
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL – The six general aviation airports operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) grew their operations by 8% in 2021, with 352,195, takeoffs and landings, 26,151 more than in 2020.
“The strong demand for our general aviation system did not wane over the past year,” said Brian Ryks, CEO of the MAC. “Our general aviation airport system overall has seen double-digit growth in operations from 2019 to 2021, and the total number of aircraft based at our six reliever airports has held steady at more than 1,300. The amount of flight training occurring at our airports is very promising as airlines look to backfill large numbers of vacancies due to pilot retirements and focus on continued growth in demand.”
Despite the pandemic continuing in 2021, the general aviation airports continued to build on momentum from 2020, when they posted 2% growth over 2019 activity levels, according to officials.
“We have seen a resurgence in private business travel and in leisure and educational flights across our system of reliever airports during the past year,” said Joe Harris, director of reliever airports for the MAC. “In 2021, corporations began flying their business jets more often and the demand for flight training programs at our reliever airports has been off the charts. We expect these trends to continue into 2022 as more workers return to the office and pilots continue training at one of the many flight schools located at our relievers.”
St. Paul Downtown Airport (KSTP) and Airlake Airport (KLVN) in Lakeville saw the largest increases in total operations in 2021. Takeoffs and landings at KSTP, which serves more corporate activity than the other GA airports, increased by 29.8%, or more than 9,000 additional operations over 2020.
At KLVN, which serves primarily leisure flying and flight training, activity increased by 15.8%, or nearly 5,000 more operations in 2021 than 2020.
The only reliever airport to see a decrease in operations in 2021 was Crystal Airport (KMIC), located northwest of Minneapolis, where takeoffs and landings dropped by 4.2%, or around 1,600 operations.
MAC’s remaining three GA airports — Flying Cloud Airport (KFCM) in Eden Prairie, Lake Elmo Airport (21D), located between St. Paul and the St. Croix River, and Anoka County–Blaine (KANE), located just north of Minneapolis and St. Paul — each saw increases in operations ranging from 5% to 10%.

Continued investments at MAC’s reliever airports are planned for 2022, according to officials.
For instance, major improvements continue at Lake Elmo Airport to complete the relocation and extension of Runway 14-32, which will be paved later this year, they report. The new runway will span 3,500 feet and will allow the existing runway to be converted to taxiway. New lighting, signage, and other airfield safety improvements are also planned.
The MAC’s GA airports generate an estimated $756 million a year for the area economy and support more than 3,600 jobs.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission also operates Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (KMSP).