Lambert-St. Louis International Airport

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Plans to Modernize Further

If you are planning to scout around the St. Louis, Missouri area, then your flight should land at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport that is the main airport serving that region. Passenger traffic at this airport has been on a see-saw trend lately but culminated at 15.2 million passengers as of 2006. More than 88 non-stop flights head for both national and international destinations, originating from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

Carriers serving the airport

Aside from the growth of connection traffic for Southwest Airlines and American Airlines at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, more and more carriers are either introducing their services there or adding more service flights. Some carriers which have been adding more service flights at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (since 2003) are USA 3000 Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and AirTran Airways.

Historical value of the airport

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is a public airport owned by the City of St. Louis. It has historical value to the US since it was here that the first US president to attempt to fly - President Theodore Roosevelt - hitched a ride on one of the planes of the Wright Brothers during one of their tours. In 1927, daredevil and long-distance pilot Charles Lindbergh flew to Paris from this St. Louis airport to set a record for long-distance flying.

At present, Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is the fourth-biggest hub maintained by American Airlines. American Airlines was actually the first carrier to land a commercial flight at Runway 11-29 in 2006 shortly after that runway was completed.

Expansion of the airport

Runway 11-29 is an important cog in the progress of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. It was envisioned to permit simultaneous use of parallel runways in case the weather turns foul. To construct the runway, an investment of $1 billion was required, and many families in Bridgeton, Missouri had to be relocated. However, airlines and pilots who want to reduce fuel costs try not to use Runway 11-29 because it is located some distance from the two terminals.

The Airport Experience program being implemented at the airport aims to modernize the two terminals in a very thorough manner. In the end, this project will require a $105- million budget so it can be finished by 2012.

Facilities and amenities of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport

The airport presently maintains four concrete runways, and two terminals - namely the Main Terminal which is home to the A to D gates; and the East Terminal composed only of E gates. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport also has the distinction of operating the James S. McDonnel USO facility at the Main Terminal lower level. The USO facility here is one of the biggest in the US, providing services to more than 120,000 military personnel of both genders every year. This USO facility operates round-the-clock, 365 days a year.

Transportation to and from the airport

You may opt to either buy a day pass, or a two-hour pass (for one ride), for a ride on the Metrolink light rail system. The Metrolink maintains stops at the East and Main Terminals. However, a ticket bought at the airport stations is more expensive than a ticket bought at other stops on the system.

You may also get a ride on the Metrobus Service operated by the Lambert Bus Port.

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