View source for St. Louis Lambert International Airport

{{Short description|Main airport serving St. Louis, Missouri, United States}}
{{Redirect|Lambert Field|the former baseball stadium at Purdue University|Lambert Field (Purdue University)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:St. Louis Lambert International Airport}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox airport
| name                = {{nowrap|St. Louis Lambert International Airport}}
| image               = St. Louis Lambert International Airport logo.png
| image-width         = 250
| image2              = St. Louis Lambert T1 from West.jpg
| image2-width        = 250
| IATA                = STL
| ICAO                = KSTL
| FAA                 = STL
| WMO                 = 72434
| type                = Public
| owner-oper          = City of St. Louis Government
| city-served         = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Greater St. Louis]]
  | [[Southern Illinois]]}}
| location            = [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], U.S.
| opened              = {{start date and age|1928|02|27}}
| hub                 = [[Southern Airways Express]]
| elevation-f         = 605
| elevation-m         = 184
| coordinates         = {{coord|38|44|50|N|090|21|41|W|region:US-MO|display=inline,title}}
| website             = {{URL|www.flystl.com}}
| image_map           = STL map.svg
| image_map_caption   = FAA airport diagram
| mapframe            = yes
| mapframe-zoom       = 10
| mapframe-wikidata   = yes
| r1-number           = 12R/30L
| r1-length-f         = 11,020
| r1-length-m         = 3,359
| r1-surface          = [[Concrete]]
| r2-number           = 12L/30R
| r2-length-f         = 9,013
| r2-length-m         = 2,747
| r2-surface          = Concrete
| r3-number           = 11/29
| r3-length-f         = 9,000
| r3-length-m         = 2,743
| r3-surface          = Concrete
| r4-number           = 6/24
| r4-length-f         = 7,603
| r4-length-m         = 2,317
| r4-surface          = Concrete
| stat-year           = 2024
| stat1-header        = Aircraft operations
| stat1-data          = 162,113
| stat2-header        = Total passengers
| stat2-data          = 15,946,730
| footnotes           = Source: St. Louis Lambert International Airport<ref name="stats">{{cite web|url=https://www.flystl.com/uploads/documents/public-notices-and-reports/2023-CY-Air-Traffic-Activity-Report-FINAL.pdf|title=CY2024 Passenger & Operation Statistics|location=[[St. Louis]]|publisher=St. Louis City Airport Commission|date=February 2, 2024|access-date=February 9, 2022|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805080632/https://www.flystl.com/about-us/public-notices-and-reports|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

'''St. Louis Lambert International Airport''' {{airport codes|STL|KSTL|STL}}, commonly referred to as '''Lambert Field''' or simply '''Lambert''', is the primary [[international airport]] serving [[St. Louis, Missouri]] and its [[Greater St. Louis|metropolitan area]]. Covering {{convert|3,793|acres|ha}}<ref name="FAA">{{FAA-airport|ID=STL|use=PU|own=PU|site=12077.*A}}. Effective September 4, 2025.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/airport/STL/St-Louis-Lambert-International-Airport|title=STL airport data at skyvector.com|website=skyvector.com|access-date=September 25, 2025|archive-date=May 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528162606/https://skyvector.com/airport/STL/St-Louis-Lambert-International-Airport|url-status=live}}</ref> of land, it is the largest and [[List of the busiest airports in the United States|busiest airport]] in the U.S. state of [[Missouri]], being located {{convert|14|mi|km|0}} northwest of downtown St. Louis in unincorporated [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]] between [[Berkeley, Missouri|Berkeley]] and [[Bridgeton, Missouri|Bridgeton]]. The airport provides nonstop service to over 80 destinations within the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe, having served nearly 16 million passengers in 2024.<ref name="Departure_Statistics">{{cite report |date=January 29, 2019 |title=Departure Statistics |url=https://www.flystl.com/newsroom/stl-news/2022/stl-releases-annual-report-for-2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130110327/https://www.flystl.com/newsroom/stl-news/2019/stl-growth-holds-strong-to-surpass-15-6-million-passengers-in-2018 |archive-date=January 30, 2019 |access-date=January 29, 2019 |location=[[St. Louis]]|publisher=St. Louis City Airport Commission}}</ref>

Named for Olympic medalist and prominent St. Louis aviator [[Albert Bond Lambert]], the airport rose to international prominence in the 20th century thanks to its association with [[Charles Lindbergh]], its groundbreaking [[air traffic control]] (ATC), its status as the primary hub of [[Trans World Airlines]] (TWA), and its iconic terminal.<ref name="LH" />

St. Louis Lambert International Airport is connected by the [[St. Louis MetroLink|MetroLink]] mass transportation rail system to other parts of the St. Louis metropolitan area, including a future connection to the region's secondary commercial airport, [[MidAmerica St. Louis Airport]] about {{convert|37|mi}} to the east.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/illinois-to-pay-for-long-sought-metrolink-extension-to-midamerica-airport/article_473ea616-75fc-57d1-a131-6ae83a69eea2.html|title=Illinois to pay for long-sought MetroLink extension to MidAmerica Airport|access-date=November 2, 2021|last=Schlinkmann|first=Mark|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]]|location=[[St. Louis]]|archive-date=November 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102130441/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/illinois-to-pay-for-long-sought-metrolink-extension-to-midamerica-airport/article_473ea616-75fc-57d1-a131-6ae83a69eea2.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Beginnings ===
[[File:NAS St Louis NAN2-48.jpg|thumb|left|Aerial view of Naval Air Station St. Louis in the mid-1940s]]

The airport had its beginnings in 1909, when the Aero Club of St. Louis created a [[Balloon (aeronautics)|balloon]] launching base called the "Permanent Aviation Field and Dirigible Harbor" in [[Kinloch, Missouri|Kinloch Park]], a suburban development of the 1890s.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Gonzales|first=Daniel|date=2018-01-02|title=At St. Louis' Kinloch Field, Theodore Roosevelt became the first U.S. President to travel by plane|url=https://www.stlmag.com/api/content/f30820a6-efc8-11e7-a45a-121bebc5777e/|access-date=2022-01-06|magazine=[[St. Louis Magazine]]|location=[[St. Louis]]|language=en-us|archive-date=February 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207060049/https://www.stlmag.com/history/where-the-president-first-flew-kinloch-field-and-early-flight/|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 1910, the airfield hosted the first International Air Meet, attracting "many famous persons," including the [[Wright brothers]], who brought six airplanes and their [[Wright Exhibition Team|Exhibition Team]]. President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] accepted the club's telegraphed invitation to attend, and after initially ruling out a flight,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wright|first=John Aaron|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K2_ZMVtnsd0C&q=+kinloch+field|title=Kinloch: Missouri's First Black City|date=2000|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-0777-4|language=en|access-date=January 10, 2022|archive-date=February 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207060048/https://books.google.com/books?id=K2_ZMVtnsd0C&q=+kinloch+field#v=snippet&q=kinloch%20field&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> took off on October 11 with pilot [[Arch Hoxsey]], becoming the first U.S. president to fly.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Gonzales|first=Daniel|date=2018-01-02|title=At St. Louis' Kinloch Field, Theodore Roosevelt became the first U.S. President to travel by plane|url=https://www.stlmag.com/api/content/f30820a6-efc8-11e7-a45a-121bebc5777e/|access-date=2022-01-06|website=www.stlmag.com|language=en-us|archive-date=February 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207060049/https://www.stlmag.com/history/where-the-president-first-flew-kinloch-field-and-early-flight/|url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, the airfield—generally called "Kinloch Field"—was the takeoff point for what is generally regarded as the first [[parachute]] jump from an airplane.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Reichhardt|first=Tony|title=Berry's Leap|url=https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/berrys-leap-111412656/|access-date=2021-11-01|magazine=Air & Space/Smithsonian|location=[[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]|publisher=[[Smithsonian Institution]]|archive-date=November 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101024042/https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/berrys-leap-111412656/|url-status=live}}</ref> The club's lease on the land expired in 1912, and the field was closed and its grandstand demolished. Efforts to revive the facility were unsuccessful.<ref name=":2"/>

In June 1920, a nearby 170-acre field<ref name=":2"/> was leased to the Missouri Aeronautical Society,<ref name="LHistory">{{cite web|title=Lambert History|url=http://www.lambert-stlouis.com/flystl/about-lambert/history/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822210016/http://www.lambert-stlouis.com/flystl/about-lambert/history/|archive-date=August 22, 2011|access-date=February 3, 2011|work=Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport}}</ref> which named its facility the "St. Louis Flying Field." Among the Society's leading members was [[Albert Bond Lambert]], an Olympic silver medalist golfer in the [[1904 Summer Olympics|1904 Summer Games]], president of Lambert Pharmaceutical Corporation (which made [[Listerine]]),<ref>{{cite book|last=Christensen|first=Lawrence O.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6gyxWHRLAWgC&q=Albert+Bond+Lambert+Listerine&pg=PA469|title=Dictionary of Missouri Biography|publisher=University of Missouri Press|year=1999|isbn=0-8262-1222-0|page=469|access-date=October 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630135304/http://books.google.com/books?id=6gyxWHRLAWgC&pg=PA469&lpg=PA469&dq=Albert+Bond+Lambert+Listerine&source=bl&ots=D9Noyxq7eZ&sig=hpa2FWaeROxj69SG9gQ3i2mMHL8&hl=en&ei=yyq3TdmtCpS5tgein6ibAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Albert%20Bond%20Lambert%20Listerine&f=false|archive-date=June 30, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> and the first person to receive a pilot's license in St. Louis. So vigorous was Lambert in his efforts to promote St. Louis aviation that in 1923 the field was renamed "Lambert-St. Louis Flying Field."<ref name=":2"/> Lambert purchased the field outright in February 1925, and added hangars and a passenger terminal.<ref name="LHistory" /> In the late 1920s, the airport became the first with an [[air traffic control]] system–albeit one that communicated with pilots via waving flags. The first controller was [[Archie League]].<ref name="Centenial_of_Flight">{{cite news|last=Mola|first=Roger|title=Aircraft Landing Technology|url=http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Evolution_of_Technology/landing_navig/Tech32.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930031538/http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Evolution_of_Technology/landing_navig/Tech32.htm|archive-date=September 30, 2007|access-date=July 24, 2007|publisher=[[Centennial of Flight Commission]]|location=[[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]|df=mdy}}</ref>

Charles Lindbergh's first piloting job was flying airmail for [[Robertson Aircraft Corporation]] from the airfield. He stopped at the airport during his cross-country San Diego to New York flight about a week before his record-breaking [[Charles Lindbergh|flight to Paris]] in 1927. In February 1928, the City of St. Louis leased the airport for $1. Later that year, Lambert sold the airport to the city after a $2 million [[Bond (finance)|bond issue]] was passed, making it one of the first [[Municipality|municipally]] owned airports in the United States.<ref name="LH">{{cite web |url=http://lambert-stlouis.com/index/about_History.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204222910/http://lambert-stlouis.com/index/about_History.html |title=The History of Lambert – St. Louis International Airport |work= Lambert-St. Louis International Airport |access-date=December 26, 2012| year=2005 | archive-date= February 4, 2005}}</ref><ref name="timeline" />

In 1925, the airport became home to Naval Air Station St. Louis, a [[United States Navy Reserve|Naval Air Reserve]] facility that became an active-duty installation during World War II.<ref name="navy">{{cite web|url=http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/aviation/navy.htm |title=The Navy at Lambert Field, 1925–1958 by George Everding, LCDR USN (ret) |publisher=Usgennet.org |access-date=November 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824005020/http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/aviation/navy.htm |archive-date=August 24, 2011 }}</ref>

In 1930, the airport was officially christened "Lambert–St. Louis Municipal Airport" by Rear Admiral [[Richard E. Byrd]]. The first terminal building opened in 1933,<ref name=timeline /> and within the decade, the airport was served by [[Robertson Aircraft Corporation|Robertson Air Lines]], [[Marquette Airlines]], [[Eastern Air Lines]], and Transcontinental & Western Air (later renamed TWA).<ref name="timeline">{{cite web|url=http://www.flystl.com/AboutLambert/History/Timeline.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722025401/http://www.flystl.com/AboutLambert/History/Timeline.aspx|archive-date=2012-07-22|title=Lambert – St. Louis International Airport > About Lambert > History > Timeline|date=July 22, 2012|access-date=November 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/rob3004.htm|title=Robertson Air Lines|website=www.timetableimages.com|access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322125451/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/rob3004.htm|archive-date=March 22, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/robert.htm|title=Robertson Air Lines|website=www.timetableimages.com|access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322113002/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/robert.htm|archive-date=March 22, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/rac28/rac28-1.jpg |title=Timetable |website=www.timetableimages.com |format=JPG |access-date=September 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815050851/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/rac28/rac28-1.jpg |archive-date=August 15, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/rac28/rac28-2.jpg |title=Timetable |website=www.timetableimages.com |format=JPG |access-date=September 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815050618/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/rac28/rac28-2.jpg |archive-date=August 15, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/marq39/marq39-1.jpg |title=Timetable |website=www.timetableimages.com |format=JPG |access-date=September 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910164847/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/marq39/marq39-1.jpg |archive-date=September 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/marq39/marq39-2.jpg |title=Timetable |website=www.timetableimages.com |format=JPG |access-date=September 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910164935/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/marq39/marq39-2.jpg |archive-date=September 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/ea39/ea39-3.jpg |title=Timetable |website=www.timetableimages.com |format=JPG |access-date=September 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910164944/http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/ea39/ea39-3.jpg |archive-date=September 10, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 1942, voters passed a $4.5 million bond issue to expand the airport by {{convert|867|acre}} and build a new terminal.<ref name=timeline />

During [[World War II]], the airport became a manufacturing base for the [[McDonnell Aircraft Corporation]] (later [[McDonnell Douglas]], now [[Boeing]]) and [[Curtiss-Wright]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/docs/moachp/Curtiss-Wright%20Aeroplane%20Factory.pdf |title=Curtis Wright airline factory |publisher=[[Missouri Department of Natural Resources]]|location=[[Jefferson City]] |access-date=September 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224151637/http://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/docs/moachp/Curtiss-Wright%20Aeroplane%20Factory.pdf |archive-date=February 24, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.flystl.com/about-us/history|title=History – St. Louis Lambert International Airport|location=[[St. Louis]]|publisher=St. Louis City Airport Commission|date=July 12, 2016|access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115014000/https://www.flystl.com/about-us/history|archive-date=November 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===After World War II: expansion, Ozark Air Lines hub===
[[File:Historical Lambert Airport Main Terminal pre 1965 addition.jpg|thumb|right|Terminal 1 as it originally appeared]]
[[File:McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31, Ozark Air Lines JP5960812.jpg|thumb|right|Ozark [[Douglas DC-9|DC-9]] at Lambert]]

After the war, NAS St. Louis reverted to a reserve installation, supporting carrier-based [[Fighter aircraft|fighters]] and land-based [[Maritime patrol aircraft|patrol aircraft]]. When it closed in 1958, most of its facilities were acquired by the [[Missouri Air National Guard]] and became "Lambert Field Air National Guard Base." Some other facilities were retained by non-flying activities of the Naval Reserve and [[United States Marine Corps Reserve|Marine Corps Reserve]], while the rest was redeveloped to expand airline operations at the airport.<ref name="navy" />

[[Ozark Air Lines]] began operations at the airport in 1950.<ref name=timeline />

To handle increasing passenger traffic, [[Minoru Yamasaki]] was commissioned to design a new terminal, which began construction in 1953. Completed in 1956 at a total cost of $7.2 million, the three-domed design preceded terminals at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] (JFK) in [[New York City]] and [[Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport]].<ref name="LH" /><ref name=timeline /> A fourth dome was added in 1965 following the passage of a $200 million airport revenue bond.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/multimedia/lambert-expansion-the-never-ending-story/image_f6fc28ab-155a-5f91-a841-7240fb64ce4c.html|title=Lambert expansion: the never-ending story|access-date=November 16, 2018|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]]|location=[[St. Louis]]|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416173538/https://www.stltoday.com/news/multimedia/lambert-expansion-the-never-ending-story/image_f6fc28ab-155a-5f91-a841-7240fb64ce4c.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/main-lambert-terminal-gets-shiny-new-roof/article_dd04d754-de49-56d1-a225-74c032db3b86.html|title=Main Lambert terminal gets shiny, new roof|first=Paul|last=Hampel|access-date=November 16, 2018|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]]|location=[[St. Louis]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713234020/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/main-lambert-terminal-gets-shiny-new-roof/article_dd04d754-de49-56d1-a225-74c032db3b86.html|archive-date=July 13, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=timeline />

The April 1957 Official Airline Guide shows 44 weekday TWA departures; American, 24; Delta, 16; Ozark, 14; Eastern, 13; Braniff, 6 and Central, 2. The first scheduled jet was a TWA 707 to New York on July 21, 1959.<ref>St Louis Post-Dispatch 22 July 1959 p3</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Facility Orientation Guide – St. Louis Air Traffic Control Tower|url=https://pointsixtyfive.com/files/welcome_guides/STL.pdf|publisher=[[Federal Aviation Administration]]|location=[[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]|via=Point Sixty Five|access-date=August 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809035956/https://pointsixtyfive.com/files/welcome_guides/STL.pdf|archive-date=August 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1971, the airport became "Lambert–St. Louis International Airport."<ref name="auto" />

In the 1970s, St. Louis city officials proposed to replace Lambert with a new airport in suburban Illinois. After Missouri residents rejected that, Lambert in 1977 received a $290-million expansion that lengthened the runways, increased the number of gates to 81, and boosted its capacity by half. (In 1997, [[MidAmerica St. Louis Airport]] would open in [[Mascoutah, Illinois]], far from the site proposed in the 1970s.) Concourse A and Concourse C were rebuilt into bi-level structures with jet bridges as part of a $25 million project in the mid-1970s designed by [[Sverdrup & Parcel|Sverdrup]]. The other concourses were demolished. Construction began in the spring of 1976 and was completed in September 1977.<ref>{{cite book |title=Continuing Progress at Lambert|year=1977|publisher=City of St. Louis Airport Authority}}</ref> A $20 million, {{convert|120000|sqft|adj=mid}} extension of Concourse C for TWA and a $46 million, {{convert|210000|sqft|adj=mid}} Concourse D for Ozark Air Lines (also designed by Sverdrup) were completed in December 1982.<ref>{{cite web|title=Timeline|url=http://www.flystl.com/AboutLambert/History/Timeline.aspx|work=City of St. Louis Airport Authority|access-date=July 2, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722025401/http://www.flystl.com/AboutLambert/History/Timeline.aspx|archive-date=July 22, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|year=1986|title=Lambert International: Architectural Creativity in Steel|journal=Modern Steel Construction|volume=26|issue=1|pages=5–9|location=Chicago|publisher=American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc.|access-date=July 2, 2012|url=http://www.modernsteel.com/archives/PDFs_61-90/1986A9_26-1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514014134/http://modernsteel.com/archives/PDFs_61-90/1986A9_26-1.pdf|archive-date=May 14, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Ozark established its only hub at Lambert in the late 1950s. The airline grew rapidly, going from 36 million revenue passenger miles in 1955, to 229 million revenue passenger miles in 1965. The jet age came to Ozark in 1966 with the [[Douglas DC-9-10]] and its network expanded to Denver, Indianapolis, Louisville, Washington, D.C., New York City, Miami, Tampa, and Orlando. With the addition of jets, Ozark began its fastest period of growth, jumping to 653 million revenue passenger miles in 1970 and 936 million revenue passenger miles in 1975;<ref>Handbook of Airline Statistics (biannual CAB publication)</ref> Ozark soon faced heavy competition in TWA's new hub at Lambert.

In 1979, the year after [[airline deregulation]], STL's dominant carriers were TWA (36 routes) and Ozark (25), followed by American (17) and Eastern (12).<ref>{{cite web|title=Airlines and Aircraft Serving Saint Louis Effective November 15, 1979|url=http://www.departedflights.com/STL79intro.html|publisher=DepartedFlights.com|access-date=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017192852/http://www.departedflights.com/STL79intro.html|archive-date=October 17, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 1980, [[British Caledonian]] began a nonstop flight to London's Gatwick Airport using a Boeing 707. This was the airport's first transatlantic service.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/129859157/ | title=Non-stop London flights begin with pomp, ballyhoo | work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date=1980-05-01 | accessdate=12 August 2023 | author=Swayzee II, Cleon | archive-date=August 12, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812153709/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/129859157/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The company later partnered with Ozark so that the latter's network could feed the flights.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-stl-27sep83-bcal/87335031/ | title=British Caledonian, Ozark team up for non-stop flights to London | work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date=1983-09-27 | accessdate=12 August 2023 | author=Freeman, Gregory B. | archive-date=August 12, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812153107/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-stl-27sep83-bcal/87335031/ | url-status=live }}</ref> British Caledonian severed the link in October 1984.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-stl-12oct84-bcal/87335778/ | title=Non-stop flights from St. Louis to London to be ended Oct. 28 | work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date=1984-10-12 | accessdate=12 August 2023 | author=Sanford, Robert | archive-date=August 12, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812153009/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-stl-12oct84-bcal/87335778/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-stl-22apr85-tw-l/87340584/ | title=TWA puts Lambert back on European flight plans | work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date=1985-04-22 | accessdate=12 August 2023 | author=Wagman, Paul | archive-date=August 12, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812160708/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-stl-22apr85-tw-l/87340584/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Trans World Airlines hub===
[[File:Lockheed L-1011-1 Tristar, Trans World Airlines (TWA) JP5893659.jpg|thumb|right|TWA [[Lockheed L-1011 Tristar|L-1011]] at Lambert in 1985]]

After [[airline deregulation]] in 1978, airlines began to change their operations to a [[hub and spoke]] model. Trans World Airlines (TWA) was headquartered in New York City but its main base of employment was at [[Kansas City International Airport]] (MCI) and had large operations at [[Chicago O'Hare International Airport]] (ORD) as well as St. Louis. TWA deemed Kansas City's terminals unsuitable to serve as a primary hub. TWA reluctantly ruled out Chicago, as its Chicago operation was already losing $25 million a year under competition from American Airlines and [[United Airlines]]. This meant that St. Louis was the carrier's only viable option. TWA downsized in Chicago and built up in St. Louis, swapping three Chicago gates for five of American's St. Louis gates. By December 1982, St. Louis accounted for 20% of TWA's domestic capacity. Lambert's terminal was initially too small for this operation, and TWA was forced to use temporary terminals, mobile lounges and airstairs to handle the additional flights.<ref>{{cite news|title=STL: How To Build A Hub|url=http://statehistoricalsocietyofmissouri.org/cdm/ref/collection/twa/id/8132|access-date=11 September 2015|work=TWA Mainliner|date=11 October 1982|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017161105/http://statehistoricalsocietyofmissouri.org/cdm/ref/collection/twa/id/8132|archive-date=October 17, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Concourse D was completed in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://flystl.com/AboutLambert/History.aspx|publisher=Lambert-St. Louis International Airport|access-date=11 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813131725/http://flystl.com/AboutLambert/History.aspx|archive-date=August 13, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In April 1985, TWA began service from Lambert to London-Gatwick, Frankfurt, and Paris. It operated the flight to London with Boeing 747s and the ones to Paris and Frankfurt with 767s.<ref>{{cite news | title=TWA is set for St. Louis-Europe non-stop | work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date=1985-04-21 | author=Kohn, Edward H. | pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/129858326/ 1D], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/129858848/ 10D]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/129859218/ | title=International flights off with officials leading way | work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date=1985-04-29 | accessdate=12 August 2023 | author=Smith, Bill | archive-date=August 12, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812153706/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/129859218/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

TWA's hub grew again in 1986 when the airline bought Ozark Air Lines, which operated its hub from Lambert's B, C, and D concourses. In 1985, TWA had accounted for 56.6% of boardings at STL while Ozark accounted for 26.3%, so the merged carriers controlled over 80% of the traffic.<ref>[http://www.gao.gov/assets/80/77171.pdf Fare and Service Changes at St. Louis Since the TWA-Ozark Merger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805132038/http://www.gao.gov/assets/80/77171.pdf |date=August 5, 2012 }}, United States General Accounting Office. September 21, 1988. Retrieved July 27, 2013.</ref> The carriers were merged on October 26, 1986 at which time TWA served STL with nonstop service to 84 cities, an increase from 80 cities served by TWA and/or Ozark in 1985, before the merger.

Lambert again grew in importance for TWA after the airline declared bankruptcy in 1992 and the following year moved its headquarters to St. Louis from [[Mount Kisco, New York]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/08/12/TWA-to-relocate-headquarters-to-St-Louis/2701745128000/|title=TWA to relocate headquarters to St. Louis|access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724062610/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/08/12/TWA-to-relocate-headquarters-to-St-Louis/2701745128000/|archive-date=July 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> TWA increased the number of cities served and started routing more connecting passengers through its hub at Lambert. The total number of passengers departing Lambert jumped almost 20% in a year, from 19.9 million passengers in 1993 to 23.4 million in 1994. Growth continued, to 27.3 million by 1997 and the airport's all-time peak of 30.6 million in 2000.<ref name="Passenger Stats">{{cite web|title=Historical Passenger Statistics Since 1990|url=https://www.flystl.com/uploads/documents/public-notices-and-reports/Historical-Passenger-90-2018.pdf|website=www.flystl.com|publisher=STL Airport|access-date=29 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130162006/https://www.flystl.com/uploads/documents/public-notices-and-reports/Historical-Passenger-90-2018.pdf|archive-date=January 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

By September 1999, Lambert was TWA's main hub, with 103 destinations served by 515 daily flights: 352 on TWA mainline aircraft and 163 on Trans World Express flights operated by its commuter airline partners. Lambert became the eighth-busiest U.S. airport by flights. Congestion caused delays during peak hours and was exacerbated when bad weather reduced the number of usable runways from three to one, and traffic projections made in the 1980s and 1990s predicted enough growth to strain the airport and the national air traffic system.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Expansion Story|url=http://www.lambert-stlouis.com/e/newwebsite/id261.asp|access-date=July 25, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501193743/http://www.lambert-stlouis.com/e/newwebsite/id261.asp|archive-date=May 1, 2008}}</ref> As a result, city leaders decided to build a {{convert|9000|foot|adj=on}} runway, dubbed Runway 11/29, parallel to the two larger existing runways. At $1.1 billion, it was the costliest public works program in St. Louis history.<ref name="USAT">{{cite news|title=St. Louis' Airports Aren't Too Loud: They're Too Quiet|first=Gary|last=Stoller|url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/biztravel/2007-01-09-st-louis-usat_x.htm|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=January 9, 2007|access-date=July 25, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070118213734/http://www.usatoday.com/money/biztravel/2007-01-09-st-louis-usat_x.htm|archive-date=January 18, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> It required moving seven major roads and destroying about 2,000 homes, six churches, and four schools in [[Bridgeton, Missouri|Bridgeton]].<ref name="USAT" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Airport/Mass Transit November 2005 – Feature Story|url=http://midwest.construction.com/2005/11/01/MC_11_01_2005_p27-01.asp|work=[[Engineering News-Record]]|date=November 1, 2005|access-date=July 25, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216014225/http://midwest.construction.com/2005/11/01/MC_11_01_2005_p27-01.asp|archive-date=February 16, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airports and Cities: Can they coexist?|url=http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0901/et0901s2.html|work=SD Earth Times|access-date=July 25, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316120322/http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0901/et0901s2.html|archive-date=March 16, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Work began in 1998 and continued even as traffic at the airport declined after the [[September 11 attacks|9/11 attacks]], the collapse of TWA and its subsequent purchase by American, and American's flight reductions several years later.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historical Operation Statistics by Class for the Years: 1985–2006 |url=http://www.lambert-stlouis.com/index/about_Facts_oper_stat.html |work=Lambert–St. Louis International Airport |access-date=July 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711231321/http://www.lambert-stlouis.com/index/about_Facts_oper_stat.html |archive-date=July 11, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref><ref name="11/29">{{cite news|title=New $1 Billion Runway Opens This Week, But It's Not Needed Anymore |url=http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2006/04/st_louis.html |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=April 11, 2006 |access-date=July 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830212520/http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2006/04/st_louis.html |archive-date=August 30, 2007 }}</ref>

===American Airlines and hub closure===
[[File:N76200 (6103457857).jpg|thumb|right|American [[McDonnell-Douglas MD-80|MD-83]] at Lambert in August 2011]]
[[File:F-15Cs Missouri ANG over St Louis IAP 2008.jpg|thumb|right|F-15s flying over the Air National Guard base]]

As TWA entered the new millennium, its financial condition deteriorated; it was purchased by American Airlines in April 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-apr-10-fi-49088-story.html|title=AMR's Takeover of TWA Finalized|first=Simon|last=Hirschfeld|date=April 10, 2001|access-date=November 16, 2018|via=LA Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012043228/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/apr/10/business/fi-49088|archive-date=October 12, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The last day of operations for TWA was December 1, 2001, including a ceremonial last flight to TWA's original and historic hometown of Kansas City before returning to St. Louis one final time. The following day, TWA was officially absorbed into American Airlines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://twaseniorsclub.org/needknow/last_flight.htm|title=TWA's Last Flight|website=twaseniorsclub.org|access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116120435/http://www.twaseniorsclub.org/needknow/last_flight.htm|archive-date=November 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2001/12/24/focus3.html |title=Stories |date=December 24, 2001 |website=www.bizjournals.com |format=PDF |access-date=September 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830052536/http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2001/12/24/focus3.html |archive-date=August 30, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> The plan for Lambert was to become a reliever hub for the existing American hubs at [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]] and [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]] (DFW). American was looking at something strategic with its new St. Louis hub to potentially offload some of the pressure on O'Hare as well as provide a significant boost to the airline's east/west connectivity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avgeekery.com/twa-last-day|title=The Last Day of TWA – A Sad Day For Aviation — Avgeekery.com – News and stories by Aviation Professionals|website=www.avgeekery.com|date=August 18, 2016|access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902220635/https://www.avgeekery.com/twa-last-day/|archive-date=September 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2001/01/10/deals/amr_twa/|title=TWA to be bought by American – Jan. 10, 2001|website=money.cnn.com|access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205164658/https://money.cnn.com/2001/01/10/deals/amr_twa/|archive-date=December 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The September 11 attacks depressed air service nationwide: total airline industry domestic revenue passenger miles dropped 20% in October 2001 and 17% in November 2001.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bureau of Transportation Statistics|url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/TRAFFIC/|website=Bureau of Transportation|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719185935/https://www.transtats.bts.gov/TRAFFIC/|archive-date=July 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Overnight, American no longer had the same need for a hub that bypassed its hubs at Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth, which suddenly became less congested.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20130126-american-airlines-battles-a-history-of-unsuccessful-mergers.ece|title=American Airlines, a History of Unsuccessful Mergers|publisher=Dallas News|access-date=July 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523032135/http://www.dallasnews.com/business/airline-industry/20130126-american-airlines-battles-a-history-of-unsuccessful-mergers.ece|archive-date=May 23, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result of this and the ongoing [[Early 2000s recession|economic recession]], service at Lambert was reduced to 207 flights by November 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/AA-to-cut-back-St--Louis-operations/|title=AA to cut back St. Louis operations: Travel Weekly|website=www.travelweekly.com|access-date=July 20, 2013|archive-date=February 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207060351/https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/AA-to-cut-back-St-Louis-operations|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/usa/american/ar/aa2003.pdf |title=Info |website=www.airtimes.com |access-date=September 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526195453/http://airtimes.com/cgat/usa/american/ar/aa2003.pdf |archive-date=May 26, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stlmag.com/TWA-Death-Of-A-Legend/|title=TWA – Death Of A Legend|first=Elaine X.|last=Grant|date=July 28, 2006|access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909115811/https://www.stlmag.com/TWA-Death-Of-A-Legend/|archive-date=September 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Total passenger traffic dropped to 20.4 million that same year.<ref name="Passenger Stats" /> On the international front, American dropped flights to London-Gatwick in October 2003, leaving St. Louis without transatlantic service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/usa/american/pdf/aa031001.pdf |title=Info |website=www.airtimes.com |access-date=September 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018153011/http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/usa/american/pdf/aa031001.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/129884576/ | title=How cuts will affect air travel | work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date=2003-07-17 | accessdate=12 August 2023 | author=O'Neil, Tim | archive-date=August 12, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812231331/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/129884576/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2006, the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) announced plans to turn the [[131st Fighter Wing]] of the [[Missouri Air National Guard]] into the 131st Bomb Wing. The wing's 20 [[F-15C]] and [[F-15D]] aircraft were moved to the [[Montana Air National Guard]]'s [[120th Airlift Wing]] at [[Great Falls International Airport]]/Air National Guard Base, Montana, and the [[Hawaii Air National Guard]]'s [[154th Wing]] at [[Hickam AFB]], Hawaii. The pilots and maintainers moved to [[Whiteman AFB]], Missouri to fly and maintain the [[B-2 Spirit]] stealth bomber as the first [[Air National Guard]] wing to fly the aircraft. Lambert Field Air National Guard Base formally shut down on June 13, 2009, when the final two F-15C Eagles did a low approach over the field and then flew away, ending an 86-year chapter of Lambert's history.<ref>{{cite web | title=Last two F-15's leave Lambert | publisher=St. Louis Public Radio | date=June 15, 2009 | url=https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/last-two-f-15s-leave-lambert | access-date=April 8, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910165657/http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/last-two-f-15s-leave-lambert | archive-date=September 10, 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Missouri Air National Guard celebrates End of Era with final F-15 departure | publisher=Whiteman AFB Home Page | date=July 6, 2016 | url=https://www.whiteman.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/326126/missouri-air-national-guard-celebrates-end-of-era-with-final-f-15-departure/ | access-date=April 8, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408201343/https://www.whiteman.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/326126/missouri-air-national-guard-celebrates-end-of-era-with-final-f-15-departure/ | archive-date=April 8, 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref>

2006 also saw the completion of the W-1W airport expansion after eight years of work. The culmination of this program was the opening of Runway 11/29, the airport's fourth, on April 13, 2006, when American Airlines [https://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL2470/history/20060413/1634ZZ/KSNA/KSTL Flight 2470] became the first commercial airliner to land on the new runway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://webpages.charter.net/dandassow/Flight_2470.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222021436/http://webpages.charter.net/dandassow/Flight_2470.htm|url-status=dead|title=American Airlines Flight 2470 – First Commercial Airliner to Land on …|date=February 22, 2013|archive-date=February 22, 2013|access-date=November 16, 2018}}</ref><ref name="11/29" />

In 2008, Lambert's position as an American Airlines hub faced further pressure due to increased fuel costs and softened demand because of a depressed economy. American cut its overall system capacity by over 5% during 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/correct-american-airlines-to-cut-capacity-further|title=American Airlines to trim capacity, add new bag fee|first=Christopher|last=Hinton|newspaper=Marketwatch |access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902151622/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/correct-american-airlines-to-cut-capacity-further|archive-date=September 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> At Lambert, American shifted more flights from mainline to regional.<ref>[http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2008/05/fuel-cost-fallout-aa-is-latest-carrier-to-cut-routes-flights/770991/1 USA Today, Fuel-Cost Fallout: American Airlines is the latest carrier to cut routes, flights, retrieved July 26, 2013] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319090211/http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2008/05/fuel-cost-fallout-aa-is-latest-carrier-to-cut-routes-flights/770991/1 |date=March 19, 2014 }}</ref> Total passengers enplaned fell 6% to 14.4 million in 2008, then fell another 11% to 12.8 million passengers in 2009.<ref name="Passenger Stats" /> In 2009, American announced that as a part of the airline's restructuring, it would close its St. Louis hub by reducing its operations from about 200 daily flights to 36 daily flights by summer 2010.<ref name="stlcuts">{{cite news|title=With AA's Cuts, St. Louis Will Fall From the Ranks of Hub Cities|first=Ben|last=Mutzabaugh|url=https://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=68499380.blog|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|location=[[St. Louis]]|publisher=[[Gannett]]|date=September 18, 2009|access-date=September 18, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524015141/http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=68499380.blog|archive-date=May 24, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref> American's closure of the St. Louis hub coincided with its new "Cornerstone" plan, wherein the airline would concentrate itself in several major markets: Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New York, and Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/american-airlines-cornerstone-worldview-55731|title=American Airlines' "cornerstone" worldview|access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902151626/https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/american-airlines-cornerstone-worldview-55731|archive-date=September 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2012/04/26/consultants-we-studied-possibi|title=Consultants: We studied possibility of closing down one of American Airlines 'cornerstone' cities|last=Maxon|first=Terry|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|location=[[Dallas]]|date=April 26, 2012|access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120043801/https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2012/04/26/consultants-we-studied-possibi|archive-date=November 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>  A 12-gate section of Concourse D closed in 2009 as a result of the hub closure.<ref>{{cite news |title=STL To Close D-Concourse Link Between Terminals |url=http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=8f249dfb-9a9d-4fe4-ac6c-5da6ef879740 |access-date=14 March 2023 |agency=Aero News |date=8 December 2008 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314001326/http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=8f249dfb-9a9d-4fe4-ac6c-5da6ef879740 |url-status=live }}</ref>  Further flight reductions led to the closure of Concourse B and the rest of Concourse D in 2010 (though some gates at the east end of Concourse D are now part of Concourse E).<ref>{{cite web |title=St Louis: The Incredible Shrinking Airport |url=https://crankyflier.com/2010/02/22/st-louis-the-incredible-shrinking-airport/ |website=Cranky Flier |date=February 22, 2010 |access-date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314001315/https://crankyflier.com/2010/02/22/st-louis-the-incredible-shrinking-airport/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Recent years===
[[File:Windows boarded up at STL.jpg|thumb|Terminal 1 windows boarded up after the 2011 tornado]]
[[File:Lambert-StLouisT1Ticketing2017-06-05.jpg|thumb|right|Terminal 1 departures hall in 2017 after renovation]]
In the aftermath of the American hub closure, [[Southwest Airlines]] boosted daily departures from 74 to 83, adding six new destinations for a total of 31. Southwest quickly replaced American as the carrier with the most daily flights, and continues to dominate the airport to this day.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Moseley|first1=Jace|date=7 August 2017|title=The Near Death and Resurgence of St. Louis International Airport|url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2017/08/07/the-near-death-and-resurgence-of-st-louis-international-airport/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914050545/http://airlinegeeks.com/2017/08/07/the-near-death-and-resurgence-of-st-louis-international-airport/|archive-date=September 14, 2017|access-date=5 April 2019|website=AirlineGeeks.com}}</ref><ref name="WNSTLdominate">{{cite web|title=Thirty years since arriving at Lambert, Southwest's dominance takes hold|date=January 25, 2015 |url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/thirty-years-since-arriving-at-lambert-southwests-dominance-takes-hold/article_1f3a3619-6edd-564d-a3ac-01b6fe0295e8.html|access-date=1 June 2021|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214751/https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/thirty-years-since-arriving-at-lambert-southwests-dominance-takes-hold/article_1f3a3619-6edd-564d-a3ac-01b6fe0295e8.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  Southwest Airlines had been growing steadily at Lambert since the mid-1990s. In 1998, the East Terminal (known today as Terminal 2) and Concourse E opened to accommodate Southwest's growth, where they operate today.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.flystl.com/about-us/history |website=St. Louis Lambert International Airport |access-date=13 March 2023 |archive-date=November 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115014000/https://www.flystl.com/about-us/history |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 22, 2011, a [[2011 St. Louis tornado|tornado]] (rated [[Enhanced Fujita scale|EF4]] nearby but not at the airport itself) struck the airport's Terminal 1, destroying jetways and breaking more than half of the windows.<ref>[https://www.crh.noaa.gov/lsx/?n=04_22_2011 April 22nd Tornadic Supercell Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427022149/http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lsx/?n=04_22_2011 |date=April 27, 2011 }}, [[National Weather Service]], St. Louis, Missouri. (April 23, 2011).</ref><ref name="KSDK-2011-04-23">{{cite news|title=St. Louis Airport Storm Caught on Camera |first=Kevin |last=Held |url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/255902/3/Days-not-hours-until-Lambert-St-Louis-Airport-re-opens |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103133405/http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/255902/3/Days-not-hours-until-Lambert-St-Louis-Airport-re-opens |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 3, 2013 |work=[[KSDK]] |date=April 23, 2011 |access-date=April 23, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gay |first1=Malcolm |last2=Harris |first2=Elizabeth A. |title=Tornadoes Tear Through St. Louis, Shutting Down the Airport |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/24/us/24stlouis.html |access-date=5 April 2019 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|location=[[St. Louis]] |date=23 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027032506/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/24/us/24stlouis.html |archive-date=October 27, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CBS News-Bedlam">{{cite news|title=Residents: St. Louis Was "Bedlam" During Tornado|first=Cynthia|last=Bowers|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/residents-st-louis-was-bedlam-during-tornado/|work=[[CBS News]]|location=[[St. Louis]]|date=April 23, 2011|access-date=April 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425042430/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/23/eveningnews/main20056781.shtml|archive-date=April 25, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The wind damaged a Southwest Airlines aircraft by pushing a baggage conveyor belt into it. Four American Airlines aircraft were damaged, including one that was buffeted by {{convert|80|mph|km/h kn|abbr=on}} crosswinds while taxiing after landing.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tornado Cleanup Starts Quickly in St. Louis Area|first1=Jim|last1=Salter|first2=Jim|last2=Suhr|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110423/ap_on_re_us/us_missouri_storms|work=Yahoo! News|location=[[St. Louis]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=April 23, 2011|access-date=April 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424073614/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110423/ap_on_re_us/us_missouri_storms/|archive-date=April 24, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Another aircraft, with passengers still on board, was moved away from its jetway by the storm.<ref name="KMOV-Plane Moved">{{cite news|title=Lambert Passengers Watch Plane Move, Then Evacuate Terminal |first=Bryce |last=Moore |url=http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Lambert-passengers-watch-plane-move-then-evacuate-terminal-120532999.html |date=April 23, 2011 |access-date=April 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425170822/http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Lambert-passengers-watch-plane-move-then-evacuate-terminal-120532999.html |archive-date=April 25, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> The [[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]] closed the airport at 8:54&nbsp;pm CDT, and reopened it the following day at temporarily lower capacity.<ref name="70% capacity">{{cite news|title=UPDATE: Lambert Reopening Today, Expects to Be at 70 Percent Capacity Sunday|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_f7e801d4-6dc7-11e0-b60f-0019bb30f31a.html|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|last=Mann|first=Jennifer|publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]]|location=[[St. Louis]]|date=April 23, 2011|access-date=April 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425224310/http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_f7e801d4-6dc7-11e0-b60f-0019bb30f31a.html|archive-date=April 25, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The damage to Concourse C even forced the airport to temporarily reopen some of Concourses B and D for additional gate space.<ref name="refurbish" /> Concourse C underwent renovations and repairs and reopened on April 2, 2012.<ref name="refurbish">{{cite news|title=Lambert Opens Refurbished C Concourse After Twister|first=Ken|last=Leiser|url=https://www.stltoday.com/travel/lambert-opens-refurbished-c-concourse-after-twister/article_8a5f5baa-7cd3-11e1-8923-0019bb30f31a.html|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post Dispatch]]|access-date=July 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706123907/http://www.stltoday.com/travel/lambert-opens-refurbished-c-concourse-after-twister/article_8a5f5baa-7cd3-11e1-8923-0019bb30f31a.html|archive-date=July 6, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

In late 2016, officials with the City of St. Louis announced that brand researchers had found that travelers might be confused by the name "Lambert–St. Louis International Airport".<ref>{{cite web|title=Retrieved September 9, 2016.|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2016/09/07/airport-commission-to-consider-lambert-name-change.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915132234/http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2016/09/07/airport-commission-to-consider-lambert-name-change.html|archive-date=September 15, 2016|access-date=2018-11-16|publisher=Bizjournals.com}}</ref> They said they might rename it St. Louis International Airport at Lambert Field to freshen up the airport's image and emphasize "St. Louis" in the name. Descendants of [[Albert Bond Lambert]] opposed the change, arguing that it de-emphasized the importance of Maj. Lambert to the airport's history and the history of aviation. The proposal was amended, and the St. Louis Airport Commission voted unanimously to change the name to St. Louis Lambert International Airport.<ref>{{cite web |author=Post-Dispatch store |url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/st-louis-and-lambert-trade-places-in-new-name-for/article_c95608ec-c97b-5440-b8e6-fac6cbd0e7ee.html |title=Retrieved September 9, 2016 |date=September 7, 2016 |publisher=Stltoday.com |access-date=2018-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909212534/http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/st-louis-and-lambert-trade-places-in-new-name-for/article_c95608ec-c97b-5440-b8e6-fac6cbd0e7ee.html |archive-date=September 9, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=On Air 9:52AM |url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/airport-commission-votes-to-change-name-of-lambert-airport/315256320 |title=Retrieved September 9, 2016 |publisher=Ksdk.com |date=2016-09-07 |access-date=2018-11-16 |archive-date=September 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909181013/http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/airport-commission-votes-to-change-name-of-lambert-airport/315256320 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In May 2018, [[Wow Air]] began flights between St. Louis and Reykjavík on an Airbus A321. This was the airport's first service to Europe since 2003.<ref name="Mutzabaugh">{{cite web|title=WOW Air, known for $99 Europe fares, adds four new U.S. cities|first=Ben|last=Mutzabaugh|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2017/08/23/wow-air-known-99-europe-fares-adds-four-new-u-s-cities/591771001/|newspaper=USA Today|date=August 23, 2017|access-date=August 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824014923/https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2017/08/23/wow-air-known-99-europe-fares-adds-four-new-u-s-cities/591771001/|archive-date=August 24, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="pd1018">{{cite news|first1=Leah|last1=Thorsen|access-date=2018-10-16|title=Wow, that was quick: Wow Air to end flights from Lambert in January|url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/wow-that-was-quick-wow-air-to-end-flights-from/article_24c15891-2ebd-5445-8970-837b36362b34.html|newspaper=St. Louis Post Dispatch|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016000204/https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/wow-that-was-quick-wow-air-to-end-flights-from/article_24c15891-2ebd-5445-8970-837b36362b34.html|archive-date=October 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite strong sales, Wow ended the route in January 2019 amid financial struggles.<ref name="pd1018" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flystl.com/newsroom/stl-news/2018/announcement-regarding-wow-air|title=Announcement Regarding WOW air – St. Louis Lambert International Airport|first=St Louis|last=Lambert|date=October 15, 2018|access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017123851/https://www.flystl.com/newsroom/stl-news/2018/announcement-regarding-wow-air|archive-date=October 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2022, [[Lufthansa]] commenced nonstop service to Frankfurt using Airbus A330s. German firms like Bayer and the Merck Group have a significant presence in St. Louis.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/germany-s-lufthansa-to-launch-nonstop-service-from-st-louis-to-frankfurt/article_267deec8-1b58-571f-9043-39ef43acf5de.html | title=Germany's Lufthansa to launch nonstop service from St. Louis to Frankfurt | publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]] | date=December 21, 2021 | last=Barker | first=Jacob | newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] | location=[[St. Louis]] | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214010509/https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/germany-s-lufthansa-to-launch-nonstop-service-from-st-louis-to-frankfurt/article_267deec8-1b58-571f-9043-39ef43acf5de.html | archivedate=2021-12-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.stlmag.com/news/travelers-first-lufthansa-flight-lambert-st-louis-airport/ | title=Behind the scenes at Lambert's first Lufthansa flight | work=St. Louis Magazine | date=2022-06-02 | accessdate=12 August 2023 | author=Stefanescu, Victor | archive-date=August 13, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813012755/https://www.stlmag.com/news/travelers-first-lufthansa-flight-lambert-st-louis-airport/ | url-status=live }}</ref> A second transatlantic flight will be added in 2026, with [[British Airways]] flying direct to London-[[Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]]. Lambert previously had service to Britain until 2003; however, this will be the airport's first flights to Heathrow as previous service was to [[Gatwick Airport|Gatwick]].<ref>https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/business/article_7cdaa3a2-65ec-4288-b3aa-ed067e4abd76.html#tracking-source=home-top-story</ref>

In early 2022, airport officials released a plan that would consolidate both existing terminals into one, at the existing Terminal 1 site.<ref name="STLNewTerminal">{{cite news |last1=Bush |first1=Mike |title=Proposed plan would get rid of Terminal 2 at St. Louis Lambert Airport |date=January 6, 2022 |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/proposed-plan-get-rid-terminal-2-st-louis-lambert-airport/63-3b506226-12da-4ea2-9be0-3317444390cd |access-date=6 January 2022 |archive-date=January 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106151212/https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/proposed-plan-get-rid-terminal-2-st-louis-lambert-airport/63-3b506226-12da-4ea2-9be0-3317444390cd |url-status=live }}</ref> The proposal would gradually demolish Concourses A, B, C and build a single new concourse with 62 gates in its place, while retaining the iconic domed terminal building.<ref name="STLTerminalPres">{{cite press release|url=https://www.flystl.com/uploads/documents/airport-layout-plan-study-highlights/STL-ALPU-Commission-Briefing_20220105-final-v3.pdf|title=Airport Layout Plan Update|publisher=St. Louis City Airports Commission|location=[[St. Louis]]|access-date=6 January 2022|archive-date=January 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105235502/https://www.flystl.com/uploads/documents/airport-layout-plan-study-highlights/STL-ALPU-Commission-Briefing_20220105-final-v3.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the completion, Terminal 2 would be demolished or repurposed.<ref name="STLNewTerminal" />

==Facilities==
[[File:St. Louis Lambert E Concourse.jpg|thumb|Interior of Concourse E]]
The airport is in an [[unincorporated area]] in Airport Township, [[St. Louis County, Missouri|St. Louis County]].<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st29_mo/cousub/cs2918900406_airport/DC20BLK_CS2918900406.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Airport township, MO|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=April 14, 2021|access-date=2025-06-10|page=1 (PDF p. 2/5)|quote=Lambert-St Louis International Arprt}}</ref>

=== Terminals ===
The airport has two terminals, five concourses, and 54 gates.

*'''Terminal 1''' contains 36 gates across two concourses, lettered A and C.<ref name="con">{{cite web |title=STL Airport Diagram |url=https://www.flystl.com/uploads/documents/airport-operations/STL_Gates-Diagram_2017.pdf |publisher=St. Louis City Airports Commission |location=[[St. Louis]] |access-date=5 April 2019 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308195742/https://www.flystl.com/uploads/documents/airport-operations/STL_Gates-Diagram_2017.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> It also has an [[Admirals Club|American Airlines Admirals Club]] and one of the nation's largest [[United Service Organizations|USO]] facilities.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070110174609/http://www.usostl.org/aboutus.aspx James S. McDonnell USO]}}</ref> 
*'''Terminal 2''' contains 18 gates across one concourse, lettered E.<ref name="con" /> It also has a public lounge operated by Wingtips.<ref>{{cite press release |last=Clever |first=Boxing |date=January 4, 2018 |title=Wingtips St. Louis Lounge Opens in STL's Terminal 2 – St. Louis Lambert International Airport |url=https://www.flystl.com/newsroom/stl-news/2018/wingtips-st-louis-lounge-opens-in-stls-terminal-2 |publisher=St. Louis City Airports Commission|location=[[St. Louis]]|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106173036/https://www.flystl.com/newsroom/stl-news/2018/wingtips-st-louis-lounge-opens-in-stls-terminal-2 |archive-date=January 6, 2018 |access-date=January 6, 2018}}</ref> All international flights without border preclearance are processed in Terminal 2.

Inter-terminal transfers/connections can be made by Terminal Shuttle Buses or on the Metro rail between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 (rail connection is free between the terminals as of July 2024)

===Runways===
[[File:St. Louis Lambert Western Gable T1.jpg|thumb|right|STL control tower]]
The airport has four runways: three parallel and one crosswind. The crosswind runway, 6/24, is the shortest of the four at {{convert|7607|ft|m|adj=off}}. The newest runway is 11/29, completed in 2006 as part of a large expansion program.<ref name="FAA" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airnav.com/airport/KSTL|title=AirNav: KSTL – St Louis Lambert International Airport|website=www.airnav.com|access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115170749/http://airnav.com/airport/KSTL|archive-date=November 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable painrowheaders"
|-
! scope=col | Runway
! scope=col | Length
! scope=col | Width
|-
| 12R/30L
| {{convert|11020|ft}} 
| {{convert|150|ft}} 
|-
| 12L/30R
| {{convert|9013|ft}}
| {{convert|150|ft}}
|-
| 11/29
| {{convert|9000|ft}} 
| {{convert|150|ft}} 
|-
| 6/24
| {{convert|7603|ft}} 
| {{convert|150|ft}}
|}

The airport's current ~{{convert|156|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us|adj=on}} control tower opened in 1997 at a cost of about $15 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=World's sky-high civilian air traffic control towers|url=https://panethos.wordpress.com/2014/02/22/worlds-sky-high-civilian-air-traffic-control-towers/|website=wordpress.com|date=February 22, 2014|access-date=August 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806030104/https://panethos.wordpress.com/2014/02/22/worlds-sky-high-civilian-air-traffic-control-towers/|archive-date=August 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lambert St. Louis Airport Control Tower, Bridgeton|url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/263727/lambert-st-louis-airport-control-tower-bridgeton-mo-usa|website=[[Emporis]]|access-date=August 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806023045/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/263727/lambert-st-louis-airport-control-tower-bridgeton-mo-usa|archive-date=August 6, 2017|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

===Ground transportation===
[[File:Lambert-train.jpg|thumb|[[St. Louis MetroLink|MetroLink]] station at [[Lambert Airport Terminal 1 station|Terminal 1]]]]
<!-- [[File:STL Terminal 1 MetroLink Station.jpg|thumb|[[St. Louis MetroLink|MetroLink]] station at [[Lambert Airport Terminal 1 station|Terminal 1]]]] -->

The airport is served by [[MetroLink (St. Louis)|MetroLink]], the light rail transportation system serving Greater St. Louis. The [[Red Line (St. Louis MetroLink)|Red Line]] has stations at [[Lambert Airport Terminal 1 station|Terminal 1]] and [[Lambert Airport Terminal 2 station|Terminal 2]].<ref>{{cite web | title=MetroLink | website=Metrostlouis.org Site | date=April 8, 2019 | url=https://www.metrostlouis.org/metrolink/ | access-date=April 8, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408195100/https://www.metrostlouis.org/metrolink/ | archive-date=April 8, 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref> The Metro lines serve the city of St. Louis, along with cities in St. Louis County, and Illinois suburbs in [[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair County]].

The airport is served by [[Interstate 70 in Missouri|I-70]]; eastbound leads to [[downtown St. Louis]] and [[Interstate 70 in Illinois|Illinois]] with a north–south connection at [[I-170]] immediately east of the airport, while westbound leads to St. Louis [[Commuter town|exurbs]] in [[St. Charles County]] with a north–south connection at [[Interstate 270 in Missouri|I-270]] immediately west of the airport.

===Art and historical pieces===
[[File:St. Louis Lambert Monocoupe 110 Special at T2.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Monocoupe 110 Special]] in Terminal 2]]
''Black Americans in Flight'' is a mural that depicts African American aviators and their contributions to aviation since 1917. It is located in Terminal 1 / Main Terminal on the lower level near the entrance to gates C and D and baggage claim. The mural consists of five panels and measures {{convert|8|ft}} tall and {{convert|51|ft}} long. The first panel includes [[Albert Edward Forsythe]] and C. Alfred Anderson, the first black pilots to complete a cross-country flight; the [[Tuskegee Institute]] and the [[Tuskegee Airmen]]; [[Eugene Bullard]]; [[Bessie Coleman]]; and [[Willa Brown]], the first African American woman commercial pilot. The second panel shows [[Benjamin O. Davis Jr.]], Clarence "Lucky" Lester, and Joseph Ellesberry. The third panel shows [[Daniel James Jr.|Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James]], Capt. Ronald Radliff, and Capt. Marcella Hayes. The fourth and fifth panels show [[Ronald McNair]], who died in the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' disaster]] in 1986, [[Guion Bluford]], who in 1983 became the first African American in space, and [[Mae Jemison]], the first African American woman in space. Spencer Taylor and Solomon Thurman created the mural in 1990.<ref>{{cite news|title=Linking the Past to the Future|first=Henry T.|last=Brownlee Jr.|url=http://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers/archive/2009/february/i_history.pdf|location=[[Chicago]]|publisher=[[The Boeing Company]]|date=February 2010|access-date=July 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012051836/http://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers/archive/2009/february/i_history.pdf|archive-date=October 12, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Many St. Louis Sites Significant in Black History: "Black Americans in Flight" Mural|url=http://www.explorestlouis.com/media/pressKit/africanAmerSites.asp|work=St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission|access-date=July 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607225855/http://www.explorestlouis.com/media/pressKit/africanAmerSites.asp|archive-date=June 7, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The mural had a re-dedication ceremony in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/multimedia/lambert-rededicates-its-black-americans-in-flight-mural/image_0a77e9d0-c423-5925-a06c-dc5dfa176c72.html|title=Lambert rededicates its "Black Americans In Flight" mural|first=Christian|last=Gooden|date=February 16, 2012|access-date=November 16, 2018|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125073145/https://www.stltoday.com/news/multimedia/lambert-rededicates-its-black-americans-in-flight-mural/image_0a77e9d0-c423-5925-a06c-dc5dfa176c72.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

One aircraft from the [[Missouri History Museum]] currently hangs from Lambert's ceilings. This aircraft, a red [[Monocoupe 110 Special]] manufactured in St. Louis in 1931, hangs in the ticketing hall of Terminal 2.<ref>{{cite web|title=Charles Lindbergh's Monocoupe – St. Louis, MO – Static Aircraft Displays|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM5BWR_Charles_Lindberghs_Monocoupe_St_Louis_MO|publisher=Groundspeak, Inc.|date=December 15, 2008|access-date=July 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015115353/http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM5BWR_Charles_Lindberghs_Monocoupe_St_Louis_MO|archive-date=October 15, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The airport has also played host to two other aircraft. A [[Monocoupe 90|Monocoupe D-127]] hung near the eastern security checkpoint in Terminal 1. Charles Lindbergh bought it in 1934 from the Lambert Aircraft Corporation and flew it as his personal aircraft. It was removed in 2018 and returned to the Missouri Historical Society, from which the aircraft had been on loan since 1979, for preservation purposes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lindbergh Monocoupe Exhibit Ending its Run at STL Airport|url=https://www.flystl.com/newsroom/stl-news/2018/lindbergh-monocoupe-exhibit-ending-its-run-at-stl-airport|work=Lambert Airport|date=June 7, 2018|access-date=June 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140602/https://www.flystl.com/newsroom/stl-news/2018/lindbergh-monocoupe-exhibit-ending-its-run-at-stl-airport|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Until 1998, a [[Ryan Brougham|Ryan B-1 Brougham]], a replica of the ''[[Spirit of St. Louis]]'', hung next to the D-127.<ref>{{cite web|title=Midnight Maintenance: Caring for Lindbergh's Monocoupe|first1=Robert|last1=Mullen|first2=Sharon|last2=Smith|url=http://www.mhmvoices.org/2008SpringDept2.php|work=[[Missouri History Museum]]|date=Spring 2008|access-date=July 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419080152/http://www.mhmvoices.org/2008SpringDept2.php|archive-date=April 19, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Airlines and destinations ==
=== Passenger ===
<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and airlines itself are not independent sources. -->
{{Airport destination list |3rdcoltitle = References|3rdcolunsortable = yes
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| {{nowrap|[[Air Canada]]}} |'''Seasonal:''' [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|Montréal–Trudeau]],<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Montreal, QC, Canada YMQ|pages=768-771}}</ref><ref name="stlouis-mo.gov">{{cite web |title=STL welcomes increased Air Canada service and routes this summer |url=https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/airport/news/air-canada-montreal.cfm |website=stlouis-mo.gov |date=May 2024 |access-date=15 May 2024}}</ref> [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]]<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Toronto, ON, Canada YTO|pages=1156-1162}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Air Canada reveals major US route changes for summer 2025|url=https://insideflyer.com/2024/11/23/air-canada-reveals-major-us-route-changes-for-summer-2025/|website=Inside Flyer |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref> | <ref name="AirCanadaRoutes">{{cite web|title=Air Canada flight schedules|publisher=Air Canada|url=https://beta.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/flight-schedules.html?acid=beta%7Credirect%7Caircanada.com%7CNoBar|access-date=7 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925064718/https://www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/flight-schedules.html?acid=beta%7Credirect%7Caircanada.com%7CNoBar|archive-date=September 25, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| {{nowrap|[[Air Canada Express]]}} | [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]]<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Toronto, ON, Canada YTO|pages=1156-1162}}</ref> <br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|Montréal–Trudeau]]<ref>{{OAGWorldJuly2025Ref|title=Montreal, QC, Canada YMQ|pages=768-771}}</ref><ref name="stlouis-mo.gov"/> | <ref name="AirCanadaRoutes" />
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| [[Alaska Airlines]] | [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]], [[Portland International Airport|Portland (OR)]] (begins May 13, 2026),<ref>{{cite web |title=Alaska Airlines Start Non-Stop Service from St Louis to Portland|url=https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/10/21/alaska-airlines-start-non-stop-service-st-louis-portland/}}</ref> [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport|Puerto Vallarta]] | <ref name="AlaskaRoutes">{{cite web|title=Alaska Airlines flight timetable|publisher=Alaska Airlines|website=alaskaair.com|url=https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/timetables.aspx|access-date=29 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202123138/https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/timetables.aspx|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[American Airlines]] | [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]], [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]], [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Miami International Airport|Miami]], [[Philadelphia International Airport|Philadelphia]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]] <br /> '''Seasonal:''' [[Cancún International Airport|Cancún]],  [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]] | <ref name="AmericanRoutes">{{cite web|title=American Airlines flight schedules and notifications|publisher=American Airlines|website=aa.com|url=https://www.aa.com/travelInformation/flights/schedule|access-date=5 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202010611/https://www.aa.com/travelInformation/flights/schedule|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]] | [[Logan International Airport|Boston]], [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]], [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[LaGuardia Airport|New York–LaGuardia]], [[Philadelphia International Airport|Philadelphia]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]] <br /> '''Seasonal:''' [[Miami International Airport|Miami]]| <ref name="AmericanRoutes" />
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| [[British Airways]] |'''Seasonal:''' [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]] (begins April 19, 2026)|<ref name="BASTL">{{cite web|title=British Airways Announces New Non-stop Flight Between St. Louis and London|website=STLPartnership|url=https://stlpartnership.com/british-airways-announces-new-non-stop-flight-between-st-louis-and-london/|access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref>
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| [[Delta Air Lines]] | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]], [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit]], [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport|Salt Lake City]] | <ref name="DeltaRoutes">{{cite web|title=Flight schedules for Delta|publisher=Delta Air Lines|url=https://www.delta.com/flightinfo/viewFlightSchedulesSetup.action|access-date=June 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621123636/http://www.delta.com/flightinfo/viewFlightSchedulesSetup.action|archive-date=June 21, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Delta Connection]] | [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]], [[LaGuardia Airport|New York–LaGuardia]] <br /> '''Seasonal:''' [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/05/02/delta-adds-new-routes-from-orlando-austin-jfk-and-more/ | title=Delta Air Lines Adds New Routes from Orlando, Austin, JFK and More | date=May 2, 2025 }}</ref> | <ref name="DeltaRoutes" />
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| [[Frontier Airlines]] | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Frontier Airlines 2Q25 Atlanta Network Expansion |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250228-f9ns25atl |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=28 February 2025}}</ref> [[Cancún International Airport|Cancún]], [[Denver International Airport|Denver]], [[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas]], [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]], [[Tampa International Airport|Tampa]]<ref>{{Cite web | title=Frontier Airlines Unveils Fifteen New Routes to Popular US Destinations, Including Corpus Christi, Richmond, Tulsa, Omaha, Dallas, El Paso, Phoenix, and More, Starting in October 2025 - Travel And Tour World | url=https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/frontier-airlines-unveils-fifteen-new-routes-to-popular-us-destinations-including-corpus-christi-richmond-tulsa-omaha-dallas-el-paso-phoenix-and-more-starting-in-october-2025/ | access-date=2025-08-11 | website=www.travelandtourworld.com}}</ref> <br />'''Seasonal:'''  [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]], [[Punta Cana International Airport|Punta Cana]] | <ref name="FrontierRoutes">{{cite web|title=Frontier Airlines schedule|publisher=Frontier Airlines|url=https://www.flyfrontier.com|access-date=7 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912053526/https://www.flyfrontier.com/|archive-date=September 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Lufthansa]] | [[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt]] | <ref>{{cite web |title=Timetable & flight status {{!}} Lufthansa |url=https://www.lufthansa.com/is/en/timetable-and-flight-status#/ |access-date=14 December 2021 |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214191239/https://www.lufthansa.com/is/en/timetable-and-flight-status#/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| {{nowrap|[[Southern Airways Express]]}} | [[Jonesboro Municipal Airport|Jonesboro]] | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://iflysouthern.com/ |title=Southern Route Map |publisher=Southern Airways Express |access-date=October 31, 2022 |archive-date=September 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919184704/https://iflysouthern.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| [[Southwest Airlines]] | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]], [[Austin–Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]], [[Baltimore/Washington International Airport|Baltimore]], [[Logan International Airport|Boston]], [[Cancún International Airport|Cancún]], [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]], [[Midway International Airport|Chicago–Midway]], [[Cleveland Hopkins International Airport|Cleveland]], [[John Glenn Columbus International Airport|Columbus–Glenn]], [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love]], [[Denver International Airport|Denver]], [[Des Moines International Airport|Des Moines]] (ends March 4, 2026),<ref name="STLCuts">{{cite web |title=Southwest Airlines to cut nonstop flights to 6 cities from St. Louis |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/st-louis-lambert-international-airport-to-cut-five-non-stop-destinations/63-dc403399-20d6-4bd3-ac58-68ba38f61d35 |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref> [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit]], [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]], [[Southwest Florida International Airport|Fort Myers]], [[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby]], [[Jacksonville International Airport|Jacksonville (FL)]], [[Kansas City International Airport|Kansas City]], [[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas]], [[Clinton National Airport|Little Rock]] (ends March 4, 2026),<ref name="STLCuts">{{cite web |title=Southwest Airlines to cut nonstop flights to 6 cities from St. Louis |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/st-louis-lambert-international-airport-to-cut-five-non-stop-destinations/63-dc403399-20d6-4bd3-ac58-68ba38f61d35 |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref> [[Long Beach Airport|Long Beach]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Miami International Airport|Miami]], [[Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport|Milwaukee]], [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]], [[Nashville International Airport|Nashville]], [[Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport|New Orleans]], [[LaGuardia Airport|New York–LaGuardia]], [[OKC Will Rogers International Airport|Oklahoma City]] (ends March 4, 2026),<ref name="STLCuts">{{cite web |title=Southwest Airlines to cut nonstop flights to 6 cities from St. Louis |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/st-louis-lambert-international-airport-to-cut-five-non-stop-destinations/63-dc403399-20d6-4bd3-ac58-68ba38f61d35 |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref> [[Eppley Airfield|Omaha]], [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]], [[Philadelphia International Airport|Philadelphia]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]], [[Pittsburgh International Airport|Pittsburgh]], [[Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport|Puerto Vallarta]] (begins March 7, 2026),<ref>{{cite web |title=Southwest Airlines March 2026 International Network Additions |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250821-wnmar26 |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=21 August 2025}}</ref> [[Raleigh–Durham International Airport|Raleigh/Durham]], [[Sacramento International Airport|Sacramento]], [[San Antonio International Airport|San Antonio]], [[San Diego International Airport|San Diego]], [[San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco]],<ref name=SWNEW /> [[Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport|Sarasota]], [[Tampa International Airport|Tampa]], [[Tulsa International Airport|Tulsa]] (ends March 4, 2026),<ref name="STLCuts">{{cite web |title=Southwest Airlines to cut nonstop flights to 6 cities from St. Louis |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/st-louis-lambert-international-airport-to-cut-five-non-stop-destinations/63-dc403399-20d6-4bd3-ac58-68ba38f61d35 |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref> [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]], [[Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport|Wichita]] (ends March 4, 2026)<ref name="STLCuts">{{cite web |title=Southwest Airlines to cut nonstop flights to 6 cities from St. Louis |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/st-louis-lambert-international-airport-to-cut-five-non-stop-destinations/63-dc403399-20d6-4bd3-ac58-68ba38f61d35 |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref><br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Hollywood Burbank Airport|Burbank]],<ref name="STLCuts">{{cite web |title=Southwest Airlines to cut nonstop flights to 6 cities from St. Louis |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/st-louis-lambert-international-airport-to-cut-five-non-stop-destinations/63-dc403399-20d6-4bd3-ac58-68ba38f61d35 |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref> [[Charleston International Airport|Charleston (SC)]], [[Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport|Destin/Fort Walton Beach]], [[Sangster International Airport|Montego Bay]], [[Myrtle Beach International Airport|Myrtle Beach]], [[Norfolk International Airport|Norfolk]],<ref name=SW>{{Cite web |url= https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2023/10/26/southwest-airlines-to-add-west-coast-stop.html |title= Southwest Airlines to add West Coast stop from Lambert airport, more flights |access-date= October 26, 2023 |archive-date= February 7, 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240207060041/https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2023/10/26/southwest-airlines-to-add-west-coast-stop.html |url-status= live }}</ref> [[Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport|Panama City (FL)]], [[Pensacola International Airport|Pensacola]], [[Portland International Airport|Portland (OR)]], [[Punta Cana International Airport|Punta Cana]], [[Salt Lake City International Airport|Salt Lake City]], [[Los Cabos International Airport|San José del Cabo]], [[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport|San Juan]], [[Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport|Savannah]],<ref name=SW /> [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]],<ref name=SWNEW>{{Cite web |url= https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/airport/news/schedule-update-routes.cfm |title= Southwest's Latest STL Schedule Update Expands/Resumes Routes |date= August 3, 2023 |access-date=5 June 2024 |archive-date= August 4, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230804085824/https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/airport/news/schedule-update-routes.cfm |url-status= live }}</ref> [[Palm Beach International Airport|West Palm Beach (FL)]] | <ref name="SouthwestRoutes">{{cite web|title=Southwest Flight schedules|url=https://www.southwest.com/air/flight-schedules/index.html|publisher=Southwest Airlines|access-date=25 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202053931/https://www.southwest.com/air/flight-schedules/index.html|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[Spirit Airlines]] | [[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Where can you fly with Spirit Airlines? New routes coming this spring for Michigan fliers |url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/03/26/new-spirit-airlines-destinations-detroit-metro-michigan-flights/82671341007/ |website=Detroit Free Press |access-date=10 April 2025 }}</ref> [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]] <br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]]| <ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-louis-nearly-doubles-its-nonstop-options-with-spirit-airlines-as-spirit-celebrates-first-flight-with-expansion-announcement-301300898.html |title=St. Louis Nearly Doubles its Nonstop Options with Spirit Airlines as Spirit Celebrates First Flight with Expansion Announcement |access-date=May 27, 2021 |archive-date=May 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527151416/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/st-louis-nearly-doubles-its-nonstop-options-with-spirit-airlines-as-spirit-celebrates-first-flight-with-expansion-announcement-301300898.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| [[Sun Country Airlines]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]] | <ref>{{cite web |title=Sun Country Expands Minneapolis Network in NS23 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221116-syns23msp |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116152457/https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221116-syns23msp |url-status=live }}</ref>
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| [[United Airlines]] | [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]], [[Denver International Airport|Denver]], [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]], [[San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco]] <br /> '''Seasonal:''' [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/business-journal/united-airlines-adding-flights-lambert-airport-to-san-francisco/63-0941f158-4ded-46e2-bf24-2e078d71842b|title=Airline adding flights at Lambert Airport to key destination|publisher=KSDK|date=April 22, 2024|accessdate=April 24, 2024}}</ref> | <ref name="UnitedRoutes">{{cite web|title=United Airlines timetable|url=https://www.united.com/en/us/flightstatus|publisher=United Airlines|access-date=5 June 2024|archive-date=September 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904192457/https://www.united.com/en/us/flightstatus|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[United Express]] | [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]], [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]], [[San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco]], [[Dulles International Airport|Washington–Dulles]] | <ref name="UnitedRoutes"/>
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}}

===Cargo===
{{Airport destination list | 3rdcoltitle = Refs | 3rdcolunsortable = yes
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| [[Amazon Air]] | [[Baltimore/Washington International Airport|Baltimore]], [[Ontario International Airport|Ontario]], [[San Bernardino International Airport|San Bernardino]] | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ABX3943/history/0400Z/KSTL/KONT|title=ABX Air 3943 ✈ FlightAware|publisher=Flightaware.com|access-date=2019-09-19|archive-date=June 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626143757/https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ABX3943/history/0400Z/KSTL/KONT|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| [[DHL Aviation]] | [[Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport|Cincinnati]], [[Eppley Airfield|Omaha]] | 
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| [[FedEx Express]] | [[Indianapolis International Airport|Indianapolis]], [[Memphis International Airport|Memphis]], [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/St. Paul]] | 
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| [[UPS Airlines]] | [[Boise Airport|Boise]], [[Chicago Rockford International Airport|Chicago/Rockford]], [[Kansas City International Airport|Kansas City]], [[Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport|Louisville]], [[Portland International Airport|Portland (OR)]] | 
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}}

===Destination maps===
{| class="collapsible uncollapsed" style="border:1px #aaa solid; width:50em; margin:0.2em auto"
|-
! Domestic destinations map
|-
|{{Location map+ |United_States |width=1000 |float=center
|caption=Domestic destinations from STL (excludes Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories). {{font color | red | Red}} dots represent year-round destinations; {{font color | green | green}} dots represent seasonal destinations; {{font color | blue | blue}} dots represent future destinations.
|places=
<!-- Any destinations within similar comment brackets is merely hidden. This is so that they no longer show up on the destinations map, but can be easily added again should service to those destinations resume from STL. Simply delete the brackets to show those destinations again. Format reference purposes for future destinations: {{Location map~ |United_States |mark=Blue pog.svg|lat=xx.xxxxxx|long=-xx.xxxxxx|position=xxx|label='''<small>[[Destination Page Name|Destination]]</small>'''|label_size=110 |marksize=7 }} -->
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=38.747222|long=-90.361389|position=left|label='''<small>St. Louis</small>'''|caption=|mark=Airplane_silhouette.svg|marksize=15 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=33.63666 |long=-84.428056|position=right|label='''<small>[[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=30.221078|long=-97.659881|position=left|label='''<small>[[Austin-Bergstrom International Airport|Austin]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=35.831667|long=-90.646389|position=left|label='''<small>[[Jonesboro Municipal Airport|Jonesboro]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=41.411667|long=-81.849722|position=right|label='''<small>[[Cleveland Hopkins International Airport|Cleveland]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=39.942778|long=-91.194722|position=right|label='''<small>[[Quincy Regional Airport|Quincy]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=39.9999|long=-82.8872|position=left|label='''<small>[[John Glenn Columbus International Airport|Columbus]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=32.896944|long=-97.038056|position=left|label='''<small>[[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/<br />Fort Worth]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7}}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=32.847222|long=-96.851667|position=right|label='''<small>[[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=34.200556|long=-118.358611|position=top|label='''<small>[[Hollywood Burbank Airport|Burbank]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=47.450165|long=-122.309176|position=left|label='''<small>[[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/<br />Tacoma]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |mark=Green pog.svg |lat=45.588611|long=-122.5975|position=left|label='''<small>[[Portland International Airport|Portland]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=29.993333|long=-90.258056|position=top|label='''<small>[[Louis Armstrong International Airport|New Orleans]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=26.536111|long=-81.755278|position=left|label='''<small>[[Southwest Florida International Airport|Ft. Myers]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=41.974186|long=-87.907783|position=left|label='''<small>[[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=33.941381|long=-118.408619|position=left|label='''<small>[[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=25.795965|long=-80.287326|position=bottom|label='''<small>[[Miami International Airport|Miami]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=29.526667|long=-98.471944|position=bottom|label='''<small>[[San Antonio International Airport|San Antonio]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=27.983366|long=-82.537348|position=left|label='''<small>[[Tampa International Airport|Tampa]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=28.431206|long=-81.308386|position=right|label='''<small>[[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=26.073989|long=-80.150725|position=right|label='''<small>{{nowrap|[[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]]}}</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=29.990140|long=-95.336792|position=top|label='''<small>[[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–{{nowrap|Intercontinental}}]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=29.645556|long=-95.278889|position=bottom|label='''<small>[[William P. Hobby Airport|Houston–Hobby]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=38.952746|long=-77.457226|position=left|label='''<small>[[Dulles International Airport|Washington–Dulles]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=38.851047|long=-77.040320|position=right|label='''<small>[[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport|Washington–National]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=39.177333|long=-76.668650|position=top|label='''<small>[[Baltimore–Washington International Airport|Baltimore]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=42.364644|long=-71.010010|position=right|label='''<small>[[Boston Logan International Airport|Boston]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=40.777037|long=-73.874518|position=right|label='''<small>{{nowrap|[[LaGuardia Airport|New York–LaGuardia]]}}</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=40.689333|long=-74.174585|position=left|label='''<small>[[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=39.873918|long=-75.242466|position=right|label='''<small>[[Philadelphia International Airport|Philadelphia]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=40.495728|long=-80.241558|position=left|label='''<small>[[Pittsburgh International Airport|Pittsburgh]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=32.733611|long=-117.189722|position=left|label='''<small>[[San Diego International Airport|San Diego]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=35.877778|long=-78.7875|position=right|label='''<small>[[Raleigh–Durham International Airport|Raleigh/Durham]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=34.729444|long=-92.224722|position=left|label='''<small>[[Clinton National Airport|Little Rock]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=39.2975|long=-94.713889|position=left|label='''<small>[[Kansas City International Airport|Kansas City]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=42.947222|long=-87.896667|position=top|label='''<small>[[General Mitchell International Airport|Milwaukee]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=42.216112|long=-83.355586|position=left|label='''<small>[[Detroit Metropolitan Airport|Detroit]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=41.786589|long=-87.752356|position=right|label='''<small>[[Midway International Airport|Chicago–Midway]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=44.884690|long=-93.222430|position=top|label='''<small>[[Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport|Minneapolis/<br />St. Paul]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=36.126288|long=-86.677471|position=right|label='''<small>[[Nashville International Airport|Nashville]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=39.855193|long=-104.673849|position=left|label='''<small>[[Denver International Airport|Denver]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United States |lat=40.6413   |long=-73.7781    |position=top |label_size=80 |marksize=6  |label='''[[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York JFK]]'''}}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=40.789836|long=-111.979632|position=left|label='''<small>[[Salt Lake City International Airport|Salt Lake City]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=33.436921|long=-112.011667|position=top|label='''<small>[[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–<br />Sky Harbor]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=36.083697|long=-115.153873|position=top|label='''<small>[[McCarran International Airport|Las Vegas]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=33.6741|long=-117.8690|position=right|label='''<small>[[Long Beach Airport|Long Beach]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=37.620811|long=-122.380049|position=top|label='''<small>[[San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=35.213889|long=-80.943056|position=right|label='''<small>[[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=35.393056|long=-97.600833|position=left|label='''<small>[[Will Rogers World Airport|Oklahoma City]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=41.3012|long=-95.8954|position=left|label='''<small>[[Eppley Airfield|Omaha]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=36.198333|long=-95.888056|position=left|label='''<small>[[Tulsa International Airport|Tulsa]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=37.65|long=-97.433056|position=left|label='''<small>[[Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport|Wichita]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |mark=Green pog.svg|lat=32.898611|long=-80.040556|position=right|label='''<small>[[Charleston International Airport|Charleston]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |mark=Green pog.svg|lat=30.358333|long=-85.795556|position=right|label='''<small>[[Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport|Panama City]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |mark=Green pog.svg|lat=30.473333|long=-87.186667|position=top|label='''<small>[[Pensacola International Airport|Pensacola]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |mark=Green pog.svg|lat=26.683056|long=-80.095556|position=right|label='''<small>{{nowrap|[[Palm Beach International Airport|West Palm Beach]]}}</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=27.3876|long=-82.5534|position=left|label='''<small>[[Sarasota/Bradenton Airport|Sarasota]]</small>'''|label size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=41.533889|long=-93.663056|position=top|label='''<small>[[Des Moines International Airport|Des Moines]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=37.362778|long=-121.929167|position=left|label='''<small>[[San Jose International Airport|San Jose]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=38.695556|long=-121.590833|position=top|label='''<small>[[Sacramento International Airport|Sacramento]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |lat=30.494167|long=-81.687778|position=right|label='''<small>[[Jacksonville International Airport|Jacksonville]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |mark=Green pog.svg|lat=30.39353|long=-86.49578|position=bottom|label='''<small>[[Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport|Destin/<br />Fort Walton Beach]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ |United_States |mark=Green pog.svg|lat=32.08354|long=-81.09983|position=right |label='''<small>[[Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport|Savannah]]</small>'''|label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
 }}
|}
{| class="collapsible uncollapsed" style="border:1px #aaa solid; width:50em; margin:0.2em auto"
|-
! International destinations map
|-
|{{Location map+ | Earth |width=1000 |float=center
|caption=International destinations from STL (includes Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories). {{font color | red | Red}} dots represent year-round destinations; {{font color | green | Green}} dots represent seasonal destinations; {{font color | blue | Blue}} dots represent future destinations.
|places=
{{Location map~ | Earth |lat=38.747222|long=-90.361389|position=left|label='''<small>St. Louis</small>'''|caption=|mark=Airplane_silhouette.svg|marksize=15 }}
{{Location map~ | Earth |lat=43.676667|long=-79.630556|position=top|label='''<small>[[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson]]</small>''' |label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | Earth |lat=50.033333|long=8.570556|position=right|label='''<small>[[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt]]</small>''' |label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | Earth |lat=21.036667|long=-86.876944|position=top|label='''<small>[[Cancún International Airport|Cancún]]</small>''' |label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | Earth |mark=Green pog.svg |lat=18.503611|long=-77.913333|position=bottom|label='''<small>[[Sangster International Airport|Montego Bay]]</small>''' |label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | Earth |mark=Green pog.svg |lat=20.6565|long=-105.2114|position=top|label='''<small>[[ Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport|Puerto Vallarta]]</small>''' |label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | Earth |lat=45.470556|long=-73.740833|position=right|label='''<small>[[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport|Montréal]]</small>''' |label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | Earth |mark=Green pog.svg |lat=18.566667|long=-68.351944|position=top|label='''<small>[[Punta Cana International Airport|Punta Cana]]</small>''' |label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | Earth |mark=Green pog.svg|lat=23.151667|long=-109.720833|position=left|label='''<small>[[Los Cabos International Airport|San José del Cabo]]</small>''' |label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | Earth |mark=Green pog.svg|lat=18.46633|long=-66.10572|position=right|label='''<small>[[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport|San Juan]]</small>''' |label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
{{Location map~ | Earth |mark=Blue pog.svg|lat=51.4775|long=-0.461389|position=top|label='''<small>[[Heathrow Airport|London-Heathrow]]</small>''' |label_size=100 |marksize=7 }}
 }}
|}

== Statistics ==
=== Top destinations ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%" width= align=
|+ '''Busiest domestic routes from STL {{nowrap|(March 2024 – February 2025)}}'''<ref name="BTS Stats" />
|-
! Rank
! City
! Passengers
! Carriers
|-
| 1
| {{flagicon|Colorado}} [[Denver International Airport|Denver, Colorado]]
| 485,390
| Frontier, Southwest, United
|-
| 2
| {{flagicon|Georgia (U.S. state)}} [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta, Georgia]]
| 451,380
| Delta, Southwest
|-
| 3
| {{flagicon|Florida}} [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando, Florida]]
| 332,190
| Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
|-
| 4
| {{flagicon|Arizona}} [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona]]
| 301,890
| American, Southwest
|-
| 5
| {{flagicon|New York (state)}} [[LaGuardia Airport|New York–LaGuardia, New York]]
| 295,210
| American, Delta, Southwest
|-
| 6
| {{flagicon|Nevada}} [[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas, Nevada]]
| 288,030
| Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
|-
| 7
| {{flagicon|Illinois}} [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois]]
| 277,240
| American, United
|-
| 8
| {{flagicon|Texas}} [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas]]
| 265,050
| American, Frontier
|-
| 9
| {{flagicon|North Carolina}} [[Charlotte Douglas International Airport|Charlotte, North Carolina]]
| 257,060
| American, Southwest
|-
| 10
| {{flagicon|Texas}} [[Dallas Love Field|Dallas–Love, Texas]]
| 229,730
| Southwest
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%" width= align=
|+ '''Busiest international routes from STL {{nowrap|(July 2023 – June 2024)}}'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=QSj&Nv42146_anzr=Qnyyn5/S146%20j146u,%20gk:%20Qnyyn5/S146%20j146u%20V06r40n6v10ny&pn44vr4=SNPgf|title=RITA – BTS – Transtats|publisher=Bureau of Transportation Statistics|access-date=February 1, 2023|archive-date=January 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123084218/https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=QSj&Nv42146_anzr=Qnyyn5/S146%20j146u,%20gk:%20Qnyyn5/S146%20j146u%20V06r40n6v10ny&pn44vr4=SNPgf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! Rank
! City
! Passengers
! Carriers
|-
| 1
| {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Cancún International Airport|Cancún, Mexico]]
| 217,344
| American, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit
|-
| 2
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt, Germany]]
| 189,063
| Lufthansa
|-
| 3
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto–Pearson, Canada]]
| 117,673
| Air Canada
|-
| 4
| {{flagicon|Dominican Republic}} [[Punta Cana International Airport|Punta Cana, Dominican Republic]]
| 35,789
| Frontier
|-
| 5
| {{flagicon|Jamaica}} [[Sangster International Airport|Montego Bay, Jamaica]]
| 10,844
| Frontier, Southwest
|-
|}

===Airline market share===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%"
|+ '''Busiest airlines serving STL<br />(March 2024 – February 2025)'''<ref name="BTS Stats">{{cite web|title=Bureau of Transportation Statistics – St. Louis International Airport|url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=STL&Airport_Name=St.%20Louis,%20MO:%20Lambert-St.%20Louis%20International&carrier=FACTS|publisher=BTS|access-date=23 May 2025|archive-date=January 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127134651/https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=STL&Airport_Name=St.%20Louis,%20MO:%20Lambert-St.%20Louis%20International&carrier=FACTS|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! Rank
! Airline
! Passengers
! Share
|-
| 1
| [[Southwest Airlines]]
| 9,741,000
| 64.85%
|-
| 2
| [[American Airlines]]
| 1,580,000
| 10.52%
|-
| 3
| [[Delta Air Lines]]
| 1,285,000
| 8.56%
|-
| 4
| [[United Airlines]]
| 663,000
| 4.41%
|-
| 5
| [[Frontier Airlines]]
| 348,000
| 2.32%
|-
| 6
| Others
| 1,404,000
| 9.35%
|}

===Annual traffic===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Historical passenger activity at STL 1990–present<ref>{{cite web|url=https://flystl.com/uploads/documents/public-notices-and-reports/STL-Historical-Passenger-Activity-1990-2022.pdf|title=Historical Passenger Activity at STL 1990-Present|website=flystl.com|accessdate= June 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://flystl.com/uploads/documents/public-notices-and-reports/2023-CY-Air-Traffic-Activity-Report-FINAL.pdf|title=December 2023 Final Air Traffic Activity Report for STL Airport|website=flystl.com|accessdate= June 8, 2024}}</ref>
! Year
! Passengers
! Year
! Passengers
! Year
! Passengers
! Year
! Passengers
|-
|1990||20,065,737||2000||'''30,558,991'''||2010||12,331,426||2020||6,302,402
|-
|1991||19,151,278||2001||26,695,019||2011||12,526,150||2021||10,351,533
|-
|1992||20,984,782||2002||25,626,114||2012||12,688,726||2022||13,665,517
|-
|1993||19,923,774||2003||20,431,132||2013||12,570,128||2023||14,886,000
|-
|1994||23,362,671||2004||13,396,028||2014||12,384,015||2024||15,946,730
|-
|1995||25,719,351||2005||14,697,263||2015||12,752,331||2025||
|-
|1996||27,274,846||2006||15,205,944||2016||13,959,126||2026||
|-
|1997||27,661,144||2007||15,384,557||2017||14,730,656||2027||
|-
|1998||28,700,622||2008||14,431,471||2018||15,632,586||2028||
|-
|1999||30,188,973||2009||12,796,302||2019||15,878,527||2029||
|}

== Accidents and incidents ==
=== Accidents ===
* August 5, 1936: [[Chicago and Southern Flight 4]], a [[Lockheed 10 Electra]] headed for Chicago, crashed after takeoff, killing all eight passengers and crew. The pilot became disoriented in fog.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/25677|title=Accident description for NC16022 at aviation-safety.net|website=aviation-safety.net|accessdate= June 8, 2024}}</ref>
* January 23, 1941: a [[Douglas DC-3]] of [[Trans World Airlines|Transcontinental & Western Air]] crashed 0.4 miles west of St. Louis Municipal Airport during a landing attempt in adverse weather, killing two occupants out of the 14 on board.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19410123-0|title=NC17315|wikibase=no}}</ref>
* August 1, 1943: during a demonstration flight of an "all St. Louis-built glider", a [[Waco CG-4|Waco CG-4A]], USAAF serial ''42-78839'', built by sub-contractor [[Robertson Aircraft Corporation|Robertson Aircraft Company]], lost its starboard wing due to a defective wing strut support and plummeted vertically to the ground at Lambert Field, killing all on board, including St. Louis Mayor [[William D. Becker]]; Maj. [[William B. Robertson]] and Harold Krueger, both of Robertson Aircraft; Thomas Dysart, president of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce; Max Doyne, director of public utilities; Charles Cunningham, department comptroller; and Henry Mueller, St. Louis Court presiding judge.<ref>Bowers, Peter M., "''Breezing Along with the Breeze''", Wings, Granada Hills, California, December 1989, Volume 19, Number 6, p. 19.</ref> The failed component had been manufactured by Robertson subcontractor Gardner Metal Products Company, of St. Louis, which, coincidentally, had been a casket maker.<ref>Diehl, Alan E., PhD, "Silent Knights: Blowing the Whistle on Military Accidents and Their Cover-ups", Brassey's, Inc., Dulles, Virginia, 2002, Library of Congress card number 2001052726, {{ISBN|978-1-57488-412-8}}, pages 81–82.</ref>
* September 6, 1944: the starboard engine of the sole completed [[McDonnell XP-67]] prototype, USAAF serial ''42-11677'', caught fire during a test flight. Test pilot E.E. Elliot executed an emergency landing at Lambert Field and escaped, but the fire rapidly spread, destroying the aircraft. This was a crippling setback to the XP-67 program, which had been plagued by delays and technical problems, and the second prototype was only 15% complete, so flight testing could not promptly resume. The [[United States Army Air Forces]] deemed the XP-67 unnecessary and canceled the program.<ref name="Mesko 2002 4–5">{{cite book |last=Mesko |first=Jim |date=2002 |title=FH Phantom/F2H Banshee in action |location=Carrollton, Texas, United States |publisher=Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc. |pages=4–5 |isbn=0-89747-444-9 }}</ref>
* May 24, 1953: a Meteor Air Transport Douglas DC-3 crashed on approach to the airport, killing six of the seven people on board.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19530524-0|title=N53596|wikibase=no}}</ref>
* February 28, 1966: astronauts [[Elliot See]] and [[Charles Bassett]] – the original crew of the [[Gemini 9]] mission – were killed in the [[1966 NASA T-38 crash|crash of their T-38 trainer]] while attempting to land at Lambert Field in bad weather. The aircraft crashed into the same [[McDonnell Aircraft Corporation]] building (adjacent to the airport) where their spacecraft was being assembled.<ref>{{cite web|title=Losing The Moon|url=http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine/May-2006/Losing-The-Moon/|work=St. Louis Magazine|date=May 2006|access-date=June 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319095826/http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine/May-2006/Losing-The-Moon/|archive-date=March 19, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
* March 20, 1968: a [[McDonnell F-4 Phantom II]] jet fighter crashed on takeoff during a test flight. The aircraft pitched up and stalled almost immediately after lifting from the runway; both crewmen were able to eject and were not seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed in the ensuing explosion and fire. The crash was allegedly caused by a wrench socket, mistakenly left in the cockpit by maintenance crews, becoming lodged inside the control stick well on takeoff, jamming the stick in the full aft position.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhajoju_7Qc|title=US Navy F-4J Phantom II aircraft takeoff and crash in St. Louis, Missouri; Fireme...HD Stock Footage|last=CriticalPast|date=May 6, 2014|access-date=April 5, 2019|via=YouTube|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411073424/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhajoju_7Qc|archive-date=April 11, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
* March 27, 1968: [[Ozark Air Lines Flight 965]], a [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9|Douglas DC-9-15]], collided with a [[Cessna 150|Cessna 150F]] on a local training flight approximately {{convert|1.5|miles}} north of the airport while both aircraft were on approach to runway 17. The Cessna was destroyed and both of its occupants were killed. The DC-9 sustained light damage and was able to land safely; none of its 44 passengers or five crewmembers were injured. The accident was attributed to inadequate [[visual flight rules]] (VFR) procedures in place at the airport, the failure of the DC-9 crew to spot the other aircraft in time, the Cessna crew's deviation from their traffic pattern instructions, and poor communications between the Cessna pilots and air traffic control.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fss.aero/accident-reports/dvdfiles/US/1968-03-27-US.pdf |title=Accident report |date=1968 |access-date=July 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215234027/http://fss.aero/accident-reports/dvdfiles/US/1968-03-27-US.pdf |archive-date=December 15, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* July 23, 1973: while on the approach to land at St. Louis International Airport, [[Ozark Air Lines Flight 809]] crashed near the University of Missouri – St. Louis, killing 38 of the 44 persons on board. [[Wind shear]] was cited as the cause. A tornado had been reported at [[Ladue, Missouri]], about the time of the accident but the National Weather Service did not confirm that there was a tornado.<ref>[https://www.gendisasters.com/missouri/4931/st.-louis,-mo-airliner-crashes-landing,-july-1973 St. Louis, MO Airliner Crashes On Landing, July 1973 | GenDisasters ... Genealogy in Tragedy, Disasters, Fires, Floods] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507123629/http://www3.gendisasters.com/missouri/4931/st.-louis,-mo-airliner-crashes-landing,-july-1973 |date=May 7, 2013 }}. .gendisasters.com. Retrieved on August 16, 2013.</ref>
* July 6, 1977: a Fleming International Airways [[Lockheed L-188 Electra]], a cargo flight, crashed during the takeoff roll; all three occupants were killed.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19770706-2|title=N280F|wikibase=no}}</ref>
* January 9, 1984: Douglas DC-3 registration C-GSCA of [[Skycraft Air Transport]] crashed on take-off, killing one of its two crew members. The aircraft was on an international cargo flight to [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]], Canada. Both engines lost power shortly after take-off. The aircraft had been fueled with [[jet fuel]] instead of [[avgas]].<ref name=ASN090184>{{cite web|title=C-GSCA Accident Description|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19840109-0|work=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=July 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707114806/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19840109-0|archive-date=July 7, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
* April 8, 1990: A [[Missouri Air National Guard]] F-4 Phantom II veered off the runway during takeoff, crashed, and burst into flames. The pilot suffered minor injuries after his ejection seat failed to deploy and he was forced to exit the burning wreckage while the weapons officer fractured his left leg when he ejected from the aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/04/08/F-4-crashes-no-fatalities/2246639547200/|title=F-4 crashes; no fatalities|website=UPI|access-date=April 5, 2019|archive-date=October 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024103315/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/04/08/F-4-crashes-no-fatalities/2246639547200/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* November 22, 1994: [[TWA Flight 427]] collided with a [[Cessna 441 Conquest]], registration N441KM, at the intersection of runway 30R and taxiway Romeo. The TWA [[McDonnell Douglas MD-80|McDonnell Douglas MD-82]] was taking off for Denver and had accelerated through {{convert|80|kn}} when the collision occurred. The MD-82 sustained substantial damage during the collision. The Cessna 441, operated by Superior Aviation, was destroyed. The pilot and the passenger were killed. The investigation found the Cessna 441 had entered the wrong runway for its takeoff.<ref name="Final Report AAR-95-05">{{cite book |url=http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/aircraft-accident-reports/AAR95-05.pdf |title=Aircraft Accident Report, Runway Collision Involving Trans World Airlines Flight 427 And Superior Aviation Cessna 441, Bridgeton, Missouri, November 22, 1994 |publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]] |date=August 30, 1995 |access-date=August 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009000209/http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/aircraft-accident-reports/AAR95-05.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* September 28, 2007: American Airlines Flight 1400, an MD-82 from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport to O'Hare International Airport, suffered an engine fire on the left engine right after takeoff, and a partial hydraulic and electrical failure. The aircraft returned to Lambert-St Louis after a go-around where a successful emergency landing was made, after the nose gear had to be extended by the emergency landing gear extension procedure. No injuries were reported among the 138 passengers and crew, although the aircraft was substantially damaged. During the investigation it was determined that the captain and ground crew had started the engine using an unapproved method.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2009 |title=Aircraft Accident Report - Aviation |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/accidentreports/reports/aar0903.pdf |access-date=February 5, 2025 |website=National Transportation Safety Board}}</ref>
*February 12th, 2025: United Airlines Flight 4427, a Bombardier CRJ-550 operated by [[GoJet Airlines]] from [[Dulles International Airport]] suffered a runway excursion while landing on Runway 11. There were no injuries.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Runway excursion Incident Bombardier CRJ-550 (CL-600-2C11) N549GJ, Wednesday 12 February 2025 | url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/477060 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213201635/https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/477060 | access-date=2025-08-11 | archive-date=2025-02-13}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
===Television===
* In the "[[List of NewsRadio episodes#Airport|Airport]]" episode of the television show ''[[NewsRadio]]'', bad weather keeps Bill and Dave at Lambert for the entire show.
* In "[[The Airport]]" episode of the television show ''[[Seinfeld]]'', [[Jerry Seinfeld (character)|Jerry]] and [[Elaine Benes|Elaine]] leave from Lambert.
* In the "[[Meg and Quagmire]]" episode of the television show ''[[Family Guy]]'', [[Glenn Quagmire]] tells a story about landing at Lambert.

===Film===
* In the 1986 film ''[[Manhunter (film)|Manhunter]]'', FBI agents fly into Lambert during their pursuit of the killer.
* In the 1987 film ''[[Planes, Trains & Automobiles]]'', Neal Page ([[Steve Martin]]) attempts to rent a car at Lambert, with disastrous consequences.<ref name="SLPD 2009-12-11"/><ref name="CDT 2011-03-13">{{cite news|title=Missouri Boasts a Proud History of Being on the Silver Screen|first=Caroline|last=Dohack-McCrary|url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/mar/13/through-the-lens/|newspaper=[[Columbia Daily Tribune]]|date=March 13, 2011|accessdate=March 13, 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321170137/http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/mar/13/through-the-lens/|archivedate=March 21, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
* Part of the 2006 film ''[[The Lucky Ones (film)|The Lucky Ones]]'', set in Austin, Texas, was shot at Lambert.<ref name="SLPD 2009-12-11" /><ref name="CDT 2011-03-13" />
* One scene from the 2009 film ''[[The Informant!]]'', directed by [[Steven Soderbergh]], was filmed at Lambert.<ref name="CDT 2011-03-13" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Steven Soderbergh, Film Revolutionary|first=Joe|last=Williams|url=http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/joes-movie-lounge/joes-movie-lounge/2009/01/steven-soderbergh-film-revolutionary/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918071328/http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/joes-movie-lounge/joes-movie-lounge/2009/01/steven-soderbergh-film-revolutionary/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2012|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|date=January 28, 2009|accessdate=January 29, 2009}}</ref>
* The 2009 film ''[[Up in the Air (2009 film)|Up in the Air]]'' was filmed in the St. Louis area, including in Lambert's Concourse D, between March 3 and the end of April 2009. In the film, [[George Clooney]] alludes to Lambert Field's rich history with the [[Wright Brothers]] and [[Charles Lindbergh]].<ref name="SLPD 2009-12-11">{{cite news|title=Clooney Was Here: St. Louis Locations in 'Up in the Air' |first=Joe |last=Williams |url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/moviereviews/story/3E8BDC74070D543A862576870066BEE2?OpenDocument |newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=December 11, 2009 |accessdate=December 11, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230053217/http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/moviereviews/story/3E8BDC74070D543A862576870066BEE2?OpenDocument |archivedate=December 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref><ref name="CDT 2011-03-13"/><ref name="KSDK 2008-12-12">{{cite news |title=George Clooney to Film Next Movie in St. Louis|first=Ann|last=Rubin|url=http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=163164|work=[[KSDK]]|date=December 12, 2008|accessdate=December 29, 2008}}</ref><ref name="MO Film">{{cite web|title=Official Information for the St. Louis film "Up in the Air" |url=http://www.missouribusiness.net/film/hotline.asp |work=Missouri Film Commission Project Hotline |date=January 15, 2009 |accessdate=January 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510141333/http://www.missouribusiness.net/film/hotline.asp |archivedate=May 10, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title="Up in the Air" Movie Opens: Lambert Airport Has Prominent Role |first=Bill |last=Reker |url=http://www.kmox.com/-Up-in-the-Air--movie-opens--Lambert-Airport-has-p/5877295 |work=[[KMOX]] |date=December 12, 2009 |accessdate=December 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218015231/http://www.kmox.com/-Up-in-the-Air--movie-opens--Lambert-Airport-has-p/5877295 |archivedate=December 18, 2009 }}</ref>
* The 2017 film ''[[The Layover (film)|The Layover]]'' was partially filmed and set at Lambert Airport.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lea Michele, Kate Upton, William H. Macy Team For Road Trip Comedy 'The Layover' |first=Mike Jr. |last=Fleming |url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/lea-michele-kate-upton-william-h-macy-the-layover-road-trip-sex-comedy-1201398781/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=March 25, 2015 |access-date=August 1, 2017}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|United States|Aviation|Missouri}}
* [[List of airports in Missouri]]
* [[Missouri World War II Army Airfields]]
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.flystl.com/ St. Louis Lambert International Airport] official site
* {{FAA-diagram|00360}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIlpDwMKzJo&t=95s Video] of President Theodore Roosevelt's October 1911 flight, from the Library of Congress{{US-airport|STL}}
** OpenNav [http://www.opennav.com/airport/KSTL airspace and charts for KSTL]
** Passenger, Cargo and Flight [https://stlairportdata.com/ Open Data for STL]

{{Minoru Yamasaki}}
{{St. Louis}}
{{Greater St. Louis Transportation}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Louis Lambert International Airport}}
[[Category:St. Louis Lambert International Airport| ]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1928]]
[[Category:1923 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:Airports in Greater St. Louis]]
[[Category:Concrete shell structures]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Missouri]]
[[Category:Transportation buildings and structures in St. Louis County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Berkeley, Missouri]]
[[Category:Government of St. Louis]]