Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport takes responsibility for flights

and noise Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport used to be ranked 16th among the biggest airports in the world (based on 2004 passenger traffic.) As of 2006, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport was considered the 12th- biggest airport in the entire United States and in 2005, was the 19th-top airport in the world (all based on number of passengers.)

Flights avoid nearby mall

Though Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport seems to have dropped in ranking from 16th to 19th among the world's busiest airports, it still has its good points that make it a good airport to have in the Minnesota community. For one thing, airport officials have instituted a careful flight pattern program so that none of the low-altitude flights heading to or coming from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport will hover over the Mall of America.

Another point in its favor is that the airport has been working with communities near the airport so that residents will not be badly affected by noise from the many flights that operate out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Though noise-reduction efforts have tapered off recently due to lack of funds, there are still plans to continue the noise- reduction program into the near future.

Airlines operating at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

Many carriers also have faith in the facilities of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport - carriers such as Sun Country Airlines, Champion Air, and Northwest Airlines maintain the hub as one of their main US hubs. Other carriers (which are connected to Northwest Airlines under the Airlink system) operate out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport as well, such as Pinnacle Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, and Compass Airlines. The most influential among these carriers is definitely Northwest Airlines since its passengers make up over 80% of the passenger traffic for the entire airport.

Cargo facilities of the airport

For international cargo movements, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is home to certain carriers devoted to freight movements. These are Bemidji Airlines, UPS, Kitty Hawk Aircargo, FedEx, DHL, and Capital Cargo International Airlines.

Expansion plans at the airport

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport intends to meet the higher demand for air service to Europe, by starting non-stop flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport sometime in the future. Another move projected for 2008 will give Northwest Airlines more influence over the Lindbergh Terminal (one of the two terminals at the airport). In this modernization plan, Northwest Airlines will gain exclusive rights over the use of Lindbergh Terminal, which it will jointly use with other SkyTeam carriers. Carriers which do not belong to the SkyTeam group of carriers will be allowed use of the other terminal (the Humphrey Terminal.) In response to this plan, the airport will increase the capacity of the Humphrey Terminal to 22 gates. A new parking ramp will be built at the Humphrey Terminal as well. This will push through even though Northwest Airlines and Mesaba Airlines recently declared bankruptcy.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport currently relies on four runways to serve its many carriers. These runways are either built out of asphalt and concrete, or concrete alone. Hopefully, the expansion of the airport will benefit the nearby communities, and future air travelers as well.

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