Capital Region International Airport , formerly Lansing Capital City Airport, is a public, Class C airport located northwest of downtown Lansing in a portion of DeWitt Township, Michigan that has been annexed to the City of Lansing via Public Act 425. Small areas of the airport are located in Watertown Township, and Delta Township. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2025–2029, in which it is categorized as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.
The airport is owned and operated by the Capital Region Airport Authority, an eight-member governing board. Three members represent Ingham County and three members represent the City of Lansing. Two ex officio members represent Eaton County and Clinton County.About CRAA , FlyLansing.com. Retrieved March 16, 2011 The Airport Authority also oversees nearby Jewett Field (TEW) in Mason.Ingham County. Capital Region International Airport Authority , Ingham.org. Retrieved July 6, 2012
The Michigan Department of Transportation reported 221,272 passengers flew to or from the airport in 2025.
History
Early 1900s
The first recorded flight in Lansing took place on October 15, 1911, at an old racecourse (later the Red Cedar Golf Course). More than 20,000 spectators watched pilot Jimmy Ward perform stunts in the Shooting Star, his Curtiss biplane. In 1919, the first airfield in Lansing opened approximately west of downtown. The second airfield opened the following year south of downtown. From 1922 to 1926, Lansing's airport was Creyts Field, located west of the current airport. The field was operated by Chamber of commerce Secretary Charley Davis. In 1925, Lt Harry Warner arrived in Lansing to help Davis and others select the current site for Capital City Airport. The selected site was a state-owned hayfield and marsh (known as Chandler's Marsh), originally planned to be a boys' vocational school.
The first planes flew from the site northwest of Lansing on May 1, 1926. The formal dedication of Capital City Airport was held on the weekend of July 14–15, 1928, and was attended by 70,000 people, including arctic explorer George Hubert Wilkins and aviator Carl Eielson. Pilots from Selfridge Field and members of the Michigan National Guard 107th Observation Squadron performed in an exhibition air show. A Stinson Detroiter plane arrived at the airport with Lansing's first air mail delivery on July 5, 1928. Mayor Laird J. Troyer, Chamber of Commerce President Alton J. Hager, and airport committee chairman Clyde B. Smith, among others, were present to witness the plane's arrival. Regular cargo service from Capital City Airport began on July 17, 1928, via Transamerican Airlines. That day pilot C.V. Pickup departed with five sacks of mail en route to New York City. Lansing postmaster Walter G. Rogers was among those present to witness the event.
In 1929, J.D. Foster completed construction on a 60-by-120-foot, aircraft hangar, the first building in what would become known as the Francis Aviation Complex at Capital City Airport. By the end of the year, fixed-base operators Foster Airways, SKF Air Service, Inc., and Wolverine Flying Service, Ltd. had constructed hangars at the airport. Passenger service commenced on September 1, 1929, by Kohler Aviation Corp. to Detroit and Milwaukee. By 1934, Pennsylvania Airlines and Transport was providing air mail and passenger service to Detroit, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and across Lake Michigan. The Foster Hangar housed a flight school operated by Harvey Hughes from 1934 to 1936. In the late 1930s, Lansing aviator Lt Arthur J. Davis operated Michigan Airways, Inc. out of the hangar.
During World War II, Francis Aviation and Hughes Flying Service provided ground and flight training to 300 pilots per month as part of the U.S. Government's Civilian Pilot Training Program and War Training Service. The training included three weeks of instruction at Michigan State College and continued at Capital City Airport.
In 1940, the original terminal building, a 100-by-100-foot concrete hangar, and an adjoining office wing at the west end of the airport were built. The airport acquired next to the north side of the airport, and runway 06/24 was extended by . Pennsylvania Central Airlines began Douglas DC-3 service on June 5, 1940. The same year, the airport unsuccessfully bid for an $8.4 million Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.
1950s–1970s Demand for air service led to the building of the current terminal building in 1959. The terminal has had several renovations and additions since then. In April 1967, a new $38,000 observation room opened, where viewers can hear radio communications between pilots and the control tower through a loud speaker.
In the early 1960s, Lansing Community College leased the Francis Aviation Complex at Capital City Airport. The college moved to a new facility near the airport terminal in 1974. In March 1960, Francis Aviation Co. built two circular (roundtable) airport hangars costing $400,000 at the airport, believed to be the world's first.Lansing airport to get first circle hangars, Owosso Argus-Press, Google News, March 11, 1960. Retrieved March 5, 2013 In 1963, Capital City Airport served over 100,000 passengers for the first time; by 1968, airport usage had surpassed 250,000 passengers. That April, 1968 presidential candidate and Senator Robert F. Kennedy landed at Capital City Airport. Later that year, presidential candidate and Senator George McGovern also landed at the airport.George McGovern at the Capital City Airport , Capital Area District Library, cadl.org. Retrieved March 6, 2011
In 1970, the Capital Region Airport Authority was created pursuant to Michigan Public Act Number 73.1970 PA 73: §15 (Capital city airport; transfer) The following year, jurisdiction of Capital City Airport was transferred from the State of Michigan to the Airport Authority. The airport's first surveillance radar was installed in 1973. By 1977, the approach lighting system and instrument landing system for runway 10R were activated. The same year, Mason Jewett Field was purchased as a reliever airfield for Capital City Airport. A Michigan historical marker was erected at the terminal for local aviator Philip Orin Parmelee in 1978. From 1978 to 1991 fixed-base operator and aerial photography company White Star Photography purchased and operated from the Francis Aviation Complex.
1980s–1990s
In 1980, a airport fire station was built. An air carrier terminal apron reconstruction followed in 1982. Between 1988 and 1990, runway 14/32 was decommissioned and became taxiway F.
In January 1987, United Airlines announced it was ending flights between Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Lansing on April 5 after nearly 56 years of service. United Express, operated by Air Wisconsin, resumed the service to Chicago.Associated Press. United Will End Lansing Service, Ludington Daily News, Google News, January 19, 1987 In 1989, Thomas Schmidt was hired as Airport Manager, replacing Russ Brown, and airport usage surpassed 500,000 passengers for the first time.
During the 1990s, the Francis Aviation Complex was demolished for airport expansion and compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. UPS Airlines began cargo service from Lansing in 1990. In 1992, a major renovation of the terminal building, designed by Greiner, Inc., included the addition of to the facility, began. The following year the public parking lot was reconstructed and a new airport surveillance radar (ASR-9) was activated.
President Bill Clinton landed at the airport aboard Air Force One on July 22, 1999, to hold a forum on Medicare at Lansing Community College.Pickler, Nedra. Associated Press. Clinton in Lansing Today to Discuss Medicare, Owosso Argus-Press, Google News, July 22, 1999. Retrieved April 20, 2010
2000s
Flight reductions During the 2000s, Lansing saw flights reduced from 35 to 12 a day.Epstein, Victor. Associated Press. New low-cost airline targets smaller markets, USA Today, May 27, 2009 In May 2000 American Eagle Airlines ended its flights to Chicago–O'Hare, eliminating five daily flights and 23 positions at the Lansing airport.American Eagle Discontinues Lansing Service , thetracon.com, March 7, 2000 Chicago Express/ATA Connection Airlines ended service from Lansing to Midway International Airport (MDW) in 2001. In October 2003 US Airways ended daily flights to its Pittsburgh hub.Capital Region Airport Authority. Proposal Under the Small Community Air Service Development Program Docket DOT-OST-2010-0124, regulations.gov, August 27, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2011 Continental Airlines suspended its daily flights to Cleveland effective January 2004.Associated Press. Capital City Airport loses Continental as carrier, USA Today, January 19, 2004 In 2005 Midwest Connect ended service to Milwaukee (MKE).Ingham County Board of Commissioners. County Services Minutes , ingham.org, March 21, 2006 In September 2007 Continental Airlines announced three daily flights from Lansing to the airline's hub in Cleveland to begin in May 2008;Press Release. Continental Airlines to Inaugurate Services at Lansing with New Nonstop Flights to Cleveland Hub, September 14, 2007, web.archive.org flylansing.com archived on October 23, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2012 however, rising fuel costs and the delay of terminal expansion plans at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) caused Continental to suspend these flights before they began.Grant, Alison. Hopkins Expansion Curtailed As Continental Hits Bumpy Times, The Plain Dealer, May 8, 2008 Delta Air Lines announced in July 2008 that it was ending its three daily non-stop flights (via Comair) from Lansing to Cincinnati (CVG) effective September 1, eliminating 26 jobs at Lansing's airport. Delta also offered daily non-stop flights (via Atlantic Southeast Airlines) from Lansing to Atlanta from 2005 to 2007.Polzin, Kevin. Delta Ending Service to Lansing, Mich., Lansing State Journal, USA Today, July 8, 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2009
Low-cost airlines