Capital Region International Airport

Capital Region International Airport, formerly known as Lansing Capital City Airport, is a public, Class C airport located 3 miles (5 km) northwest of downtown Lansing in DeWitt Township, Michigan. Small portions of the airport are located in Watertown Township, Delta Township, and the city of Lansing.

The airport is owned and operated by the Capital Region Airport Authority, an eight-member governing board. Three members represent Ingham County and three members represent the City of Lansing. Two ex officio members represent Eaton County and Clinton County. The Airport Authority also oversees nearby Jewett Field (TEW) in Mason, Michigan.

According to the Airport Authority, 257,350 people flew to or from the airport in 2010, a 40 percent drop from 2008, and a 61 percent drop since 2000.Capital Region International Airport is a focus city for Sun Country Airlines.

During the 2000s, Capital Region International Airport has seen the number of daily flights reduced from 35 to 12.[21] In May 2000 American Eagle Airlines discontinued its flights to Chicago-O'Hare, eliminating five daily flights and 23 positions at the Lansing airport.[22] Chicago Express/ATA Connection Airlines ended service from Lansing to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) in 2001. In October 2003 US Airways ended daily flights to its Pittsburgh hub. Continental Airlines suspended its daily flights to Cleveland effective January 2004. In 2005 Midwest Connect ended service to Milwaukee General Mitchell International Airport (MKE). In September 2007 Continental Airlines announced three daily flights from Lansing to the airline's hub in Cleveland to begin in May 2008; however, rising fuel costs and the delay of terminal expansion plans at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) caused Continental to suspend these flights before they began. Delta Air Lines announced in July 2008 that it was ending its three daily non-stop flights (via Comair) from Lansing to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) effective September 1, eliminating 26 jobs at Lansing's airport. Delta also offered non-stop flights from Lansing to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) from 2005 to 2007.

Several low cost carriers offered service to and from Lansing, with varying degrees of success. In July 2003 Allegiant Air began offering nonstop flights from Lansing to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS). The addition of the low cost carrier enabled the average fare from Lansing to drop by 35 percent.[29] Over the next few years, Allegiant added flights to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) in May 2005 and St. Petersburg-Clearwater (PIE) in December 2006. In November 2008 Allegiant announced that it would depart Lansing's airport and move to nearby Grand Rapids Gerald R. Ford International Airport effective January 2009, citing reduced competition from Detroit Metro Airport and financial incentives as the reasons for the move. In July 2004 Independence Air began nonstop flights from Lansing to Washington DC's Dulles International Airport (IAD). Northwest Airlines soon followed with similar flights to Dulles. Up to 11 direct flights a day were offered from Lansing to Washington DC between the two airlines, some flights as low as $29. Independence Air left the Lansing market in January 2005, citing high fuel prices and heavy competition from Northwest. In June 2005 Northwest moved their Lansing flights from Dulles to Reagan National Airport (DCA).

There have been several attempts at establishing international passenger service at the airport. In April 2004 Laker Airways Bahamas Ltd. announced flights from Lansing to the Bahamas with an intermediate stop at Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus, Ohio to begin that fall. In January 2008 Kenny Tours announced non-stop flights from Lansing to Shannon, Ireland, dubbed Shamrock Express, to begin in June 2008. In both cases, the service was canceled before flights began. Apple Vacations announced in July 2009 that starting in December they will offer weekly seasonal flights to Cancún, Mexico on USA3000 Airlines. These are the first non-stop international flights from Lansing.

Capital Region International Airport has three runways:

Runway 10R/28L: 8,506 feet (2,593 m) x 150 feet (46 m), Surface: Asphalt, grooved, ILS equipped

Runway 6/24: 5,002 feet (1,525 m) x 120 feet (37 m), Surface: Asphalt/Concrete, grooved

Runway 10L/28R: 3,601 feet (1,098 m) x 75 feet (23 m), Surface: Asphalt

Parking

The airport has both short and long term parking lots, with a combined capacity of 1,500 parking spaces. There is a 15 minute grace period in the short term parking lot. The short term lot is closer to the terminal building, though the long term lot generally provides lower rates. Several area hotels participate in the airport's "Park and Fly" program, in that they offer special room rates and free shuttle service for airport patrons.

Capital Region International Airport competes with nearby Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Grand Rapids Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), and the recent growth of Flint Bishop International Airport (FNT). In addition, the Michigan Flyer provides motorcoach service roundtrip from nearby East Lansing to Detroit Metro Airport eight times daily. In 2006 the Capital Region Airport Authority estimated that the airport lost approximately 162,000 passengers that year to nearby competing airports. The airport lost about $53 million in annual revenue as a result of the passenger losses. According to the Airport Authority, a January 2010 leakage study found that 550,000 of the 873,000 airline tickets sold from mid-Michigan in 2009 were to travelers using other Michigan airports: 45% of travelers flew (originated) from Detroit Metro Airport, 37% from Lansing, 8% from Grand Rapids, and 7.6% from Flint. This resulted in an economic loss of $108 million to the Mid-Michigan region. The lost revenue to Lansing's airport was approximately $17 million.