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.

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.

The Mid-Michigan Business Travel Coalition, Inc., formerly the Lansing Regional Business Travel Trust, was formed by the Airport Authority and the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2004. A coalition of the local business, education, and government community, the Travel Coalition seeks to promote the airport through negotiations with air carriers and area promotions.

In January 2011 the airport, city of Lansing, and DeWitt Township announced the establishment of the Lansing Aerotropolis, designed to encourage economic development within 1 mile (1.6 km) of the airport. The plan includes a 50-year 425 land, tax, and services agreement between the city and township.

The airport's most recent Master Plan was released in December 2006. The Plan identifies four major goals for the airport: Retain and expand scheduled passenger flights, increase charter operations, increase corporate and general aviation activities, and increase cargo activities. In order to achieve these goals, the airport over the long term endeavors to, among other things:

Construct a new terminal building at the airport

Interim terminal improvements including additional passenger loading bridges, rental car, and baggage claim facilities, and passenger security screening improvements

Construct a new control tower

Construct a new 9,000 feet (2,743 m) runway and connector taxiway to replace the existing 10L/28R runway

Extend the existing 6/24 runway to 7,785 feet (2,373 m)

Expand vehicle parking lot parking areas

Local road improvements for better access to nearby freeway I-69

Expand the existing business park at the airport

Cargo and sort facility expansions

T-hangar and access taxiway expansions for general aviation

The planned expansion at Capital Region International Airport calls for the replacement of a building occupied by Lansing Community College's aviation mechanics program. In June 2009 the College announced that it was relocating the program to nearby Mason Jewett Field (TEW). By February 2010 the program relocation plans were on hold, due to pending litigation.

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.

Aircraft operations

For the 12-month period ending November 30, 2010, the airport had 43,093 total aircraft operations (a 7 percent decrease from 2008 and a 48 percent decrease from 2007), with an average of 118 per day. 63% of the aircraft operations were general aviation, 33% were air taxi, 2% were scheduled commercial, and 2% were military. Of the 82 aircraft based at the airport, 66% were single engine, 26% were multi-engine, 5% were jet aircraft, and the remaining were helicopters and military aircraft.

Passenger aircraft landings dropped from 12,224 in 2000 to 3,623 in 2009, according to the Capital Region Airport Authority.