View source for Midland International Air and Space Port

{{Short description|American airport and spaceport in Texas}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox airport
|name                  = Midland International Air and Space Port
|image                 = Midland International Airport - Texas.jpg
|image-width           = 250
|caption               = 2006 USGS photo
|IATA                  = MAF
|ICAO                  = KMAF
|FAA                   = MAF
|type                  = Public
|operator              = City of Midland
|city-served           = Midland and Odessa, Texas
|location              = [[Midland County, Texas|Midland County]], between [[Midland, Texas|Midland]] and [[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]], [[Texas|Texas, USA]]
|elevation-f           = 2,871
|elevation-m           = 875
|website               = [http://www.flymaf.com www.FlyMAF.com]
|coordinates           = {{coord|31|56|33|N|102|12|07|W|display=inline,title}}
| mapframe             = yes
|r1-number             = 04/22
|r1-length-f           = 4,605
|r1-length-m           = 1,404
|r1-surface            = Asphalt
|r2-number             = 10/28
|r2-length-f           = 8,302
|r2-length-m           = 2,530
|r2-surface            = Asphalt
|r3-number             = 16L/34R
|r3-length-f           = 4,339
|r3-length-m           = 1,323
|r3-surface            = Asphalt
|r4-number             = 16R/34L
|r4-length-f           = 9,501
|r4-length-m           = 2,896
|r4-surface            = Asphalt
|stat-year             = 2021
|stat1-header          = Aircraft operations (year ending 7/31/2021)
|stat1-data            = 58,010
|stat2-header          = Based aircraft
|stat2-data            = 106
|footnotes             = Sources: airport website<ref name=Airport>[http://www.midlandinternational.com/ Midland International Airport], official site</ref> and [[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]]<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=MAF|use=PU|own=PU|site=24353.*A}}, effective November 28, 2024.</ref>
}}

'''Midland International Air and Space Port''' {{airport codes|MAF|KMAF|MAF}} (formerly '''Midland International Airport''') is in the city limits of [[Midland, Texas]], United States,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.midlandtexas.gov/DocumentCenter/View/294/Zoning-Map|title=Zoning Map|publisher=City of Midland|access-date=2019-05-12}}</ref> about midway between Downtown Midland and Downtown [[Odessa, Texas|Odessa]], owned and operated by the City of Midland. In September 2014, it was licensed by the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] to serve commercial spaceflight.<ref>''[[Aviation Week & Space Technology]]'', "Spaceflight Scheduling", September 22, 2014, p. 16</ref>

==Overview==
The airport has five airlines, three serving hubs with regional jets and one flying mainline jets. [[Southwest Airlines]] is the largest carrier at the airport. In 2012, 497,193<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/media/PrelimCY12CommercialServiceEnplanements.pdf |title=Preliminary CY 2012 Enplanements |access-date=August 27, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903142219/http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/media/PrelimCY12CommercialServiceEnplanements.pdf |archive-date=September 3, 2013 }}</ref> passengers were enplaned.

==History==

===Origins===
The airport started as '''Sloan Field''', a small airport started in 1927 by Samuel Addison Sloan. Sloan leased 220 acres of flat grassland from Clarence Scharbauer, a rancher. Sam Sloan died in a plane crash in 1929,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maaffoundation.org/history|title = History}}</ref> and his brother, William Harvey Sloan, continued the operation. In 1939, Harvey Sloan sold the field to the City of Midland for $14,500.

As war clouds gathered over Europe in the late 1930s, Midland businessmen could foresee the possibility of a military base in West Texas and in 1940 they started promoting the airfield for use as a training base to the military establishment in Washington. The airfield was upgraded by the [[Works Progress Administration]] with runway and taxiway improvements and lighting. Brigadier General G.C. Brant, Commander of the Gulf Coast Air Corps Training Center at [[Randolph Air Force Base|Randolph Field]], visited and reported that the situation at Midland was favorable. On June 13, 1941, it was announced that Midland would become a training base, '''Midland Army Air Field'''.

===World War II===
{{main|Midland Army Airfield}}
Midland Army Air Field was home to the Army Air Forces Bombardier School, one of a dozen [[Bombardier (aircrew)|bombardier]]-training schools. It was one of the "West Texas Bombardier Quadrangle" schools of the Army Air Forces Training Command, along with [[Childress Army Airfield]], [[San Angelo Army Airfield]] and [[Big Spring Army Airfield]]. The sole purpose of the Bombardier College was to train young men to use the [[Norden bombsight]].

The first group of cadets, Class 42–6, arrived for training from Ellington, Texas, on February 6, 1942. Midland reached a peak base population of more than 4,000 and graduated a total of 6,627 bombardier officers by the conclusion of the training mission on January 1, 1946.

===Postwar civil use===
The City of Midland annexed much of the land housing the airport on April 26, 1946, while a piece that became a part of a runway was annexed on February 25, 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.midlandtexas.gov/DocumentCenter/View/279/City-Annexations|title=Annexations|publisher=City of Midland|access-date=2019-05-12}}</ref>

Midland-Odessa Regional Airport opened its new passenger terminal in the early 1960s. It was served by [[Continental Airlines]] and [[Texas International Airlines|Trans-Texas Airways]] (and [[American Airlines]], until 1963); the first jets were Continental [[Boeing 707]]s in 1965. The terminal had a scalloped roofline, allowing a column-free interior. All services (ticketing, baggage claim and concessions) were inside the building, and a single departure lounge opened onto the apron.

The late 1970s "oil boom" led to economic growth and more flights by incumbent airlines and new entrants like [[Southwest Airlines]]; American Airlines returned in June 1981, and America West arrived in 1987.

A new gate area was built along the apron with four second-level gates with [[jet bridge]]s, concession space and escalator wells linking the addition to the existing terminal. The south end of the main terminal was extended with more ticketing space and the original terminal was modernized (the scalloped roofline was removed).

By the 1990s, several new-entrant carriers had pulled out and most of the rest had downgraded to regional jets; only Southwest, the airport's largest carrier, operated main line jets. The terminal building looked tired, and airport officials began planning a replacement. Construction began (in the infield parking lot) in 1996. The first half of the new terminal opened in early 1999 and the 1966 terminal was demolished. The second half of the new terminal was finished in late 1999. The first airplane built and flown in Texas, the "Pliska" (an approximate copy of the Wright Flyer II) was donated to the airport and is displayed in the terminal over the baggage-claim area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flymaf.com/pliska_aeroplane.aspx |title=Midland International Airport |access-date=October 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128053749/http://flymaf.com/pliska_aeroplane.aspx |archive-date=January 28, 2013 }} Midland International Airport website</ref>

The Confederate Air Force (now the [[Commemorative Air Force]]) moved to Midland in 1991 and holds an annual [[airshow]] featuring its [[warbird]] aircraft at the airport.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Commemorative-Air-Force-Moving-Headquarters-to-Dallas-257174091.html | title=Commemorative Air Force Moving Headquarters to Dallas | publisher=NBC | date=April 29, 2014 | access-date=September 7, 2017 |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Jasper |first=Simone |url=http://www.mrt.com/news/article/CAF-High-Sky-Wing-hosts-26th-annual-Midland-AirSho-9288509.php |title=CAF High Sky Wing hosts 26th annual Midland AirSho |publisher=Hearst Newspapers| date=August 27, 2016 | access-date=September 7, 2017 |website=mrt.com }}</ref>

In 2012, the Midland City Council amended a contract allowing three teams of experts &ndash; Midland International Airport, Parkhill, and Smith & Cooper &ndash; to prepare and submit a commercial space launch site application. On September 17, 2014, the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] formally approved the application, making Midland International Airport the first primary commercial service airport to be certified as a spaceport.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mrt.com/top_stories/article_216a60e0-3e73-11e4-ac49-9750fbe8fd3f.html|title = FAA approves spaceport license for Midland International|newspaper = Midland Reporter-Telegram|date = September 17, 2014|last1 = Basco|first1 = Joseph}}</ref> The original primary purpose of the launch site was to permit [[XCOR Aerospace]] to test its reusable winged commercial space vehicle, [[XCOR Lynx]]. The company relocated its headquarters<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xcor.com/press/2012/12-07-09_XCOR_to_open_midland_resaerch_headquarters.html |title=Xcor Aerospace and Midland Development Corporation Announce Establishment of Xcor's New Commercial Spaceflight R&D Center Headquarters |access-date=August 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818230840/http://xcor.com/press/2012/12-07-09_XCOR_to_open_midland_resaerch_headquarters.html |archive-date=August 18, 2013 }}</ref> to the Midland International Airport from where it had planned to offer commercial space flights.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rocketshiptours.com/ |title=Rocketship Tours |access-date=January 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715193607/http://www.rocketshiptours.com/ |archive-date=July 15, 2011 }}</ref> The XCOR research & development facility was planned to be located at the airport as part of a $10 million economic development incentive deal. However, as XCOR has since gone out of business, Midland Development Corp. is looking for other space companies to use the facilities.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mrt.com/business/article_465e065c-2ad7-11e6-b0a9-77e58198f7d3.html |title=Despite XCOR setback, space industry in Midland continues to grow |work=[[Midland Reporter-Telegram]] |first=Trevor |last=Howes |date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>

On April 22, 2024, Delta Airlines returned to Midland with three daily flights to Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

==Facilities and aircraft==
[[File:Midland International Airport Terminal-Aug 2013.jpeg|thumb|right|Terminal in August 2013]]
[[File:MAF airport map.PNG|thumb|Airport map]]

Midland International Air and Space Port covers {{convert|1,600|acre|ha|lk=on}} at an elevation of {{convert|2,871|ft|m}}. It has four asphalt runways:<ref name=FAA /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/airport/MAF/Midland-International-Air-and-Space-Port-Airport|title=MAF airport data at skyvector.com|website=skyvector.com|access-date=September 17, 2022}}</ref>

* 4/22: {{convert|4,605|x|75|ft|m|abbr=on}}
* 10/28: {{convert|8,302|x|150|ft|m|abbr=on}}
* 16L/34R: {{convert|4,339|x|100|ft|m|abbr=on}}
* 16R/34L: {{convert|9,501|x|150|ft|m|abbr=on}}

For the 12-month period ending July 31, 2021, the airport had 58,010 aircraft operations, average 159 per day: 29% military, 39% [[general aviation]], 10% [[air taxi]] and 22% airline. 106 aircraft were then based at the airport: 36 single-engine propeller, 37 multi-engine propeller, 30 jet and 3 helicopter.<ref name=FAA />

==Airlines and destinations==

===Passenger===
<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and airlines itself are not independent sources. -->
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2022}}
{{Airport destination list
| [[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]],<ref name=WNNEW>{{cite web|url=https://www.swamedia.com/releases/release-66d1c9ae7fd4aa2df09a33d5864c46ae-book-today-southwest-airlines-extends-flight-schedule-through-april-24-2022|title=Southwest Airlines Extends Flight Schedule Through April 24, 2022|website=Southwest Airlines |date=September 16, 2021|accessdate=September 16, 2021}}</ref> [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love]], [[Denver International Airport|Denver]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://community.southwest.com/t5/Blog/Summer-travel-is-right-around-the-corner/ba-p/119700?src=PRPRPRNCostaRicaService210430|title=Summer travel is right around the corner!|date=April 30, 2021}}</ref> [[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby]], [[McCarran International Airport|Las Vegas]]
| [[United Airlines]] | [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]]
| [[United Express]] | [[Denver International Airport|Denver]], [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]]
}}

{| class="collapsible collapsed" style="border:1px #aaa solid; width:50em; margin:0.2em auto"
|-
! Destinations map
|-
|{{Location map+ |United_States |width=1000 |float=center
|caption=Destinations from KMAF in Midland, Texas
|places=
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=31.9425 |long=-102.201944 |position=bottom |label=<div style="position:relative; top:-5px;"><small>'''Midland'''</small></div>|caption=|mark=Airplane_silhouette.svg|marksize=15 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=32.847978|long=-96.851250 |position=right |label='''<small>[[Dallas Love Airport|Dallas–Love]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=29.990140|long=-95.336792 |position=top |label='''<small>[[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=29.654751|long=-95.279002|position=bottom |label='''<small>[[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=30.194444|long=-97.67|position=left|label='''<small>[[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7}}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=39.855193|long=-104.673849|position=right |label='''<small>[[Denver International Airport|Denver]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=33.436921|long=-112.011667|position=left |label='''<small>[[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=36.083697|long=-115.153873|position=top |label='''<small>[[McCarran International Airport|Las Vegas]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=32.896944 |long=-97.038056 |position=left |label='''<small>[[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]]</small>'''|label_size=80 |marksize=7}}
}}
|}
'''Cargo'''{{Airport destination list
| [[Empire Airlines]]|[[Lubbock]]
||
| |
||||}}

==Statistics==

===Top destinations===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" width= align=
|+ Busiest domestic routes from MAF<br />(January 2024 – December 2024)<ref name="transtats.bts.gov">{{cite web|title=Bureau of Transportation Statistics|url=http://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=MAF&Airport_Name=Midland/Odessa,%20TX:%20Midland%20International&carrier=FACTS |access-date=November 12, 2022}}</ref>
! Rank
! City
! Passengers
! Carriers
|-
| 1
| [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas]]
| 178,910
| American
|-
| 2
| [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental, Texas]]
| 139,120
| United
|-
| 3
| [[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby, Texas]]
| 133,690
| Southwest
|-
| 4
| [[Dallas Love Airport|Dallas-Love, Texas]]
| 130,620
| Southwest
|-
| 5
| [[Denver International Airport|Denver, Colorado]]
| 66,080
| United, Southwest
|-
| 6
| [[Austin-Bergstrom International Airport|Austin, Texas]]
| 53,110
| Delta (Ending Nov. 8, 2025), Southwest
|-
| 7
| [[McCarran International Airport|Las Vegas, Nevada]]
| 37,330
| Southwest
|-
| 8
| [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona]]
| 18,300
| American
|}

===Airline market share===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
|+Airline market share <br /> (January 2024 – December 2024)<ref name="transtats.bts.gov"/>
! Rank !! style="width:90px;"| Carrier !! Passengers !! Share
|-
| 1 || [[Southwest Airlines|Southwest]] || 692,000 || 45.88%
|-
| 2 || [[SkyWest Airlines|SkyWest]] || 313,000 || 20.74%
|-
| 3 || [[Envoy Air|Envoy]] || 302,000 || 20.03%
|-
| 4 || [[Mesa Airlines|Mesa]] || 189,000 || 12.56%
|-
| 5 || [[United Airlines|United]] || 8,790 || 0.58%
|-
|   || Other || 3,040 || 0.20%
|-
|}

==Accidents and incidents==
*On November 26, 1983, a Texas Western Aviation [[Beechcraft King Air]] crashed on final approach to MAF after initiating a go-around. The plane pitched up in an extremely nose high attitude, entered a left bank, stalled and crashed. All eight occupants (one crew, seven passengers) were killed. The cause was undetermined.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19831126-0|accessdate=June 14, 2021|title=N1910L}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of airports in Texas]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://flymaf.com}}
* {{FAA-diagram|00258}}
* {{FAA-procedures|MAF}}
{{US-airport|MAF}}
{{Midland, Texas}}
{{Odessa, Texas}}
{{Spaceport}}

[[Category:1941 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Midland County, Texas]]
[[Category:Airports in Texas]]
[[Category:Airports in Midland County, Texas]]
[[Category:Spaceports in the United States]]