View source for Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport

{{Short description|Airport in Lubbock County, Texas}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox airport
| nativename   = {{small|(former South Plains Army Airfield)}}
| FAA          = LBB
| location     = 5401 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lubbock, TX 79403
| mapframe     = yes
| r1-length-f  = 11,500
| r1-surface   = Concrete
| name         = Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport
| image        = Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport TX 2006 USGS.jpg
| caption      = 2006 [[orthophoto]]
| image-width  = 250
| IATA         = LBB
| ICAO         = KLBB
| type         = Public
| owner        = City of Lubbock
| operator     =
| city-served  = [[Lubbock, Texas]]
| elevation-f  = 3,282
| website      =http://www.flylbb.com
| coordinates  = {{coord|33|39|49|N|101|49|14|W|region:US-TX_scale:40000|display=inline,title}}
| r1-number    = 17R/35L
| r2-number    = 8/26
| r2-length-f  = 8,003
| r2-surface   = Concrete
| r3-number    = 17L/35R
| r3-length-f  = 2,891
| r3-surface   = Asphalt
| stat-year    = 2022
| stat1-header = Aircraft operations (year ending 5/31/2022)
| stat1-data   = 92,881
| stat2-header = Based aircraft
| stat2-data   = 156
| footnotes    = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name="FAA">{{FAA-airport|ID=LBB|use=PU|own=PU|site=24245.*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. effective September 8, 2012.</ref>
}}
[[Image:Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport IMG 0260.JPG|thumb|Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport|alt=|285x285px]]
'''Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport''' {{airport codes|LBB|KLBB|LBB}} is five miles north of [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]], in [[Lubbock County, Texas]], United States.<ref name="FAA" /> Originally '''Lubbock International Airport''', it was renamed in 2004 for former [[Texas]] governor [[Preston Smith (governor)|Preston E. Smith]], an [[List of Texas Tech University alumni|alumnus]] of [[Texas Tech University]].

The [[National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems]] for 2011–2015 [[FAA airport categories|classifies]] it as a ''primary commercial service'' airport.<ref>
 {{cite web
 |url=http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/2011/npias_2011_appA.pdf
 |title=2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A
 |format=[[PDF]], 2.03 MB
 |work=faa.gov
 |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration
 |date=October 4, 2010
 |url-status=dead
 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927084535/http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/2011/npias_2011_appA.pdf
 |archivedate=September 27, 2012
}}
</ref> [[Federal Aviation Administration]] records say the airport had 520,181 passenger boardings (enplanements) in [[calendar year]] 2019,<ref name="auto">{{cite web|last=FAA|title=Final Calendar Year 2020 Enplanements at Commercial Service Airports, Rank Order|url=https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/media/cy20-commercial-service-enplanements.pdf|access-date=2021-04-07|website=FAA}}</ref> and 487,000 in 2018.<ref name="auto"/>

The airport is the eighth-busiest airport in Texas. Lubbock International is first among the smaller Texas cities{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} (behind both Dallas airports, both Houston airports, San Antonio, Austin, and El Paso). Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport is a hub for [[FedEx Airlines|FedEx]] and [[UPS Airlines|UPS]] feeder planes to cities around the South Plains.

==History==
The airport opened in November 1937 as '''South Plains Airport'''. In 1942 the [[United States Army Air Forces]] indicated a need for the airport as a training airfield. After its requisition by the Air Force, it was assigned to the [[World War II]] [[Air Training Command|Army Air Forces Flying Training Command]], Gulf Coast Training Center (later Central Flying Training Command). The airport was renamed '''South Plains Army Airfield''' and a rapid period of construction was begun to convert the civil airport into a military training airfield.

Construction involved runways and airplane hangars, with three concrete runways, several taxiways and a large apron and a control tower. Several large hangars were also built. Buildings were utilitarian and quickly assembled. Most base buildings, not meant for long-term use, were of temporary or semi-permanent materials. Some hangars had steel frames and the occasional brick or tile brick building could be seen, but most support buildings had concrete foundations and frame construction clad in little more than plywood and tarpaper.

The base was activated on September 11, 1942, as the South Plains Flying School. The mission was ground and flying training of glider pilots. Glider training was performed by the 848th School Squadron (Special), with overall training being under the 64th Two-Engine Flying Training Group of the [[80th Flying Training Wing (U.S. Army Air Forces)|80th Flying Training Wing]]. Aircraft assigned were Douglas [[C-47 Skytrain]]s and [[Waco CG-4A]] gliders. The CG-4A was the USAAF's primary glider, consisting of little more than a wooden and fabric shell, equipped with radio, wheels, and brakes. Glider pilots trained at South Plains flew these craft in combat during the [[D-Day|Normandy Invasion]], [[Operation Market-Garden]], and also [[Operation Varsity]], the airborne invasion of Germany.

By late 1944 Flying Training Command ended all glider instruction, and control of South Plains AAF was transferred to the [[Air Service Command]] at [[Tinker Field]], [[Oklahoma]]. Under Air Service Command, South Plains became a maintenance and supply depot for excess aircraft that could not be accommodated at Tinker. After the war ended, in 1946 and 1947, South Plains was used as a storage facility for excess aircraft prior to their reclamation.

Military use of South Plains ended on December 1, 1947, and it was returned to the local government for civil use.<ref>Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History's Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.</ref><ref>
* Manning, Thomas A. (2005), ''History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002''.  Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas {{OCLC|71006954|29991467}}
* Thole, Lou (1999), ''Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now'' – Vol. 2. Publisher: Pictorial Histories Pub, {{ISBN|1-57510-051-7}}</ref> A civilian terminal was constructed on the southwest corner of the airfield for commercial airline activity and used through the 1950s and 1960s. The current airline terminal was opened about 1976. The original terminal now houses the [[Silent Wings Museum]] dedicated to World War II glider pilots.

Major renovations to the terminal building began in 2019, featuring an expanded TSA screening area, refreshed check-in counters, gates, waiting areas, restrooms, concessions, rental-car desks and more.<ref>{{Cite web|title=City of Lubbock – Departments {{!}} Airport|url=https://ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/airport/news-updates/terminal-remodel|access-date=2021-12-23|website=ci.lubbock.tx.us}}</ref> Many of these improvements began to open to the public in late 2021.

===Historical airline service===
[[File:American MD-83 in Lubbock, TX.jpg|thumb|[[American Airlines]] [[McDonnell Douglas MD-83|MD-83]] in Lubbock]]

[[Braniff Airways]], later to be [[Braniff International Airways]], [[Continental Airlines]], and [[Pioneer Air Lines]] all began scheduled passenger flights to Lubbock by 1945.<ref>http://www.timetableimages.com, Sept. 20, 1945 Braniff Airways timetable</ref><ref>http://www.timetableimages.com, May 1, 1948 Continental Airlines timetable</ref> Braniff began with an Amarillo-Lubbock-Dallas route, Continental with a multi-stop route between El Paso and Tulsa, and Pioneer with a multi-stop route between Amarillo and Houston. Pioneer later added flights on a multi-stop route between Albuquerque and Dallas. Pioneer merged into Continental Airlines in 1955 and then [[Trans-Texas Airways]] took over the Albuquerque to Dallas route in 1963. By then Continental was flying nonstop to Dallas, Albuquerque, and El Paso however the flight to Tulsa still made stops at Wichita Falls, Lawton, and Oklahoma City. Flights to Houston stopped at Midland/Odessa and San Antonio.

Airline jets arrived in 1965 on Braniff International Airways and 1966 on Continental Airlines.<ref>http://www.timetableimages.com, April 24, 1966 Braniff International Airways timetable</ref><ref>http://www.timetableimages.com, March 1, 1966 Continental Airlines timetable</ref> In spring 1966 Braniff [[BAC One-Eleven]]s flew nonstop to [[Dallas Love Field]] and Amarillo, in addition to [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]] and [[Convair 340]] flights, while Continental [[Douglas DC-9-10]]s flew nonstop to Dallas Love Field and El Paso in addition to [[Vickers Viscount]] flights. [[Trans-Texas Airways]] became [[Texas International]] in 1969 and began jet service with DC-9's on a Denver-Amarillo-Lubbock-Austin-Houston route. <ref>http://www.timetableimages.com, Oct. 30, 1966 Trans-Texas Airways timetable</ref>

By 1976 all scheduled passenger airline flights at Lubbock were jets: Braniff [[Boeing 727-100]]s and [[Boeing 727-200]]s, Continental 727-200s and [[Texas International Airlines]] [[Douglas DC-9-10]]s.<ref>Feb. 1, 1976 Official Airlines Guide, North American Edition</ref> A 1976 OAG lists nonstop jets to Lubbock from Albuquerque, Amarillo, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth ([[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|DFW]]), El Paso, Midland/Odessa and Wichita Falls and direct jets from Colorado Springs, Corpus Christi, Denver, Houston ([[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|IAH]]), Lawton, Los Angeles ([[LAX]]), Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Tulsa. Braniff Boeing 727s flew direct from Lubbock to New York [[Newark Airport]], Washington D.C. [[National Airport]] and Nashville.<ref>Feb. 1, 1976 Official Airline Guide (OAG), North American Edition</ref>

[[Southwest Airlines]] began serving Lubbock on May 20, 1977, as an [[intrastate airline]] with [[Boeing 737-200]]s to Dallas Love Field, Houston [[Hobby Airport]], San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Harlingen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swamedia.com/|title=Our History|website=Southwest Airlines Newsroom}}</ref>  By 1978 Southwest had added nonstop 737 jet flights to El Paso in addition to nonstop jets to Dallas Love Field and Houston Hobby Airport and direct jets to other Texas cities.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, July 1, 1978 Southwest Airlines route map</ref> Flights to Albuquerque were added in 1983. In 1983 [[Muse Air]] [[McDonnell Douglas MD-80]]s briefly flew nonstop to Dallas Love Field, Houston Hobby Airport and Los Angeles ([[LAX]]).<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, Aug. 7, 1983 Muse Air route map</ref> Muse Air later merged into Southwest Airlines.

Braniff declared bankruptcy and shut down in 1982. Continental and Texas International merged in late 1982 then Continental left Lubbock in 1983 after declaring bankruptcy as well.

The late 1970s and early 1980s also saw several commuter airlines; Crown Air flew to Clovis and Albuquerque, NM. [[Air Midwest]] flew to Roswell, Hobbs, and Carlsbad, NM as well as Oklahoma City. [[Mesa Airlines]] also flew to Roswell, Hobbs, and Carlsbad. Permian and Trans Central Airlines both flew to Amarillo and Midland/Odessa.

[[American Airlines]] began serving Lubbock in 1981 and [[Delta Air Lines]] in 1982, both flying nonstop to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW) and Amarillo, American with 727-200s and Delta with 737-200s.<ref name="auto1">http://www.departedflights.com, Feb. 15, 1985 Official Airline Guide</ref> Delta left Lubbock in 2005 when they discontinued their hub operation at DFW.

[[Aspen Airways]] started flying [[Convair 580]]s direct from Denver via Amarillo in 1983. This service was later upgraded with [[BAe 146-100]] jets and began operating as [[United Express]] in cooperation with [[United Airlines]] by 1986.<ref name="auto1"/> The United Express service to Denver was transferred to [[Mesa Airlines]] through much of the 1990s and has been operated by several other regional carriers since then.

In 1987 [[America West Airlines]] began flying Boeing 737-200's nonstop from Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Midland/Odessa however this service ended in 1991.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, Dec. 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide</ref>

[[Continental Express]], operating on behalf of Continental Airlines, began direct flights to Denver in 1990 with one stop at Amarillo. This service ended in 1994. Continental returned in 1996 with nonstop flights to Houston and this service was later replaced with [[Embraer ERJ family|Embraer 145]] regional jets operated by Continental Express. Continental merged into United Airlines in 2012 and United Express continues the service to Houston.

[[Northwest Airlink]], operating on behalf of [[Northwest Airlines]] began nonstop service to Memphis in 2009 with [[Bombardier CRJ100/200]] regional jets. Northwest was merged into Delta Air lines in 2010 marking a return to Lubbock for Delta however the service to Memphis ended in 2012.

[[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]], operating on behalf of American Airlines, began supplementing American's service to DFW in 1990 and began nonstop flights to Phoenix in 2016.<ref>Monthly editions of the Official Airline Guide</ref>

==Facilities==
The airport covers {{convert|3000|acre|ha}} at an elevation of {{convert|3282|ft|m}}. It has three [[runway]]s: 17R/35L is {{convert|11500|by|150|ft|m}} [[concrete]]; 8/26 is {{convert|8003|by|150|ft|m}} concrete; 17L/35R is {{convert|2891|by|75|ft|m}} [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]].<ref name="FAA" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/airport/LBB/Lubbock-Preston-Smith-International-Airport|title=LBB airport data at skyvector.com|website=skyvector.com|access-date=September 17, 2022}}</ref>

In the year ending May 31, 2022 the airport had 92,881 aircraft operations, average 254 per day: 55% [[general aviation]], 17% [[air taxi]], 14% airline, and 14% military. 156 aircraft were then based at this airport: 100 single-engine, 35 multi-engine, 19 jet, and 2 [[helicopter]].<ref name="FAA" />
[[File:2018 LUBBOCK PRESTON SMITH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LBB.jpg|alt=Aerial View of Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport Terminal Building (2018)|thumb|285x285px|Aerial view of Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport terminal building (2018)]]

==Airlines and destinations==
===Passenger===
<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and airlines itself are not independent sources. -->
{{Airport destination list
<!-- -->
| [[American Airlines]] | [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]]
<!-- -->
| [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]] | [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]]
<!-- -->
| [[Southwest Airlines]] | [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]], [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love]], [[Denver International Airport|Denver]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/2022/02/11/southwest-resume-lubbock-denver-service/6756383001/|title = Southwest Airlines to resume non-stop flights from Lubbock to Denver}}</ref> [[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.southwest.com/air/flight-schedules/results.html?departureDate=2022-09-04&destinationAirportCode=LBB&originationAirportCode=HOU&scheduleViewType=weekly&timeOfDay=ALL_DAY |title=Southwest Airlines - Check Flight Schedules |publisher=Southwest.com |date=16 June 2022 |accessdate=June 16, 2022}}</ref> [[McCarran International Airport|Las Vegas]]
<!-- -->
| [[United Express]] | [[Denver International Airport|Denver]], [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]]
}}

===Cargo===
{{Airport destination list
| [[Ameriflight]] | [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]]
| [[Baron Aviation Services]] | [[Abilene Regional Airport|Abilene]], [[Roswell International Air Center|Roswell]]
| [[Empire Airlines]] | [[Fort Worth Alliance Airport|Fort Worth/Alliance]], [[Midland International Airport|Midland/Odessa]]
| [[FedEx Express]] | [[Albuquerque International Sunport|Albuquerque]], [[Hollywood Burbank Airport|Burbank]], [[Memphis International Airport|Memphis]], [[John Wayne Airport|Orange County]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]]
| [[UPS Airlines]] | [[El Paso International Airport|El Paso]], [[Louisville International Airport|Louisville]]
}}

==Statistics==
===Top destinations===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
|+ '''Busiest domestic routes from LBB<br />(June 2024 – May 2025)'''<ref name="auto"/><ref name="RITA - BTS - Transtats">{{Cite web |title=RITA - BTS - Transtats |url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=YOO&Nv42146_anzr=Y7oo1px,%20gk:%20Y7oo1px%20c4r5610%20fzv6u%20V06r40n6v10ny&pn44vr4=SNPgf |access-date=November 2, 2023 |publisher=Bureau of Transportation Statistics}}</ref>
! Rank
! City
! Passengers
! Carriers
|-
| 1
|{{flagicon|Texas}} [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas]]
| 180,670
| American
|-
| 2
| {{flagicon|Texas}} [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love, Texas]]
| 171,960
| Southwest
|-
| 3
| {{flagicon|Texas}} [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental, Texas]]
| 53,580
| United
|-
| 4
| {{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Denver International Airport|Denver, Colorado]]
| 47,490
| Southwest, United
|-
| 5
| {{flagicon|Nevada}} [[McCarran International Airport|Las Vegas, Nevada]]
| 38,360
| Southwest
|-
| 6
|{{flagicon|Texas}} [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin, Texas]]
| 34,370
| Southwest
|-
| 7
| {{flagicon|Arizona}} [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona]]
| 18,210
| American
|-
| 8
| {{flagicon|Texas}} [[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby, Texas]]
|8,690
| Southwest
|}

===Airline market share===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%"
|+ Largest airlines at LBB<br>(January 2024 – December 2024) <ref name="RITA - BTS - Transtats"/>
|-
! Rank
! Airline
! Passengers
! Share
|-
| 1
| [[Southwest Airlines]]
| 574,000
| 51.59%
|-
| 2
| [[Envoy Air]]
| 248,000
| 22.33%
|-
| 3
| [[SkyWest Airlines]]
| 109,000
| 9.83%
|-
| 4
| [[CommuteAir]]
| 89,010
| 8.00%
|-
| 5
| [[American Airlines]]
| 81,480
| 7.33%
|-
| 
| Other
| 10,280
| 0.92%
|}

==Accidents and incidents==
* On July 8, 1962 [[Vickers Viscount]] N243V of [[Continental Airlines]] was damaged beyond economic repair when the propellers struck the runway shortly after take-off. A wheels-up landing was made in a wheat field.<ref name=ASN080762>{{cite web | url = http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19620708-0 | title = Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network | accessdate = October 2, 2009}}</ref>
* On January 27, 2009, [[Empire Airlines Flight 8284]], an [[ATR 42]] under contract from [[FedEx Express]], crashed on landing at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport at 04:37 CT. The plane, which had been traveling from [[Fort Worth Alliance Airport]], landed short of the touchdown zone and skidded off the runway amid light freezing rain. There was a small fire on the plane and two crew members were taken to hospital with minor injuries.<ref>{{cite web | work = CNN | url = http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/27/fedex.crash/index.html?iref=topnews | title = FedEx plane crashes in Texas | date = January 27, 2009}}</ref>
* On February 4, 2015, a [[Piper PA-46]], during the landing approach, struck a [[KCBD]] transmitter 8 miles south of the airport. The sole occupant was killed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/texas-news/2015/02/04/report-plane-crashes-into-lubbock-tv-tower/22900063/ |title=Small plane crashes into Lubbock TV tower |access-date=February 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205075157/http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/texas-news/2015/02/04/report-plane-crashes-into-lubbock-tv-tower/22900063/ |archive-date=February 5, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* On October 26, 2020, a [[Cessna 210]] crashed 5 miles short of the runway while attempting to land in adverse weather. The pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft was killed in the accident.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Wilson |title=Small plane crashes in Texas, killing one on board |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/small-plane-crashes-texas-killing-one-board-n1244907 |website=NBC News|date=October 27, 2020 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
* [[List of airports in Texas]]
* [[Texas World War II Army Airfields]]
* [[Silent Wings Museum]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/airport Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport], official site
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060719020631/http://www.flylia.com/aerial_view.jpg |date=July 19, 2006 |title=Aerial view of airport }}
* [http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/avn/airport_directory/lbb.pdf Lubbock Preston Smith International (LBB)] at [[Texas DOT]] airport directory
* [http://msrmaps.com/map.aspx?t=4&s=12&lat=33.6664&lon=-101.8186&w=1000&h=1200&lp=---+None+--- Aerial image as of March 2002] from [[USGS]] ''[[The National Map]]''
* {{FAA-diagram|00241}}
* {{FAA-procedures|LBB}}
{{US-airport|LBB}}

{{Lubbock, Texas}}
{{USAAF Training Bases World War II}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Airports in Texas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Lubbock, Texas|Preston Smith International Airport]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Lubbock County, Texas]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1937]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Texas]]
[[Category:USAAF Glider Training Airfields]]
[[Category:USAAF Contract Flying School Airfields]]
[[Category:USAAF Central Flying Training Command]]
[[Category:American theater of World War II]]
[[Category:1937 establishments in Texas]]