MidAmerica St. Louis Airport

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (IATA: BLV, ICAO: KBLV, FAA LID: BLV) is a public use airport next to Scott Air Force Base. It is located 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi) east of downtown St. Louis and 14 nmi (26 km; 16 mi) east of the central business district of Belleville in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States.[1] Opened in 1997, MidAmerica is the secondary domestic passenger airport for the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area, after the larger St. Louis Lambert International Airport. It is a joint-use airport and is currently served by one airline, Allegiant Air.

For the military use of this facility, see Scott Air Force Base.

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport

Scott Air Force Base
USGS 1998 orthophoto
Summary
Airport typeMilitary/Public
OwnerSt. Clair County, Illinois & USAF
ServesGreater St. Louis
Elevation AMSL459 ft / 140 m
Coordinates38°32′43″N 089°50′07″W
Websiteflymidamerica.com
Map
BLV is located in Illinois
BLV
BLV
Location of airport in Illinois
BLV is located in the United States
BLV
BLV
BLV (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
14L/32R 10,000 3,048 Concrete
14R/32L 8,006 2,440 Asphalt/concrete
Statistics (2020)
Aircraft operations25,612
Based aircraft27
Passengers245,028

The airport had 152,278 passenger enplanements in 2018[2] (302,000 total passengers[3]), according to the Federal Aviation Administration. It was included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–21, which categorized it as a primary commercial service airport because it surpassed 10,000 annual enplanements.[4] It is the fifth-busiest of the 12 commercial airports In Illinois.

History

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport was created to alleviate crowding at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, but had been criticized as a pork barrel project.[5] Featured several times on a "Fleecing of America" segment on the NBC Nightly News, it was called a "Gateway to Nowhere" by Tom Brokaw, costing taxpayers $313 million.[6] Congestion at Lambert Airport has not been a problem since American Airlines ended hub operations at the airport and a new billion-dollar runway opened in 2006.[7][8]

As of 2021, nearly $125 million in county taxpayers has been spent covering the airport's deficits. The airport's biggest revenue source is fuel sales to Boeing, which test-flies drones for the U.S. Navy. The airport will be paying its construction debt from 1995 until 2045, costing taxpayers an additional $88 million.[9]

Supporters credit MidAmerica's additional runway with saving Scott AFB from closure during the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process. They also describe MidAmerica as a "Gateway to the World", citing a new cargo terminal and customs facility designed to handle international cargo.[10]

Passenger service has increased since Allegiant Air restarted service in 2012 with flights to 12 destinations.[11][12] In 2018, MidAmerica Airport was named "Airport of the Year" for airports that see more than 10,000 passengers annually by the Illinois Department of Transportation.[13] In 2021, a Bureau of Transportation study found it among the nation's five least-expensive airports.[14]

Passenger airlines

Four passenger airlines have operated from MidAmerica; as of 2021, only Allegiant Airlines operates from the airport at the present time.

Facilities

Passenger facilities

From the onset, the passenger terminal was planned for easy expansion if needed. The passenger terminal sits in a 250-foot-wide by 700-foot-long expansion envelope bounded by a runway and parking lot. The initial build-out has two upper-level departure gates with jet bridges and some ground-level gates to serve smaller commuter aircraft.

In September 2020, the airport received $6.5 million in federal grants to expand the terminal. There are four phases to the terminal expansion. The first phase was completed in spring 2020. The second phase began in late 2020 and was to be completed in 2021. The final phase is to be completed by the end of 2023. The project will add 41,000 square feet to the existing terminal. This space will be used for a relocated and upgraded security checkpoint, two additional jet bridges, a service animal relief area, family restrooms, a nursing room, an expanded departure lounge and added room for concessions. It will also better accommodate people with disabilities.[20]

Cargo facilities
  • Dual Category II Instrument Landing Systems
  • Simultaneous instrument approaches
  • Runway 14L/32R, 10,000 feet
  • Runway 14R/32L, 8,006 feet
  • Unconstrained Air Traffic Control and air space environment
  • Immediate Interstate access via I-64, I-44, I-55 and I-70
  • Air cargo facility development sites ranging from 10 to 200+ acres
  • An initial air cargo ramp of 258,000 square feet or 5.9 acres
  • An air cargo terminal site adjacent to the ramp
  • Air rescue and fire Index C facility, capable of adjustment, as operational requirements dictate
  • New state-of-the-art control tower, 24-hours daily, seven days a week
  • New fuel farm
  • Aircraft handling services
  • Foreign Trade Zone
  • Enterprise Zone

Runways and taxiways

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport covers 7,003 acres (2,834 ha) and has two runways:[1]

  • Runway 14L/32R: 10,000 by 150 feet (3,048 x 46 m), surface: concrete, ILS equipped
  • Runway 14R/32L: 8,006 by 150 feet (2,440 x 46 m), surface: asphalt/concrete, ILS equipped

MidAmerica's construction included the creation of the 10,000-foot (3,000 m) 14L/32R (east) runway, adding 1,000 feet (300 m) to the existing west runway, adding passenger and cargo terminals on the east side of the facility, and building a 7,000-foot (2,100 m) taxiway connecting the two runways. A new air traffic control tower staffed by Air Force personnel was constructed midway between the two runways.[21]

In September 2022, construction began on an extension to Taxiway Lima as well as a new Taxiway Bridge over Crooked Creek to connect the airport to a new aviation business park. A new Boeing Production Facility is already underway as the first tenant to build the MQ-25 unmanned aircraft.[22]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
Allegiant Air Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Las Vegas, Orlando/Sanford, Punta Gorda (FL), Sarasota, St. Petersburg/Clearwater
Seasonal: Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville (FL), Myrtle Beach, Phoenix/Mesa, Savannah[23] 		[24]

Cargo

Between late 2009 and August 2010, one air cargo company, LAN Cargo, used the airport to import flowers from Bogota, Colombia, totaling one flight each week until the county abruptly ended the flights.[25][26]

Both Boeing Defense, Space & Security and North Bay Produce currently have facilities on site. North Bay Produce primarily ships blueberries from Michigan and Chile into the airport; they use a completely refrigerated warehouse for packaging and distribution. Boeing uses the facility at MidAmerica for sub-assemblies for multiple military aircraft.[27][28]

AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
AirNet Express Dallas–Addison
Flight Development Dallas–Addison

Maintenance and operations

The civil operations are administered by St. Clair County, Illinois, which also pays the maintenance costs for the east runway. Over half of all air operations at the facility utilize the eastern runway.[10]

Statistics

USDOT's most current data indicates 308,000 passengers used BLV between January 2018 and December 2018[3] and the airport was ranked 204th in the United States. USDOT's Calendar Year 2016 data indicated 80,000 enplanements (157,000 total passengers[3]), nearly triple the 2015 total. FAA's Calendar Year 2015 data indicated 32,589 enplanements[2] (63,000 total passengers[3]), nearly double the 2014 total. In calendar year 2014, the airport was ranked 363 in the United States with 16,328 passenger enplanements. This was a 20.57% increase over 2013.[29] In calendar year 2013, the dual-use facility was ranked 373 in the United States with 13,542 passenger enplanements. This placed it ninth in the state of Illinois.[30] By comparison, St. Louis Lambert International Airport was ranked 31 in the United States with over 6.21 million enplanements.

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2020, the airport had 17,500 aircraft operations, an average of 48 per day: 57% military, 32% general aviation, and 11% scheduled commercial. At that time there were 34 aircraft based at this airport: 27 military, 5 helicopters, and 2 single engine airplanes.[1][31]

Busiest domestic routes out of BLV (April 2022 – March 2023)[3]
Rank Airport Passengers Carrier
1 Florida Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Florida 42,000 Allegiant
2 Florida Punta Gorda, Florida 26,000 Allegiant
3 Florida St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida 25,000 Allegiant
4 Florida Orlando/Sanford, Florida 20,000 Allegiant
5 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada 14,000 Allegiant
6 Florida Sarasota, Florida 14,000 Allegiant
7 Florida Jacksonville, Florida 6,000 Allegiant
8 Georgia (U.S. state) Savannah, Georgia 4,000 Allegiant
9 Arizona Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona 4,000 Allegiant
10 Florida Fort Lauderdale, Florida 3,000 Allegiant

Total passengers (BLV)

Annual passenger traffic at BLV airport. See Wikidata query.
Annual domestic passenger traffic, 2005–present[3]
Year Total passengers  % change
2005 28,000 Steady
2006 49,550 Increase 76.96%
2007 51,370 Increase 3.67%
2008 47,030 Decrease 8.45%
2009 374 Decrease 99.20%
2010 274 Decrease 26.74%
2011 0 Decrease 100%
2012 3,830 Steady
2013 25,550 Increase 567.10%
2014 31,340 Increase 18.47%
2015 62,730 Increase 100.16%
2016 157,433 Increase 150.97%
2017 245,028 Increase 55.64%
2018 302,409 Increase 23.42%
2019 303,801 Increase 0.46%
2020 215,092 Decrease 29.2%
2021 318,802 Increase 48.2%
2022 324,000 Increase 1.4%

Public transportation

The St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) operates the MidAmerica Airport Shuttle, which offers service between the airport and the Shiloh–Scott station of MetroLink, the St. Louis region's light rail system. The trip takes about 20 minutes, with buses arriving every 40 minutes, starting three hours prior to the first scheduled flight of the day and continuing until 35 minutes after the last flight of the day.[32]

From Shiloh–Scott station, the Red Line provides direct service to downtown St. Louis. Additionally, MetroLink provides direct or indirect service to the Central West End, Clayton, Lambert Airport, and suburban areas in both Illinois and Missouri.

SCCTD is planning a 5.2-mile (8.4 km) extension of MetroLink from Shiloh–Scott station to MidAmerica Airport. The expansion will include a 2.6-mile (4.2 km) double-track section, a 2.6-mile (4.2 km) single-track section and a passenger station at the end of the alignment near the airport.[33] The project received $96 million in funding from the State of Illinois in 2019.[34] Design work was completed in the summer of 2022 and a request for proposals was released that November. The extension is expected to be operational by spring 2025.[35][36]

Flight testing

In late April 2019, the first MQ-25 Stingray test aircraft (T-1 or "Tail 1") was taken by road from Boeing's technical plant at St. Louis's Lambert International Airport across the Mississippi River to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, which is conjoined to Scott Air Force Base. Test flying was expected to commence at MidAmerica late in 2019, after taxi tests and the Federal Aviation Administration’s certifying the aircraft and granting airspace for flight testing.[37] The first test flight occurred on September 19, 2019.[38]

In Addition: "Boeing plans to build three new, state-of-the-art facilities in St. Louis,", "These facilities, as well as the new Advanced Composite Fabrication Center in Arizona, and the new MQ-25 production facility at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, represent more than a $1 billion investment."

References
  1. FAA Airport Form 5010 for BLV PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. effective June 15, 2023.
  2. "Passenger Boarding (Enplanement) and All-Cargo Data for U.S. Airports". faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. December 20, 2019.
  3. "Transtats: Belleville, IL: Scott AFB MidAmerica St Louis (BLV)". Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
  4. "2017–2021 NPIAS Report". faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. September 30, 2016.
  5. Tom Brokaw. MidAmerica St. Louis Airport was featured several times on a "Fleecing of America" segment on the NBC evening news.January 5, 1998. May 27, 1999. August 16, 2000.
  6. Marson, Barrett (January 5, 1998). "NBC 'Fleecing' Telecast Snipes At MidAmerica Airport". Belleville News-Democrat. Archived from the original on November 10, 2006. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  7. "Saint Louis - Business and Technology News". Archived from the original on October 27, 2006. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  8. "Lambert Airport Opens New Runway: Reduces Weather Delays, Serves Passenger Growth". Archived from the original on December 31, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  9. "Southern Illinois taxpayers spend $124.5M since 2002 to keep airport open". Illinois Policy. September 28, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  10. Imbs, Christine (March 2006). "Gateway to the World". St. Louis Commerce Magazine. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  11. Bustos, Joseph (November 29, 2016). "Allegiant Air to increase flights from MidAmerica this summer". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  12. "Allegiant Air adds $49 flights to Charleston International out of MidAmerica Airport". Belleville News-Democrat. January 12, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  13. Landis, Kelsey (May 22, 2018). "MidAmerica Named Best Airport in the State by IDOT". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  14. "MidAmerica St. Louis Airport Among Top 5 Least Expensive U.S. Airports". Aviation Pros. August 26, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  15. https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/paa/pa0105/pa0105-1.jpg
  16. https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/paa/pa0105/pa0105-2.jpg
  17. "TransMeridian Airlines to Finish Year at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport". Belleville News-Democrat, Distributed by the Associated Press. April 6, 2005.
  18. "Pan Am Will Stop Flying To MidAmerica". St Louis Post-Dispatch (MO). November 2, 2001. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015.
  19. "Final airline departing MidAmerica airport". UPI.com. November 17, 2008.
  20. Landis, Kelsey (September 11, 2020). "St. Clair County taxpayers will spend $3 million on MidAmerica Airport renovations". Belleville News-Democrat.
  21. Grandone, Jim (February 2000). "Emerging Roles of Scott Air Force Base & MidAmerica". St. Louis Commerce Magazine. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  22. "$37.7 Million Taxiway Lima and Bridge Project Underway at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport". RiverBender.com. September 11, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  23. "Allegiant Announces Largest Service Expansion In Company History With 3 New Cities And 44 Nonstop Routes". Allegiant Airlines.
  24. "Flight Information". Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  25. Louis, St. (October 3, 2011). "MidAmerica Airport's flower flights cost taxpayers millions".
  26. NBC Nightly News, January 12, 2009
  27. Lippmann;Proud, Rachel;Kelsey (February 7, 2011). "Boeing starts production at new Mascoutah, Ill. facility".{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. Dittman, Megan (June 15, 2012). "North Bay Produce Comes to MidAmerica Airport". Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  29. "Enplanements at All Commercial Service Airports, 2014". Federal Aviation Administration. September 22, 2015.
  30. "Commercial Service Airports CY2013 Enplanements" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  31. "AirNav: KBLV – Scott Air Force Base/MidAmerica Airport". AirNav. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  32. "MidAmerica Airport Shuttle". St. Clair County Transit District. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  33. "Trajectory for Transit in 2022 Points to Need for Continued Collaboration". January 19, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  34. Schlinkmann, Mark (June 14, 2019). "Illinois to pay for long-sought MetroLink extension to MidAmerica Airport". STLtoday.com. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  35. "When will MetroLink extension to MidAmerica Airport be complete? How much will it cost? - MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) | Mascoutah, IL". flymidamerica.com. July 14, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  36. Menn, Mackenzie (November 21, 2022). "MetroLink Expansion in Illinois is on Track". St. Clair County Transit District. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  37. "Boeing's MQ-25 refueling drone moved to air base for flight testing". Space Daily. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  38. "Boeing: MQ-25 Completes First Test Flight". www.boeing.com. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
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