, when its circulation ranked 17th daily and 15th on Sunday.
As of Ma ...
'', May 8, 2008 Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc., typically referred to as Delta, is one of the major airlines of the United States and a legacy carrier. One of the List of airlines by foundation date, world's oldest airlines in operation, Delta is headquartered in Atla ...
announced in July 2008 that it was ending its three daily non-stop flights (via Comair) from Lansing to Cincinnati
Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...
(CVG) effective September 1, eliminating 26 jobs at Lansing's airport. Delta also offered daily non-stop flights (via Atlantic Southeast Airlines
Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) was a regional U.S. airline based in the A-Tech Center in College Park, Georgia, flying to 144 destinations as a Delta Connection carrier on behalf of Delta Air Lines via a code sharing agreement and, as of ...
) from Lansing to Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
from 2005 to 2007.[Polzin, Kevin]
Delta Ending Service to Lansing, Mich.
''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 Greater Lansing. The newspaper had an average Monday through ...
'', ''USA Today'', July 8, 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2009
Low-cost airlines
Several low-cost carriers had flights at Lansing with varying success. In July 2003, Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air (usually shortened to Allegiant) is an ultra low-cost U.S. carrier that operates scheduled and charter flights. It is a major air carrier, the fourteenth-largest commercial airline in North America.
Allegiant was founded in 1 ...
began nonstop flights from Lansing to Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
McCarran International Airport
Harry Reid International Airport is an international airport in Paradise, Nevada, and is the main government airport for public use in the Las Vegas Valley, a metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Nevada, about south of Downtown Las Vegas. ...
(LAS). The addition of the low-cost carrier enabled the average fare from Lansing to drop by 35%. Over the next few years, Allegiant added flights to Orlando/Sanford (SFB) – the airline's second market from Orlando–Sanford – in May 2005 and St. Petersburg-Clearwater (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 (GRR) effective January 2009, citing reduced competition from Detroit Metro Airport and financial incentives as the reasons for the move.[Stephenson, John W]
Low-Price Airline Allegiant Moving From Lansing to Grand Rapids Airport
''Muskegon Chronicle
The ''Muskegon Chronicle'' is a daily newspaper in Muskegon, Michigan, owned by Booth newspapers. In May 2007, the paper celebrated 150 years.
Because of common ownership with ''Grand Rapids Press'', the ''Chronicle''s coverage and distribution ...
'', mlive.com, November 10, 2008 In July 2004 Independence Air
Independence Air was a low-cost airline, owned by FLYi, Inc., headquartered in the Loudoun Gateway Corporate Center in Dulles, Virginia, United States (near Washington, D.C.) that operated from 1989 until 2006. Its route network focused on the ...
began nonstop flights from Lansing to Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport , typically referred to as Dulles International Airport, Dulles Airport, Washington Dulles, or simply Dulles ( ), is an international airport in the Eastern United States, located in Loudoun County and Fai ...
(IAD).[New Airline for Capital City Airport](_blank)
, WILX.com, June 14, 2004 Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines Corp. (NWA) was a major American airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines, Inc. by a merger. The merger, approved on October 29, 2008, made Delta the largest airline in the world until the American Airlines ...
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.[Stock, Susan]
Independence Air Ends Flights to Michigan airport
''Lansing State Journal'', ''USA Today'', November 22, 2004 In June 2005 Northwest moved their Lansing flights from Dulles to Reagan National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport , sometimes referred to colloquially as National Airport, Washington National, Reagan National Airport, DCA, Reagan, or simply National, is an international airport in Arlington County, Virginia, across ...
(DCA). By January 2006 Northwest canceled this route, leaving Lansing with no direct flights to Washington, D.C.[Murray, Stefanie]
Northwest Will End Lansing to D.C. Flights
''Lansing State Journal'', WZZM13.com, November 26, 2005 In March 2009 start-up carrier JetAmerica (previously known as ''Air Azul'') announced direct flights starting in July 2009 between Lansing, Newark
Newark most commonly refers to:
* Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States
* Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area
Newark may also refer to:
Places Canada
* Niagara-on-the ...
, and Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
.[Steele, Jeremy W]
Lansing to Add Flights to NYC, D.C. Areas
''Lansing State Journal'', lsj.com, March 13, 2009 However, after delaying the start of flights, the company folded on July 17 without operating a single flight.[Associated Press]
Jet America Grounded
, WTVG, 13abc.com, July 17, 2009. Retrieved March 16, 2011
International flights
There have been several attempts at establishing international passenger service at the airport. In April 2004, Laker Airways Bahamas Ltd. announced flights from Lansing to the Bahamas
The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to ...
, with an intermediate stop at Rickenbacker International Airport
Rickenbacker International Airport is a civil-military public airport south of downtown Columbus, near Lockbourne in southern Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The south end of the airport extends into Pickaway County. The base was name ...
(LCK) in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and t ...
, to begin that fall.[Murray, Stefanie]
Airline Plans Lansing-to-Bahamas Flights in Fall
''Lansing State Journal'', Yahoo!, April 2004 In January 2008, Kenny Tours announced non-stop flight
A non-stop flight is a flight by an aircraft with no intermediate stops.
History
During the early age of aviation industry when aircraft range was limited, most flights were served in the form of milk run, aka there were many stops along ...
s from Lansing to Shannon, Ireland
Shannon () or Shannon Town (), named after the river near which it stands, is a town in County Clare, Ireland. It was given town status on 1 January 1982. The town is located just off the N19 road, a spur of the N18/M18 road between Limeric ...
, dubbed the ''Shamrock Express'', to begin in June 2008.[Press Release]
New non-stop flights to start from Lansing's Capital City Airport to Ireland
January 14, 2008, web.archive.org ''flylansing.com'' archived on October 23, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2012 In both cases, the service was canceled before flights began. Apple Vacations
Apple Leisure Group (ALG) is an American travel and hospitality conglomerate focused on packaged travel and resort/brand management in Mexico, the Caribbean, Hispanic America, Europe, and the Middle East. It is the parent corporation of resort ...
announced in July 2009 that, starting in December, they would offer weekly seasonal flights to Cancún, Mexico on USA3000 Airlines
Brendan Airways, LLC, doing business as USA3000 Airlines, was a U.S. airline headquartered in Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It operated both scheduled and charter service with a fleet of five Airbus A320 aircraft. The airli ...
. These were the first non-stop international passenger flights from Lansing.[Press Release]
Apple Vacations announces new non-stops from Lansing to Cancun on USA 3000 Airlines
July 1, 2009, web.archive.org ''flylansing.com'' archived on October 23, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2012
Facility upgrades and closures
In 2005 a extension to runway 10R/28L was completed. By November 2008 a extension to the runway – now – 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 January 2008 Capital Region International Airport was designated as an International Port of Entry
In general, a port of entry (POE) is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has border security staff and facilities to check passports and visas and to inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. Internati ...
into the United States, with Customs and Border Protection officers on duty to process international passengers and air freight. By May 2009 a new federal inspection station opened in the terminal, capable of processing 200 passengers per hour.
In March 2009 the Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...
announced the planned consolidation of radar control for Lansing's airport, as well as that of airports in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the second most-populated city in the state after Detroit. Grand Rapids is the ...
and Muskegon
Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Muskegon County. Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, pleasure boating, and as a commercial and cruise ship port. It is a popular vacation destination because of the expan ...
, to nearby Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport is a county-owned public airport in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, USA, southeast of Downtown Kalamazoo. The airport is located approximately west of the city of Battle Creek. It is incl ...
in 2013. The cost-saving move will occur upon completion of Kalamazoo Airport's new air traffic control tower (TRACON
Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airsp ...
). Despite the consolidation, each airport will still maintain its own air traffic control tower.
In November 2009 Lockheed Martin
The Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American aerospace, arms, defense, information security, and technology corporation with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It ...
, operator of the flight service station
A flight service station (FSS) is an air traffic facility that provides information and services to aircraft pilots before, during, and after flights, but unlike air traffic control (ATC), is not responsible for giving instructions or clearances or ...
located at Capital Region International Airport, announced the closing of the service station, effective February 2010. The Lansing station was one of 13 to close nationwide and provided 25 jobs and $120,000 in annual rent to the airport.
2010s
Domestic flights
In October 2010 the airport was awarded a U.S. Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT or DOT) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It is headed by the secretary of transportation, who reports directly to the President of the United States and ...
Small Community Air Service Development grant, worth $750,000, to help reestablish nonstop flights from Lansing to Washington, D.C. 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.United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT or DOT) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It is headed by the secretary of transportation, who reports directly to the President of the United States and ...
Small Community Air Service Development Program Fiscal Year 2010 Grant Selections
, dot.gov. Retrieved October 30, 2010 In December Sun Country Airlines announced that it would offer non-stop flights from Lansing to Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
(MSP) and Washington–Reagan (DCA) beginning in April 2011. The announcement followed the airline being awarded two landing slot __NOTOC__
A landing slot, takeoff slot, or airport slot is a permission granted by the owner of an airport designated as Level 3 (Coordinated Airport), which allows the grantee to schedule a landing or departure at that airport during a specific t ...
s at the Washington, D.C. airport by the USDOT
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT or DOT) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It is headed by the secretary of transportation, who reports directly to the President of the United States and ...
. The Minneapolis route is expected to reduce the fares from Lansing-Minneapolis an average of 34%, and the Washington, D.C. flights reduced by an average of 21%.[Press Release]
Sun Country Airlines Wins Non-Stop Slots For New Air Service From Lansing To Reagan Washington D.C. National (DCA)
December 10, 2010, web.archive.org ''flylansing.com'' archived on December 15, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2012 In July 2015 Sun Country announced that Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. flights would be discontinued in October.
American Airlines
American Airlines is a major airlines of the United States, major US-based airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is the Largest airlines in the world, largest airline in the world when measured ...
resumed the Washington, D.C. flights in July 2016, continuing a slot exemption that Sun Country previously held at Washington–Reagan. The slot exemption, set to expire in October 2019, was extended through October 2023. American Airlines also resumed Chicago flights in August 2016 after a 16-year absence from Lansing.
Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air (usually shortened to Allegiant) is an ultra low-cost U.S. carrier that operates scheduled and charter flights. It is a major air carrier, the fourteenth-largest commercial airline in North America.
Allegiant was founded in 1 ...
again operated twice-weekly flights to Orlando/Sanford (SFB) from November 2012 through January 2015.
President Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...
landed at the airport aboard Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control designated call sign for a United States Air Force aircraft carrying the president of the United States. In common parlance, the term is used to denote U.S. Air Force aircraft modified and used ...
on February 7, 2014, to sign the 2014 U.S. Farm Bill at Michigan State University
Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...
.
International flights
In June 2010 Apple Vacations and Sun Country Airlines announced seasonal flights to Cancún, Mexico (CUN/MMUN); Montego Bay, Jamaica
Montego Bay is the capital of the parish of St. James in Jamaica. The city is the fourth-largest urban area in the country by population, after Kingston, Spanish Town, and Portmore, all of which form the Greater Kingston Metropolitan Area, h ...
(MBJ/MKJS); Fort Myers
Fort Myers (or Ft. Myers) is a city in southwestern Florida and the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 92,245 in 20 ...
(RSW); Orlando
Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures rele ...
(MCO); and Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
(LAS) beginning in December.[Press Release]
Apple Vacations & Sun Country Airlines Announce New Air Service From Lansing
June 30, 2010, web.archive.org ''flylansing.com'' archived on December 15, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2012
In May 2011 Apple Vacations and Sun Country Airlines announced seasonal weekly flights to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Punta Cana is a resort town in the easternmost region of the Dominican Republic. It is part of the Veron–Punta Cana municipal district, in the Higüey municipality of La Altagracia Province. According to the 2010 census, this district had a p ...
(PUJ/MDPC) beginning in December and discontinued flights to Fort Myers and Las Vegas (the latter would resume in December 2012). In June 2012 similar seasonal flights to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta ( or simply Vallarta) is a Mexican beach resort city situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas in the Mexican state of Jalisco.
Puerto Vallarta is the second largest urban agglomeration in the state after the Guadalaj ...
(PVR/MMPR) were announced starting in February and Montego Bay flights were discontinued.
In May 2013 Apple Vacations announced that Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines is a major ultra-low-cost U.S. airline headquartered in Denver, Colorado. It operates flights to over 100 destinations throughout the United States and 31 international destinations, and employs more than 3,000 staff. The ca ...
will operate their seasonal international flights from Lansing, beginning in January 2014. The next year Aeroméxico
Aerovías de México, S.A. de C.V. () operating as Aeroméxico (; stylized as AM), is the flag carrier airline of Mexico, based in Mexico City. It operates scheduled services to more than 90 destinations in Mexico; North, South and Central Ame ...
and Interjet
Interjet (official legal name ABC Aerolíneas, S.A. de C.V.), also known as Interjet Airlines, was a Mexican low-cost carrier headquartered in Mexico City. The airline operated scheduled flights to and from various destinations within Mexico, as ...
operated seasonal flights to Cancún and Puerto Vallarta. Sunwing Airlines
Sunwing Airlines Inc. is a Canadian low-cost airline headquartered in Toronto, Ontario.
Sunwing Airlines offers scheduled and charter services from Canada and the United States to destinations within the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, ...
resumed seasonal flights to Cancún in December 2015. Miami Air International
Miami Air International was an American charter airline based in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. It operated worldwide passenger charter flights for diverse groups including cruise operators, professional sports teams and the United S ...
and Swift Air
iAero Airways, previously Swift Air, is an American airline based in Miami, Florida, United States. It operates charter flights for nationally known fractional aircraft operators, financial institutions, construction, transportation, many colle ...
resumed seasonal flights to Cancún and Punta Cana in December 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Apple Vacations resumed flights to Cancún and Punta Cana, and add Montego Bay in December 2018.
Facility upgrades
A Concierge
A concierge () is an employee of a multi-tenant building, such as a hotel or apartment building, who receives guests. The concept has been applied more generally to other hospitality settings and to personal concierges who manage the errands of ...
Travel Center opened at the airport in May 2010, offering the ability to book airline tickets, cruises, tours, car rentals, and hotel rooms.[Press Release]
Fly Lansing Concierge Travel Center Opens at the Capital Region International Airport
May 13, 2010, web.archive.org ''flylansing.com'' archived on December 15, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2012
In January 2011 the Airport Authority, city of Lansing, and DeWitt Township announced a 50-year 425 land, tax, and services agreement at the airport between the city and township.
In July 2011 Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University (EMU, Eastern Michigan or simply Eastern), is a public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School, the school was the fourth normal school established in the United Sta ...
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.[Larcom, Geoff]
Eastern Michigan University and Eagle Flight Centre to begin flight training in the Lansing community
, ''Eastern Michigan University'' Press Release, emich.edu, July 6, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2011 The Transportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that has authority over the security of transportation systems within, and connecting to the United States. It was created ...
(TSA) installed a full-body millimeter wave scanner
A millimeter wave scanner is a whole-body imaging device used for detecting objects concealed underneath a person’s clothing using a form of electromagnetic radiation. Typical uses for this technology include detection of items for commercial ...
at the airport in October.
The TSA began offering pre-check clearance at the airport in April 2015.
2020s
Airline startup Avelo Airlines
Avelo Airlines () is an ultra low-cost U.S. carrier headquartered in Houston, Texas. It previously operated charter flights as ''Casino Express Airlines'' and ''Xtra Airways'', before transitioning to scheduled operations and rebranding as Av ...
launched flights from Lansing to Orlando in October 2022. The airline initially operated the route two times per week. The route was launched alongside a nearly-identical route to Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo ( ) is a city in the southwest region of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Kalamazoo County. At the 2010 census, Kalamazoo had a population of 74,262. Kalamazoo is the major city of the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolit ...
. Lansing is part of Avelo's plan to connect unique city pairs in underserved markets, especially focusing on "small hometown airports." The airline used Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing at its Renton Factory in Washington.
Developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, the twinjet retains the 707 fuselage width and six abreast seating with two un ...
aircraft bigger than the regional jets flown by other carriers.
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 commerce
A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, 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 ad ...
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.[Stine, Randy J]
Advocates for Change
, ''Greater Lansing Business Monthly'', lansingbusinessmonthly.com, July 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2010
In December 2011 the airport, city of Lansing, and DeWitt Township received Next Michigan Development Corporation – or Aerotropolis
An aerotropolis is a metropolitan subregion whose infrastructure, land use, and economy are centered on an airport. It fuses the terms "aero-" (aviation) and "metropolis". Like the traditional metropolis made up of a central city core and its ou ...
– designation, designed to encourage economic development within of the airport. The plan includes a 50-year 425 land, tax, and services agreement between the city and township.
In October 2018 the airport announced the establishment of a Lansing Brewing Company-themed restaurant and bar, and a new coffee cafe, to open in late 2019.
Master Plan
The airport's most recent Master Plan was released in December 2006. The Plan identifies four major goals for the airport: Retain and expand scheduled passenger flights, increase charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the rec ...
operations, increase corporate
A corporation is an organization—usually a group of people or a company—authorized by the state to act as a single entity (a legal entity recognized by private and public law "born out of statute"; a legal person in legal context) and re ...
and general aviation
General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations with the exception of commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services ...
activities, and increase cargo
Cargo consists of bulk goods conveyed by water, air, or land. In economics, freight is cargo that is transported at a freight rate for commercial gain. ''Cargo'' was originally a shipload but now covers all types of freight, including trans ...
activities.[Master Plan](_blank)
FlyLansing.com, December 2006 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 claim
200px, Baggage carousel
In airport terminals, a baggage reclaim area is an area where arriving passengers claim checked-in baggage after disembarking from an airline flight. The alternative term baggage claim is used at airports in the US and ...
facilities, and passenger security screening
A security clearance is a status granted to individuals allowing them access to classified information (state or organizational secrets) or to restricted areas, after completion of a thorough background check. The term "security clearance" is a ...
improvements
* Construct a new control tower
Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airsp ...
* Construct a new runway and connector taxiway to replace the existing 10L/28R runway
* Extend the existing 06/24 runway to
* Expand vehicle parking lot
A parking lot (American English) or car park (British English), also known as a car lot, is a cleared area intended for parking vehicles. The term usually refers to an area dedicated only for parking, with a durable or semi-durable surface ...
parking areas
* Local road improvements for better access to nearby freeway I-69
Interstate 69 (I-69) is an Interstate Highway in the United States currently consisting of 10 unconnected segments with an original continuous segment from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, at ...
* Expand the existing business park
A business park or office park is a designated area of land in which many office buildings are grouped together. These types of developments are often located in suburban areas where land and building costs are more affordable, and are typically ...
at the airport
* Cargo and sort facility expansions
* T-hangar and access taxiway expansions for general aviation
General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations with the exception of commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services ...
Port Lansing
The airport received U.S. Port of entry
In general, a port of entry (POE) is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has border security staff and facilities to check passports and visas and to inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. Internati ...
status in January 2008. The name " Port Lansing" 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
The United States Customs Service was the very first federal law enforcement agency of the U.S. federal government. Established on July 31, 1789, it collected import tariffs, performed other selected border security duties, as well as conducted ...
Inspection Station was established. To promote increased international commerce
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories because there is a need or want of goods or services. (see: World economy)
In most countries, such trade represents a significant ...
in and around the airport, a Foreign Trade Zone was activated, effective August 24, 2009. The Foreign Trade Zone includes of property near the terminal and runways. The trade zone allows goods to be delivered there duty-free
A duty-free shop (or store) is a retail outlet whose goods are exempt from the payment of certain local or national taxes and duties, on the requirement that the goods sold will be sold to travelers who will take them out of the country, w ...
– with reduced, deferred, or eliminated customs fees – providing a competitive advantage to companies doing business within the trade zone.
The Port Lansing Global Logistics center A logistics center, or depot, is a facility dedicated to logistical operations. A logistics center might be a warehouse, freight forwarder, or a repair depot.
The United States Air Force (USAF) is serviced by three air logistics centers (also known ...
, a $6 million cargo warehouse and cross-docking
Cross-docking is a practice in logistics of unloading materials from a manufacturer or mode of transportation directly to the customer or another mode of transportation, with little or no storage in between. This may be done to change the type of ...
facility, opened at the airport in October 2012. According to the Airport Authority, the airport has over of land available for immediate development.
Facilities and operations
Capital Region International Airport covers . Located at the boundary of three counties, most of the airport lies in DeWitt Township (Clinton County Clinton County may refer to:
*Counties named for George Clinton, first and third Governor of New York, and later the fourth Vice President of the United States:
**Clinton County, New York
** Clinton County, Ohio
*Counties named for DeWitt Clinton, ...
), with small portions in Watertown Township (Clinton County), Delta Township (Eaton County
Eaton County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 109,175. The county seat is Charlotte. The county was organized in 1837 and was named for John Eaton, who was Secretary of War under ...
), and the city of Lansing (Ingham County
Ingham County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 284,900. The county seat is Mason. Lansing, the state capital of Michigan, is largely located within the county. (Lansing is the only ...
).
Terminal
The current terminal building, constructed in 1959, is 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
A jet bridge (also termed jetway, jetwalk, airgate, gangway, aerobridge/airbridge, skybridge, finger, airtube, expedited suspended passenger entry system (E-SPES), or its official industry name passenger boarding bridge (PBB)) is an enclosed, ...
. Located in the terminal is the Capital Market, Café Lan, on the first level of the terminal, is a full-service restaurant and grill serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then in 2019, Capital Brewport opened. This restaurant offers many Lansing-made beers. The Concierge Travel Center offers the ability to book airline tickets, cruises, hotels, tours, foreign currency exchange
A bureau de change (plural bureaux de change, both ) (British English) or currency exchange (American English) is a business where people can exchange one currency for another.
Nomenclature
Although originally French, the term "bureau de chan ...
, and limousine
A limousine ( or ), or limo () for short, is a large, chauffeur-driven luxury vehicle with a partition between the driver compartment and the passenger compartment.
A very long wheelbase luxury sedan (with more than four doors) driven by a prof ...
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
Wireless communication (or just wireless, when the context allows) is the transfer of information between two or more points without the use of an electrical conductor, optical fiber or other continuous guided medium for the transfer. The most ...
( SSID "CRAA") Internet access.[Amenities](_blank)
FlyLansing.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012
Aeronautics
The Michigan Department of Transportation
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is a constitutional government principal department of the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate ...
Office of Aeronautics is located along the airport's southeast ramp
An inclined plane, also known as a ramp, is a flat supporting surface tilted at an angle from the vertical direction, with one end higher than the other, used as an aid for raising or lowering a load. The inclined plane is one of the six clas ...
.[Michigan Department of Transportation]
MDOT Aeronautics Location
Michigan.gov. Retrieved August 26, 2010 The Michigan State Transportation Commission
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is a constitutional government principal department of the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate ...
meets at the airport monthly; the Michigan Aeronautics Commission meets at the airport bimonthly.[Michigan Department of Transportation]
MDOT Aeronautics Michigan Aeronautics Commission
Michigan.gov. Retrieved August 26, 2010
Runways
Capital Region International Airport has three runways:
* Runway 10R/28L: x , Surface: Asphalt, grooved, ILS equipped
* Runway 06/24: x , Surface: Asphalt/Concrete, grooved
* Runway 10L/28R: x , 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.[Parking](_blank)
, FlyLansing.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012 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.[Park and Fly Hotels](_blank)
FlyLansing.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012
Aircraft operations
For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2021, the airport had 28,500 total aircraft operations an average of 78 per day, down from 93 per day in 2016. The 2016 figure itself was a 16% decrease from 2012 and a 59% decrease from 2007. 48% of the 2021 aircraft operations were general aviation
General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations with the exception of commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services ...
, 42% were air taxi
An air taxi is a small commercial aircraft that makes short flights on demand.
In 2001 air taxi operations were promoted in the United States by a NASA and aerospace industry study on the potential Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) an ...
, 8% were scheduled commercial, and 2% were military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
. There were 62 aircraft based on the field: 31 single-engine and 18 multi-engine airplanes
An airplane or aeroplane (informally plane) is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and wing configurations. The broad spectr ...
, 10 jets, and 4 helicopters
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attributes ...
.[, ''AirportIQ'', gcr1.com, effective March 3, 2018]
Passenger aircraft landings dropped from 12,224 in 2000 to 3,623 in 2009, according to the Capital Region Airport Authority. In March 2012 the average daily seats on domestic departures from the airport was 912, a 24.9% increase from March 2011.[Couch, William, Barbara Hansen, and Carey, Anne]
Airline Schedule Changes at U.S. Airports
''USA Today
''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...
'', ''USA Today'', January 9, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2012
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
The majority of Delta Connection flights serving the airport are on Bombardier CRJ200
The Bombardier CRJ100 and CRJ200 (previously Canadair CRJ100 and CRJ200) is a regional jet designed and manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace between 1991 and 2006, the first of the Bombardier CRJ family.
The ''Canadair Regional Jet'' (CRJ) ...
and CRJ900
The Bombardier CRJ700, CRJ900, and CRJ1000 are a family of regional jet airliners that were designed and manufactured by Canadian transportation conglomerate Bombardier (formerly Canadair) between 1999 and 2020. Their design was derived from ...
regional airliner
A regional airliner or a feederliner is a small airliner that is designed to fly up to 100 passengers on short-haul flights, usually feeding larger carriers' airline hubs from small markets. This class of airliners is typically flown by the re ...
s.
The majority of American Eagle flights serving the airport are on CRJ700 and ERJ 145 regional airliners.
Passenger statistics
The peak year for passenger activity at Capital Region International Airport was in 1997 with 720,365 total passengers. In 1990 the airport had 149,939 total aircraft operations.
Competition
Capital Region International Airport competes with nearby Detroit Metropolitan Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport, or simply DTW, is a major international airport in the United States covering effective December 30, 2021. in Romulus, Michigan. It is the primar ...
(DTW), Grand Rapids' Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), and the recent growth of Flint's Bishop International Airport
Bishop International Airport is a commercial and general aviation airport located in Flint, Michigan, United States. It is named after banker and General Motors board member Arthur Giles Bishop (April 12, 1851 – January 22, 1944), who dona ...
(FNT). In addition, the Michigan Flyer
Indian Trails, Inc. is an inter-city bus company based in Owosso, Michigan, with offices in Romulus, Michigan, Romulus (in Metro Detroit) and Kalamazoo, Michigan, Kalamazoo.
History
Indian Trails was founded in 1910 in Owosso as the Phillips- ...
provides motorcoach service roundtrip from nearby East Lansing to Detroit Metro Airport 12 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
Central Michigan, also called Mid Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As its name implies, it is the middle area of the Lower Peninsula. Lower Michigan is said to resemble a mitten, and Mid Michigan corre ...
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 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
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 Greater Lansing. The newspaper had an average Monday through ...
'' cited a 2008 Michigan State University
Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...
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.[Steele, Jeremy W]
Lansing Airport Seen As Nice, But Costly
''Lansing State Journal'', WZZM13.com, March 4, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2010 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.[Press Release]
January 7, 2003, web.archive.org ''capitalcityairport.com'' archived on February 17, 2003. Retrieved July 14, 2010
''Forbes Magazine
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also repo ...
'' in February 2009 ranked Capital Region International Airport tied for the 18th most expensive airport to fly from in the United States, with an average fare of 35¢ per mile. The magazine ranked two other Michigan airports as more expensive. Cherry Capital Airport
Cherry Capital Airport is a public use airport located southeast of the central business district of Traverse City in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, United States. It is owned by Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties.. Federal Aviation Adm ...
(TVC) in Traverse City
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 ...
was ranked second (41¢ per mile), and MBS International Airport
MBS International Airport , located in Freeland, Michigan, is a commercial and general aviation airport serving the nearby cities of Midland, Bay City, and Saginaw. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of ...
(MBS) northwest of Saginaw
Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greater ...
was tied for the 11th most expensive airport in the country (36¢ per mile).[Bruner, Jon; Zack O'Malley Greenburg]
America's Rip-Off Airports
''Forbes'', ''Forbes'', February 16, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2009
An April 2011, a ''New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' study determined that the average fare from Capital Region International Airport was overpriced by $117. The regression analysis
In statistical modeling, regression analysis is a set of statistical processes for estimating the relationships between a dependent variable (often called the 'outcome' or 'response' variable, or a 'label' in machine learning parlance) and one ...
, based on third quarter 2010 data from the USDOT
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT or DOT) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It is headed by the secretary of transportation, who reports directly to the President of the United States and ...
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), part of the United States Department of Transportation, is a government office that compiles, analyzes, and publishes information on the nation's transportation systems across various modes; and striv ...
, 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.[Silver, Nate]
Which Airports Have the Most Unfair Fares?
''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', ''The New York Times'', April 6, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2011
Airports included are within or a 100-minute drive of LAN. ''Source:'' ''Airline Origin & Destination Survey'', Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), part of the United States Department of Transportation, is a government office that compiles, analyzes, and publishes information on the nation's transportation systems across various modes; and striv ...
, USDOT
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT or DOT) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It is headed by the secretary of transportation, who reports directly to the President of the United States and ...
Cargo
Cargo tenants at Capital Region International Airport moved of cargo in 2019.
* Martinaire
Martinaire Aviation, L.L.C. is an American cargo airline based on the grounds of Addison Airport in Addison, Texas, USA, near Dallas.[UPS Airlines
UPS Airlines is a major American cargo airline based in Louisville, Kentucky. The second-largest cargo airline worldwide ( in terms of freight volume flown), UPS Airlines flies to 815 destinations worldwide. A wholly owned subsidiary of UPS (Unit ...]
is a worldwide cargo carrier owned by United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service (UPS, stylized as ups) is an American multinational corporation, multinational package delivery, shipping & receiving and supply chain management company founded in 1907. Originally known as the American Messenger Company ...
. The majority of cargo flights are on Airbus A300F4-600 and Boeing 767-300F
The Boeing 767 is an American wide-body aircraft developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The aircraft was launched as the 7X7 program on July 14, 1978, the prototype first flew on September 26, 1981, and it was certified on ...
aircraft.
* Superior Aviation provided 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 of cargo.
General and corporate aviation
Capital Region International Airport is served by two fixed-base operator
A fixed-base operator (FBO) is an organization granted the right by an airport to operate at the airport and provide aeronautical services such as fueling, hangaring, tie-down and parking, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance, flight instruction, ...
s.
*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.[General & Corporate Aviation](_blank)
FlyLansing.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012
In addition to nearby Mason Jewett Field
Mason Jewett Field is a public use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) 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 ...
(TEW) located southeast, other local general aviation
General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations with the exception of commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services ...
airports include University Airpark (41G) northeast in Bath Township and Abrams Municipal Airport
Abrams Municipal Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles (3.7 km) north of the central business district of Grand Ledge, a city in Eaton County, Michigan, United States. It is included in the Federal Aviation ...
(4D0) west in Watertown Township.
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
Interstate 69 (I-69) is an Interstate Highway in the United States currently consisting of 10 unconnected segments with an original continuous segment from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, at ...
(exits 84, 85), I-96
Interstate 96 (I-96) is an east–west Interstate Highway that runs for approximately entirely within the Lower Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. The western terminus is at an interchange with US Highway 31 (US 31) and Bu ...
(exit 90), I-496 (exit 3), and U.S. Highway 127 (exit 82B). From downtown Lansing, traffic can follow Business Loop I-96 to the airport.
* Capital Area Transportation Authority
The Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) is the public transit authority that operates mass transit bus service and paratransit within the metro Lansing, Michigan area, including service on the campus of Michigan State University. In , the ...
(CATA) Bus Route 14 runs between the airport and downtown Lansing. To get to East Lansing
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city lies within Ingham County with a smaller portion extending north into Clinton County. At the 2020 Census the population was 47,741. Located directly east of the state capital ...
or the Michigan State University
Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the fi ...
campus, riders may transfer from the Lansing downtown end of Route 14 onto Route 1, Route 4, or Route 15.[CATA Schedules & Route Maps](_blank)
, Capital Area Transportation Authority
The Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) is the public transit authority that operates mass transit bus service and paratransit within the metro Lansing, Michigan area, including service on the campus of Michigan State University. In , the ...
, CATA.org. Retrieved July 5, 2012
* A CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The railroad operates approximately 21,000 route miles () of track. ...
rail line
Rail terminology is a form of technical terminology. The difference between the American term ''railroad'' and the international term ''railway'' (used by the International Union of Railways and English-speaking countries outside the United Sta ...
is located at the south end of the airport. The railroad runs from Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the second most-populated city in the state after Detroit. Grand Rapids is the ...
to Detroit.
* Short term and long term parking are available at lots close to the terminal building, as well as several car rental
A car rental, hire car or car hire agency is a company that rents automobiles for short periods of time to the public, generally ranging from a few hours to a few weeks. It is often organized with numerous local branches (which allow a user to ...
agencies and taxi
A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice ...
services.[Ground Transportation](_blank)
FlyLansing.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012
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 attack. The plane, which departed from Flint
Flint, occasionally flintstone, is a sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as the variety of chert that occurs in chalk or marly limestone. Flint was widely used historically to make stone tools and start fir ...
, incurred a damaged nose
A nose is a protuberance in vertebrates that houses the nostrils, or nares, which receive and expel air for respiration alongside the mouth. Behind the nose are the olfactory mucosa and the sinuses. Behind the nasal cavity, air next passes th ...
and blown tire upon landing. The pilot of a nearby plane flew alongside and guided the troubled aircraft to the airport.[Associated Press]
Onlookers Cheer Passenger's Effort in Landing Aircraft
''Owosso Argus-Press
''The Argus-Press'' is a daily newspaper published in Owosso, Michigan. The name comes from two preceding papers: the ''Evening Argus'' and ''Press-American'', which merged in 1916. The paper's earliest antecedent is the Owosso ''American'', whic ...
'', Google News, July 18, 1985
*In February 1988, Kenneth Hasson, of Los Angeles, was arrested for bringing of cocaine
Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally for its euphoria, euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from t ...
, worth $11 million, through the airport. Hasson and an accomplice were sentenced to life terms in prison.[Michigan High Court Taking Up Challenge to 'Drug Lifer' Law](_blank)
''Toledo Blade
''The Blade'', also known as the ''Toledo Blade'', is a newspaper in Toledo, Ohio published daily online and printed Thursday and Sunday by Block Communications. The newspaper was first published on December 19, 1835.
Overview
The first issue o ...
'', Google News, May 10, 1992
*On May 20, 1990, a Piper PA-28-181 crashed in East Lansing
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Most of the city lies within Ingham County with a smaller portion extending north into Clinton County. At the 2020 Census the population was 47,741. Located directly east of the state capital ...
on approach to the Lansing airport, fatally wounding the pilot. The single-engine plane, en route from Mason, encountered instrument problems and cloudy conditions.[Brief of Accident](_blank)
National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incid ...
, NTSB.gov, December 8, 1992. Retrieved June 3, 2011
*On February 11, 1991, a Glasair
Glasair Aviation USA, LLC is a Chinese-owned aircraft manufacturer based in Arlington, Washington that produces the Glasair and Sportsman 2+2 line of homebuilt aircraft. More than 3000 Glasair kits have been delivered worldwide.
History
Tom ...
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.[Associated Press]
No One Injured in Small Plane Crash
''Ludington Daily News
The ''Ludington Daily News'' is the daily newspaper of Ludington, Michigan
Ludington ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Mason County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,076.
Ludington is a h ...
'', Google News, February 12, 1991
*On August 23, 1991, about 250 hamsters and gerbils shipped from Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...
chewed through packing boxes, escaped, and scattered throughout Lansing's airport.[Associated Press]
250 Gerbils Escape, Scatter at Airport
''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', also known simply as the PG, is the largest newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Descended from the ''Pittsburgh Gazette'', established in 1786 as the first newspaper published west of the All ...
'', Google News, August 24, 1991
*On September 27, 1993, a Midwest Flying Service Aero Commander
Aero Commander was an aircraft manufacturer formed in 1944. In subsequent years, it became a subsidiary of Rockwell International and Gulfstream Aerospace. The company ceased aircraft production in 1986.
History
Aero was formed in Culver City, ...
690A twin-engine turbo prop crashed near Lansing en route to Battle Creek
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which en ...
shortly after takeoff. The plane was experiencing electrical problems and reportedly changed direction and altitude continually before colliding with trees. The crew of two was killed.[Factual Report Aviation](_blank)
National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB.gov, August 4, 1994
*On June 6, 1996, Continental Express
Continental Express was the operating brand name used by a number of independently owned regional airlines providing commuter airliner and regional jet feeder service under agreement with Continental Airlines. In 2012 at the time of the merger be ...
flight 3123 from Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
sustained minor damage from a small cockpit fire en route to Lansing. The Beech 1900 aircraft landed safely in Lansing with no injuries to the two crew and 16 passengers.[Factual Report Aviation](_blank)
National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB.gov, February 6, 1997
*On November 24, 2004, Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines Corp. (NWA) was a major American airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines, Inc. by a merger. The merger, approved on October 29, 2008, made Delta the largest airline in the world until the American Airlines ...
Flight 1933 from Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...
slid off the runway into a field. The flight had been delayed due to inclement weather. No injuries were reported.[LaFave, Nick]
Plane Skids Off Runway at Capital City Airport
, WILX.com, November 25, 2004
*On July 22, 2007, Northwest Flight 619 to Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
had to return to Lansing after takeoff due to smoke appearing in the cockpit. No injuries were reported.[Aspiras, Jessica]
Airplane Forced to Return to Airport
WILX.com, July 23, 2007
*On April 18, 2008, a Beech
Beech (''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. Recent classifications recognize 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, ''Engleriana'' and ''Fagus''. The ''Engle ...
twin-engine airplane flying from 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
Before 1837, the land where Tomaha ...
, sustained heavy damage when its landing gear retracted while landing. No serious injuries to the pilot and passenger were reported.[Factual Data Collection Report of Accident](_blank)
National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB.gov, May 15, 2008
*On July 5, 2009, a Cessna
Cessna () is an American brand of general aviation aircraft owned by Textron Aviation since 2014, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Originally, it was a brand of the Cessna Aircraft Company, an American general aviation aircraft manufacturing c ...
single-engine airplane made an emergency landing after circling the airport for 45 minutes due to faulty landing gear
Landing gear is the undercarriage of an aircraft or spacecraft that is used for takeoff or landing. For aircraft it is generally needed for both. It was also formerly called ''alighting gear'' by some manufacturers, such as the Glenn L. Martin ...
. The plane was damaged; the pilot and two passengers were not injured.[Teasley, Tiffany]
Single Engine Plane Makes Emergency Landing At Local Airport
WILX.com, July 5, 2009
*On February 14, 2010, Delta Connection
Delta Connection is a regional airline brand name for Delta Air Lines, under which a number of individually owned regional airlines primarily operate short- and medium-haul routes. Mainline major air carriers often use regional airlines to ope ...
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
The Bombardier CRJ100 and CRJ200 (previously Canadair CRJ100 and CRJ200) is a regional jet designed and manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace between 1991 and 2006, the first of the Bombardier CRJ family.
The ''Canadair Regional Jet'' (CRJ) ...
, en route to Detroit, was delayed for three hours. The passenger was detained by airport police and Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, ...
agents.[Kim, Katie]
Man Helps Restrain Panicked Passenger on Delta Flight
WILX.com, February 15, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2010
*On June 10, 2010, a Transportation Security Administration
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that has authority over the security of transportation systems within, and connecting to the United States. It was created ...
(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.[Police ID Woman in Suicide at Capital Region International Airport](_blank)
''Lansing State Journal'', lsj.com, June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010
*On November 27, 2012, a Cessna 177RG
The Cessna 177 Cardinal is a light single-engine, high-wing general aviation aircraft produced by Cessna. It was intended to replace the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. First announced in 1967, it was produced from 1968 to 1978.Christy, Joe: ''The Complet ...
lost power during takeoff on runway 10R/28L. The plane made an emergency glide landing on the west end of the runway, closing the runway for one hour and canceling a Delta Connection flight from Detroit. The pilot and two passengers were hospitalized with back pain.[Emergency Landing at Capital Region International Airport](_blank)
WILX.com, November 28, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012[Pilot makes emergency landing at Lansing airport](_blank)
''Lansing State Journal'', lsj.com, November 28, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012
*On October 3, 2019, five people were killed and one was critically injured when a small plane crash landed at the airport.
*On August 24, 2021, a single-engine Cirrus Vision SF50
The Cirrus Vision SF50, also known as the Vision Jet, is a single-engine very light jet designed and produced by Cirrus Aircraft of Duluth, Minnesota, United States.
After receiving deposits starting in 2006, Cirrus unveiled an aircraft mock ...
crashed near the airport and was engulfed in flames. All four passengers escaped with no injuries. The incident is currently under investigation.
Photo gallery
Image:Lansing_Capital_Region_International_Airport_Entrance_Sign.jpg, Capital Region International Airport entrance sign from Grand River Ave.
Image:Lansing_Capital_Region_International_Airport_Arrival_Departure_Sign.jpg, Arrival, Departure, and Port of Entry sign along Capital City Blvd.
Image:Lansing Capital Region International Airport Terminal.jpg, Airport terminal and control tower from Aviation Tech Drive
Image:Lansing Capital Region International Airport Hangars Terminal.jpg, Airport hangars and terminal from Grand River Ave.
Image:Lansing Capital Region International Airport Terminal Entrance.jpg, Ticketing/Departures terminal entrance
Image:Lansing Capital Region International Airport Terminal Airline Ticketing.jpg, Airline ticketing area in terminal
Image:Lansing Capital Region International Airport Terminal Baggage Claim.jpg, Baggage claim area in terminal
Image:Lansing Capital Region International Airport Runway 6-24 - May 2011.jpg, Runway 06/24 from Grand River Ave. facing northeast
See also
* List of airports in Michigan
This is a list of airports in Michigan (a U.S. state), grouped by type and sorted by location. It contains all public-use and military airports in the state. Some private-use and former airports may be included where notable, such as airports that ...
* Port Lansing
* Port of Entry
In general, a port of entry (POE) is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has border security staff and facilities to check passports and visas and to inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. Internati ...
* Lansing, Michigan Transportation
* Mason Jewett Field
Mason Jewett Field is a public use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) 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 ...
References
;Notes
:2. The first airfield (1919) was bounded by South Everett Drive to the west, West Kalamazoo Street to the north, South Jenison Avenue to the east, and West St Joseph Street to the south, near present-day J. W. Sexton High School
J. W. Sexton High School is a public school located on the western edge of Lansing, Michigan, United States, in the Lansing School District. The principal is currently Daniel Boggan. The Sexton J-Dubbs are members of the Capital Area Activit ...
. The second (1920) was bounded by South Cedar Street to the west, East Holmes Road to the north, South Pennsylvania Avenue to the east, and West Cavanaugh Road to the south.
;Footnotes
;Bibliography
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External links
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Capital Region Airport Authority
Mid-Michigan Business Travel Coalition
at city-data.com
* at Michigan DOT
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is a constitutional government principal department of the US state of Michigan. The primary purpose of MDOT is to maintain the Michigan State Trunkline Highway System which includes all Interstate ...
Airport Directory
*
*
*
*
**OpenNa
airspace and charts for KLAN
{{Central Michigan
1928 establishments in Michigan
Airports established in 1928
Airports in Michigan
Buildings and structures in Clinton County, Michigan
Buildings and structures in Lansing, Michigan
Economy of Lansing, Michigan
Historic American Engineering Record in Michigan
Transportation in Clinton County, Michigan
Transportation in Ingham County, Michigan
Transportation in Lansing, Michigan
Foreign trade zones of the United States