Aberdeen Regional Airport

Aberdeen Regional Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles (3.7 km) east of the central business district of Aberdeen, a city in Brown County, South Dakota, United States. It is mostly used for general aviation with Delta Connection as its sole commercial airline.

Airlines and destinations
The airport is one of two commercial airports in the state of South Dakota with airline service to only one destination, the other being Pierre Regional Airport. Rapid City serves 16 destinations, and Sioux Falls serves 15 destinations, while Watertown serves two destinations. Aberdeen also provides regional cargo service with mainly CSA Air flights to Sioux Falls, and Fargo.



Passenger service

Map of destinations
Cargo Service

Facilities and aircraft
Aberdeen Regional Airport covers an area of 1,284 acre at an elevation of 1,302 feet (397 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways: 13/31 is 6,901 by 100 feet (2,103 x 30 m) with a concrete surface; 17/35 is 5,500 by 100 feet (1,676 x 30 m) with an asphalt surface.

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2022, the airport had 39,746 aircraft operations, an average of 109 per day: 83% general aviation, 4% scheduled commercial, 13% air taxi and <1% military. At that time there were 66 aircraft based at this airport: 42 single-engine, 16 multi-engine, 7 jet and 1 helicopter.

Delta Connection is the only commercial airline currently serving Aberdeen Regional Airport, providing daily flights to Minneapolis/St. Paul operated by SkyWest Airlines.

History
Aberdeen Regional Airport was founded as Aberdeen Municipal Airport in 1921, north of Aberdeen, SD. It included two 2,500 foot runways as well as ground services. Additionally, Security Skycraft Corporation began regularly scheduled service from Aberdeen Municipal Airport at a cost of 50¢ per mile.

In 1923, Aberdeen hosted the first fly-in event in South Dakota.

In 1930, funds were allocated for the purchase of 160 acres of land for the airport, in a different location. Gravel runways and a steel hangar were also added.

During World War II, the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a contract glider training airfield owned by Anderson & Brennan Flying Service, beginning on 25 May 1942. The mission of the school was to train glider pilot students in proficiency in operation of gliders in various types of towed and soaring flight, both day and night, and in servicing of gliders in the field. They primarily used C-47 Skytrains and Waco CG-4 Gliders.

In 1946, the airport's name was changed to Saunders Field in honor of Brigadier General Laverne Saunders, and the name was changed again to its current name, Aberdeen Municipal Airport, in 1979. The airfield area is still called Saunders Field.

From the 1950s to 2002 the airfield was converted into a commercial airport. Airlines such as Northwest, United Express (operated by Great Lakes Airlines), and Republic Airlines were now operated at a small terminal (now a ground crew shed) in the middle of the airport. A new terminal was built in 2006 south of the hangars, now equipped with a ground based jetway able to connect to aircraft as large as a Boeing 737. In, 2008 United pulled out of Aberdeen due to a decrease in travel, with Northwest as the sole airline continuing to operate now with Saab 340 (Operated by Mesaba Airlines), and Avro RJ85 aircraft through the 2000s under a multiple stop route. Delta Connection would replace Northwest after the merge, continuing the multiple stop routes to Minneapolis. Delta ended its use of Saab 340 aircraft hence forth ending the multiple stop route. The CRJ200 being the replacement operated by Skywest, would now operate under non stop service to Minneapolis for the next 12 years.

In 2019, a new larger jetway was added to the airport, which was able to support aircraft as big as an Airbus A321. In 2020, the town announced a 20 year plan to expand the terminal adding another gate, extend runway 13/31, add a agricultural facility, add more hangars, and rework taxiways. In 2021, Aberdeen renewed their contract with Skywest to continue their air service at Aberdeen after Pierre and Watertown replaced Skywest's United operations with Denver Air Connection. In 2022, the airport had moved runway 17/35 southwest of the airport removing its intersection with 13/31. The airport's main taxiway aligned with 13/31 was also revamped. The long 12 year CRJ200 service at the airport ended in October 2023 being replaced by the CRJ700, and CRJ900.