2025 proved to be another strong year for general aviation airports operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
New year-end data shows the six general aviation airports supported 387,302 operations (takeoffs or landings), an increase of 3.9% compared to 2024.
“We’ve seen three straight years of growth at the MAC’s general aviation airports, demonstrating that our recent, robust investments are enhancing capacity, safety and efficiency for the flying community and related businesses,” said Brian Ryks, CEO of the MAC. “We’re confident demand will continue to support this growth trajectory for our general aviation airports well into 2026.”
The MAC-owned and operated general aviation airports are situated within 30 minutes of the downtown areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They support business aviation, flight training, recreational flying, and aviation-related businesses while also helping relieve congestion at MAC’s flagship commercial airport, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (KMSP). That airport served more than 36 million passengers in 2025.
Flying Cloud Airport (KFCM) in Eden Prairie remained the busiest general aviation airport in the MAC system, logging 150,738 operations, a 13.6% increase over 2024 (132,744).
Crystal Airport (KMIC) saw an increase of more than 6,000 operations in 2025, a nearly 15% year-over-year increase.
St. Paul Downtown (KSTP), the MAC’s primary business-focused general aviation airport, logged 40,732 operations in 2025. That was a 4.1% decline from 2024.
The MAC recently prioritized KSTP for safety, operational and facility improvements. Runway 14-32 — STP’s primary runway and the longest general aviation runway in the MAC system — was closed for much of the summer of 2025 for reconstruction. That was part of a larger $12.5 million airfield safety improvement project. During construction, major business tenants that required a longer runway temporarily relocated flights to other MAC airports, according to airport officials.
Construction is also underway on a $19.9 million project for a new Customs and Border Protection (CBP) general aviation facility at KSTP. It will replace an extremely small existing CBP location within the KSTP administration building, airport officials said.
The MAC also approved a long-term plan for KFCM in 2025, which includes:
- Emphasizing airfield ground operations with proposed additional taxiways that reduce runway crossings and improve safety and efficiency of taxiing aircraft.
- Addressing existing FAA design standards, which include enhancing runway safety by installing Engineered Materials Arresting System beds on both ends of Runway 10R-28L.
- Developing a balanced approach to the 20-year hangar growth potential by including opportunities for both corporate and small aircraft uses.
The MAC will complete environmental review processes and vote on separate budget actions to formally approve specific projects identified in the Flying Cloud plan before starting construction, officials noted.
For more information: MetroAirports.org
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