La Crosse Regional Airport

La Crosse Regional Airport
Terminal building
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of La Crosse
ServesLa Crosse, Wisconsin
OpenedMarch 1947 (1947-03)[1]
Time zoneCST (UTC−06:00)
 • Summer (DST)CDT (UTC−05:00)
Elevation AMSL655 ft / 200 m
Coordinates43°52′45″N 091°15′24″W / 43.87917°N 91.25667°W / 43.87917; -91.25667
Public transit accessBus transport MTU:  7  (demand-response)
Websitewww.lseairport.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
LSE is located in Wisconsin
LSE
LSE
Location of airport in Wisconsin
LSE is located in the United States
LSE
LSE
LSE (the United States)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18/36 8,742 2,665 Concrete
13/31 6,050 1,844 Asphalt
4/22 5,199 1,585 Asphalt
Statistics
Aircraft operations (2022)18,143
Based aircraft (2024)63
Departing passengers (12 months ending July 2024)33,630
Cargo (lb.) (12 months ending July 2024)262
La Crosse Regional Airport tower

La Crosse Regional Airport (IATA: LSE[3], ICAO: KLSE, FAA LID: LSE) is a public airport located 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) northwest of La Crosse, a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States.[2] Until August 2013 the airport was called La Crosse Municipal Airport.[4]

It occupies the northern area of French Island, next to the Mississippi River. La Crosse's airport is the closest scheduled airline airport to the U.S. Army Fort McCoy base near Sparta, Wisconsin.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2023–2027 categorized it as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.[5] It is the sixth busiest of eight commercial airports in Wisconsin in terms of passengers served.[6]

History

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The La Crosse Airport can accommodate the largest aircraft. One of the largest passenger jets, the Boeing 747 Air Force One (AF1), has made overnight trips to this airport with every U.S. President for the last 20 years [when?].

In 1998 President Bill Clinton flew to La Crosse in AF1 Boeing 707 (VC-137C SAM 26000). This was the last time a US President flew on this plane, which was retired to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. One of the world's largest cargo jets, a Russian Antonov An-124, has flown to La Crosse airport. The US military C-5A cargo and KC-10 Extender cargo/refueling jets have been at the annual summer Deke Slayton Airshow (area astronaut), Airfest at the airport, along with vintage and modern military and private planes. The show has also featured the US Navy Blue Angels and the US Air Force Thunderbirds. In the past, Sun Country Airlines has flown DC-10 (380 passenger seats) on charter flights from La Crosse to other cities. The New Orleans Saints NFL football team flew the 180-seat Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 planes each week to La Crosse for summer camp, and to and from NFL cities for pre-season games.

The airport's control tower was one of 143 towers slated for closure by the FAA due to the 2013 federal sequester.[7][8] However, the closures did not occur after Congress restored funding to the FAA.[9]

Facilities

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The airport covers 1,380 acres (558 ha) at an elevation of 655 feet (200 m). It has three runways: the primary runway 18/36 is 8,742 by 150 feet (2,665 m × 46 m) concrete; 13/31 is 6,050 by 150 feet (1,844 m × 46 m) asphalt; 4/22 is 5,199 by 150 feet (1,585 m × 46 m) asphalt.[2]

The original runway layout is still in use, with many improvements. The 8,742-foot paved runway is the fourth longest in Wisconsin, after runways at MKE, MSN, and VOK airfields.

The airport has a modern two-story passenger terminal with three gates. The following are provided:

There are 11 corporate hangars and eight multi-aircraft T-hangars on the airport property. There is a cellphone-use free parking area for those awaiting passenger arrivals.

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2022, the airport had 18,143 aircraft operations, an average of 50 per day: 70% general aviation, 26% air taxi / airline and 4% military. In August 2024, there were 63 aircraft based at this airport: 49 single-engine, 5 multi-engine, 8 jet and 1 glider.[2]

La Crosse Regional Airport
La Crosse airport

Airlines and destinations

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American Airlines, served by American Eagle, has three daily departures and arrivals with direct service to Chicago. Sun Country Airlines provides periodic Boeing 737 flights to cities such as Bullhead City, Arizona (next to Laughlin, Nevada).

As of April 4, 2023, American Eagle (Air Wisconsin) flies the CRJ-200 for all flights to La Crosse from Chicago.

Passenger

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AirlinesDestinations
American Eagle Chicago–O'Hare

Cargo

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AirlinesDestinations
UPS Airlines Minneapolis/St. Paul

Statistics

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Number of daily flights

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Airline Airport Daily flights
American Eagle Chicago–O'Hare 2-3 daily

Carrier shares

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Carrier shares (August 2023 – July 2024)[6]
Carrier Passengers (arriving and departing)
Air Wisconsin
51,350(75.44%)
Envoy
11,110(16.32%)
SkyWest
5,440(7.99%)

Top destinations

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American Eagle Embraer ERJ145
A Sun Country Airlines Boeing 737-800
Busiest domestic routes out of LSE
(August 2023 – July 2024)[6]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Chicago, IL (O’Hare) 33,630 American

Annual traffic

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Annual passenger traffic at LSE airport. See Wikidata query.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "History". La Crosse Regional Airport. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for LSE PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. effective August 8, 2024.
  3. ^ "IATA Airport Code Search (LSE: La Crosse Municipal)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  4. ^ Chris Hubbuch; Allison Geyer (August 12, 2013). "Use it or lose it: La Crosse airport attempts to lure fare-conscious travelers with convenience". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  5. ^ "NPIAS Report 2023-2027 Appendix A" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. October 6, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "RITA BTS Transtats – LSE". www.transtats.bts.gov. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  7. ^ "FAA Contract Tower Closure List". American Association of Airport Executives. March 22, 2013. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015.
  8. ^ "FAA: 149 control towers to close at small airports". USA Today. March 22, 2013.
  9. ^ Bloom, Betsy (May 11, 2013). "Airport tower to stay open". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
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