Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport Template:Airport codes is a civil–military airport Template:Convert south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States.<ref name=FAA>Template:FAA-airport, effective April 17, 2025.</ref> It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2025–2029, in which it is categorized as a medium-hub primary commercial service facility.<ref name="NPIAS Airports">Template:Cite web</ref> Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport covers Template:Convert and has five asphalt and concrete runways.<ref>Template:Cite web FAA data effective April 17, 2025.</ref>

The airport is named in honor of United States Army General Billy Mitchell, who was raised in Milwaukee and is often regarded as the father of the United States Air Force.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="WIS HOF">Template:Cite web</ref> Along with being the primary airport for Milwaukee, Mitchell International is also used by travelers throughout Southern and Eastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since March 1941, the airport's weather station has been used as the official point for Milwaukee weather observations and records by the National Weather Service, whose area office is located in Sullivan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The original airfield was established in 1920 as Hamilton Airport by local business owner and aviator, Thomas F. Hamilton. Milwaukee County purchased the land on October 19, 1926, and renamed the airport Milwaukee County Airport.<ref name="WIS HOF"/> The first airport terminal there, the Hirschbuehl Farmhouse, opened in July 1927. That month, Northwest Airlines, Inc., began air service from Milwaukee to Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul. In August 1927, world-renowned aviator Charles Lindbergh visited the Milwaukee airport. Kohler Aviation Corporation began providing passenger service across Lake Michigan on August 31, 1929.

During the late depression years (1938–July 1940), a new two-story passenger terminal building was constructed by the Works Progress Administration. On March 17, 1941, the airport was renamed General Mitchell Field after Milwaukee native and air power advocate Brigadier General William "Billy" Mitchell.<ref name="MCHS">Template:Cite web</ref> On January 4, 1945, Mitchell Field was leased to the War Department for use as a World War II prisoner-of-war camp. Over 3,000 prisoners and 250 enlisted men stayed at the work camp. Escaped German prisoners were often surprised to find a large German American population just beyond the fence.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Trees, a skylight, and a clock in the rotunda created by the Concourse D "hammerhead" expansion project

The present terminal opened on July 20, 1955, and was designed by Leigh Fisher and Associates.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was renovated and expanded in 1985, designed by Miller, Meier, Kenyon, Cooper Architects and Planners Inc.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The "hammerhead" section of the D concourse was added in 1990.

On June 19, 1986, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors renamed the airport General Mitchell International Airport.<ref name="MCHS"/> The airport was formerly a hub for AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines, Midwest Airlines and North Central Airlines. The airport is owned and operated by Milwaukee County, but some Milwaukee business leaders and politicians have advocated privatization or leasing it to a third party for financial reasons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In February 2019, the airport was renamed from "General Mitchell International Airport" to "Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport," a rebranding meant to highlight the airport's location;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the old name is still used by the FAA and US government.

In March 2023, the airport was recognized by the Airports Council International as one of the best airports in the world, marking the second consecutive year the airport received this recognition. It was one of only 10 airports of any size in the U.S. to earn a 2022 ASQ "Best Airport" award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Expansion

Mitchell International expanded the runway safety area at the end of the runways after an accident on January 21, 2007, when Northwest Airlines Flight 1726 skidded off the runway following an aborted takeoff. According to the FAA, most airports are encouraged to have a runway safety area no shorter than Template:Convert, though many airports do not. Construction of the runway safety areas began at the end of summer 2009 and was completed in fall 2012.

There was also a "Master Plan" idea to increase the terminal area by stretching the existing terminal (in some cases, to almost double the size) or begin construction of a separate terminal. Nearly all cases would involve major reconstruction on the airport itself, and would have a huge impact on the airport's traffic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These plans were, however, drafted before Mitchell saw a significant reduction in carriers and flights. More recently, in 2012, there were discussions of closing one concourse as a cost-cutting move.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The approved 2018 Milwaukee County Budget contained initial funding for replacement of the now-closed Concourse E with a new International Terminal. It would replace the current International Arrivals Terminal (IAT) which has limited capacity and is not connected to the main terminal building.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The new terminal was planned to open in 2020 after the demolition of Concourse E was completed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During October 2018, airport and Milwaukee County officials set a timeline for design, construction and completion of the new International terminal. Pre-design work and bidding concluded in November 2018, with construction set to begin in early 2021 and likely concluding in mid-2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May 2020, Milwaukee County announced with the COVID-19 pandemic severely reducing the airport's operations and de facto ending international service temporarily, that the start of the project had been postponed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:As of, work has started on the redevelopment of Concourse E to build a new international concourse. This will allow the closure of the existing International Arrivals building, which is currently separate from the main terminal. Airport officials are expecting to conclude the project in 2027.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Facilities

Departures area at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport

Terminal

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport has one terminal with two concourses and 38 gates.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> All international arrivals lacking border pre-clearance must pass through the International Arrivals Building. Concourse C houses Southwest Airlines and United Airlines; and Concourse D houses the remaining airlines at the airport. There is also a Delta Sky Club in Concourse D.

The terminal houses the Mitchell Gallery of Flight (a non-profit museum) and a USO room on the concession level, along with the usual retail outlets, including a small food court and a branch of Renaissance Books which is believed to be the world's first used book store in an airport.<ref>"The Challenge of Airport Bookselling", Publishers Weekly, July 13, 1984</ref> There are play areas for children throughout the facility.<ref name="Snyder">Template:Cite news</ref> On-site enrollment for TSA PreCheck is available without an appointment at CLEAR kiosks in the main terminal seven days a week.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> An observation lot along the northern edge of the airport is open to the public and tower communications are rebroadcast using a low-power FM transmitter for visitors to tune in on their car radios. There is also a new lot on 6th Street, with a Wisconsin historical marker giving the airport's history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Previously located inside the security perimeter of a domestic concourse was a large clay "peace mural" from Leningrad, now Saint Petersburg in Russia. Created by Soviet citizens, it was exchanged for an equivalent clay mural made by Americans. The Milwaukee mural was covered up during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and subsequently moved to the customs screening area of the International Arrivals Building in 2024.

In April 2017, all airlines housed in Concourse E began moving to Concourse C. This would allow the airport to remodel the concourse and move International Arrivals processing into the terminal. Following redevelopment of Concourse E, the current International Arrivals Building just north of the main terminals will close. Airport officials have begun work on the project as of September 2025. The redeveloped concourse is designed to have between 2-5 gates per the airport's Implementation Plan, and is expected to be completed in 2027.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> <ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Con E MKE">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":0" />

Ground transportation

The Milwaukee Airport Rail Station has Amtrak service to Chicago and Saint Paul.

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is accessible from I-41/I-94 and WIS 38 via WIS 119.

Local transit:

• MCTS Green Line offers service to downtown and north shore suburbs. Route 80 serves the Airport from Oak Creek, downtown, and the Milwaukee's north side.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Intercity transit:

• Badger Coaches has frequent trips between Mitchell Airport, Downtown Milwaukee, Johnson Creek, Goerkes Corners, and Madison.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Airport Connection serves the airport, Sheboygan, and the Fox Valley Area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Amtrak's Milwaukee Airport Rail Station is served by the Hiawatha and the Borealis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The station is 3/4 of a mile from the airport. Free shuttle buses go between the train station and the baggage claim. Service mostly runs to Chicago or downtown Milwaukee, with one daily departure on the Borealis to Saint Paul.
• Amtrak Thruway bus service runs from the airport to Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton, and Green Bay.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Wisconsin Coach Lines, as Airport Express, operates frequently to O'Hare Airport (ORD) in Chicago and from Waukesha, Milwaukee (Downtown and the Amtrak/Greyhound Station), Racine and Kenosha.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Lamers Connect, operates daily service to/from Wausau with stops in Milwaukee (Intermodal Station), Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton, Waupaca and Stevens Point.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

U.S. Air Force

The airport also hosts the General Mitchell Air National Guard Base on the eastern area of the airport property, home to the 128th Air Refueling Wing (128 ARW), an Air Mobility Command (AMC)-gained unit of the Wisconsin Air National Guard flying the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker. The wing performs both Federal and State missions and consists of approximately 1000 Air National Guard personnel, both full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) and Air Reserve Technicians (ART), as well as traditional part-time guardsmen, available for worldwide deployment. The wing also maintains a KC-135 flight simulator, providing training proficiency for its own crews, as well as other KC-135 flight crews in other air refueling wings and air mobility wings in the Regular U.S. Air Force, the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard.

Prior to 2007, a second military installation on the southwestern portion of the airport property was known as "General Mitchell Air Reserve Station" and was home to the 440th Airlift Wing (440 AW), an Air Mobility Command (AMC)-gained unit of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) flying the C-130H Hercules. While based at General Mitchell ARS, the 440 AW numbered in excess of 1500 full-time AGR, ART and part-time traditional reservists. Pursuant to 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) action, the 440 AW relocated to Pope AFB, North Carolina, in 2007 and the former AFRC facilities were turned over to the Air National Guard, resulting in the installation's renaming.

Aircraft maintenance

In 2018, SkyWest Airlines established a maintenance base at the airport, bringing its total to 12 across the US.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Airlines and destinations

Destinations maps

Delta Air Lines jets on the Concourse D ramp at Mitchell International Airport

Cargo

Cargo ramp at Mitchell International Airport

Statistics

Airline market share

Largest airlines at MKE
(September 2024 – August 2025)<ref name="transtats.bts.gov">Template:Cite web</ref>

Rank	Airline	Passengers	Share
1	Southwest	2,271,000	39.25%
2	Delta	980,000	16.94%
3	American	614,000	10.61%
4	SkyWest	589,000	10.18%
5	Republic	245,000	4.23%
	Other	1,087,000	18.79%

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from MKE (September 2024 – August 2025)<ref name="transtats.bts.gov" />

Rank	Airport	Passengers	Carriers
1	Template:Flagicon Atlanta, Georgia	324,060	Delta
2	Template:Flagicon Denver, Colorado	280,500	Frontier, Southwest, United
3	Template:Flagicon Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois	199,360	American, United
4	Template:Flagicon Orlando, Florida	199,180	Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country
5	Template:Flagicon Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona	192,450	American, Southwest, Sun Country
6	Template:Flagicon Las Vegas, Nevada	158,160	Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country
7	Template:Flagicon Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota	147,650	Delta, Sun Country
8	Template:Flagicon Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas	143,690	American
9	Template:Flagicon Detroit, Michigan	118,590	Delta, Spirit
10	Template:Flagicon Charlotte, North Carolina	115,580	American

Annual traffic

Annual passenger traffic at MKE 1974–present<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Year	Passengers	Year	Passengers	Year	Passengers	Year	Passengers	Year	Passengers	Year	Passengers
1974	2,143,071	1984	2,573,239	1994	5,179,872	2004	6,661,105	2014	6,548,960	2024	6,316,245
1975	2,241,745	1985	3,062,954	1995	5,221,705	2005	7,268,000	2015	6,545,938	2025
1976	2,556,720	1986	3,384,664	1996	5,452,645	2006	7,299,294	2016	6,753,929	2026
1977	2,803,138	1987	3,570,340	1997	5,598,971	2007	7,712,535	2017	6,899,845	2027
1978	2,991,750	1988	4,029,746	1998	5,535,921	2008	7,956,968	2018	7,091,766	2028
1979	3,460,441	1989	4,308,295	1999	5,825,670	2009	7,935,124	2019	6,889,448	2029
1980	3,295,509	1990	4,488,304	2000	6,076,628	2010	9,848,377	2020	2,625,295	2030
1981	3,117,883	1991	4,114,051	2001	5,600,060	2011	9,522,456	2021	4,524,345	2031
1982	3,285,884	1992	4,422,089	2002	5,589,127	2012	7,502,309	2022	5,439,055	2032
1983	2,923,641	1993	4,521,872	2003	6,142,124	2013	6,520,515	2023	6,015,731	2033

• From 1944 through 2024, 291,421,492 passengers (enplaned+deplaned) have passed through Milwaukee Mitchell Int'l Airport, an annual average of 3,597,796 passengers per year.

Accidents and incidents

• On December 17, 1954, a Miller Brewing Company plane, a converted twin-engine Lockheed Ventura bound for Winnipeg on a Friday evening, had trouble with both engines and crashed shortly after takeoff from Mitchell Field.<ref name=msplcr>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref><ref name=fcmskiac>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> All four on board were killed, which included company president Fred Miller and his oldest son, 20-year-old Fred Jr.,<ref name=fmjvath>Template:Cite news</ref> and the two company pilots, brothers Joseph and Paul Laird.<ref name=pbsbs>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref><ref name=cabfnd>Template:Cite news</ref>
• On August 4, 1968, a Convair CV-580, flying as North Central Airlines Flight 261, collided in mid-air with a rented Cessna 150F Template:Convert southwest of the airport. The Cessna was destroyed, but its cabin remained embedded in the Convair's forward baggage compartment; the Cessna's three occupants were killed. The Convair made a safe emergency landing at Milwaukee. The Cessna was on a VFR flight from Lombard, Illinois to Sheboygan County Memorial Airport in Sheboygan Falls. It was determined that the inability of the Convair 580 flight crew to detect the Cessna 150 visually in sufficient time to take evasive action, despite having been provided with three radar traffic advisories, caused the crash. Visual detection capabilities were reduced by the heavy accumulation of insect smears on the windows of the Convair. Visibility was further reduced by haze, smoke and sunglare, and by the inconspicuous color and lack of relative motion of the Cessna.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• On January 29, 1969, a Boeing KC-97, operated by the Wisconsin Air National Guard, crashed just short of the runway on final approach. The weather was foggy with a visibility of a half mile. Four of the 11 people on board were killed, and the plane was damaged beyond repair.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• On January 22, 1971, Northwest Airlines Flight 433 was hijacked after taking off from Milwaukee to Detroit, Michigan. The hijacker demanded to be taken to Algeria, but landed in Cuba.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
• On July 27, 1974, a USMC Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier crashed during a hover maneuver at as part of an air show demonstration flight. The impact of the crash initiated the firing of the pilot's ejection seat and the pilot survived.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• On September 6, 1985, Midwest Express Flight 105, Midwest's first and only fatal accident, crashed upon takeoff from Milwaukee. One of the airline's Douglas DC-9s crashed while taking off, bound for Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport. According to NTSB reports, the crash was caused by improper pilot reaction when the plane's right engine failed due to stress corrosion cracking. The improper flight control inputs caused an uncommanded roll and accelerated stall. The 31 people on board died.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• On December 10, 1993, a Wisconsin Air National Guard KC-135 blew up on the ground. Six maintenance personnel died.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• In early August 1997, an SR-71 declared an in-air emergency prior to a fly-by at the Oshkosh Airshow and diverted to General Mitchell International Airport. No one was hurt in the incident.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• On September 11, 2001, Midwest Express Flight 7, a DC-9 from MKE to LGA came within 30 feet of United Airlines flight 175 and had to do two steep dives, injuring two flight attendants and two passengers who were not in their seats.
• On January 21, 2007, Template:Anchor a Northwest Airlines DC-9, Northwest Airlines Flight 1726 skidded Template:Convert off the end of a snowy runway at Milwaukee International Airport. The accident was due to an explosion in one of the engines, forcing the pilot to abort takeoff. The aircraft was headed for Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and was to continue on to Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Amongst the 104 people aboard, only one back injury was reported.<ref name="JS">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Sandler">Template:Cite news (republished by Hall & Associates)</ref>
• On January 23, 2007, two Freight Runners Express cargo planes collided and burned on a taxiway. Both pilots were able to escape without injury. The planes were a Cessna 402 and a Beech 99.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> An NTSB investigation determined both pilots and air traffic control were at fault for the accident.
• On June 4, 2007, a Cessna Citation II crashed after reporting a runaway trim tab. The pilot issued a distress signal within five minutes after taking off. The plane then crashed into Lake Michigan two miles (3 km) off shore. The plane was carrying an organ transplant team from the University of Michigan back to Willow Run Airport. There was a crew of two and four passengers aboard. All six died.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• On December 4, 2023, a DHL 737 operated by Swift Air burst a tire while landing. No one was injured, and flights resumed within the hour.

See also

• Empire Builder
• Hiawatha
• List of airports in Wisconsin
• Milwaukee Airport station
• Milwaukee County Transit System
• Milwaukee Intermodal Station

References

• Template:Cite journal

Further reading

• Tascher, Joe. "Can't find a nonstop flight from Mitchell International? Check again." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. July 16, 2013.

External links

• Official website
• Milwaukee County Fire Department
• Milwaukee Airport Railroad Station
• Template:FAA-diagram