La Crosse Regional Airport

La Crosse Regional Airport
Terminal building
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of La Crosse
ServesLa Crosse, Wisconsin
OpenedMarch 1947 (1947-03)[1]
Time zoneCST (UTC−06:00)
 • Summer (DST)CDT (UTC−05:00)
Elevation AMSL655 ft (200 m)
Coordinates43°52′45″N 091°15′24″W / 43.87917°N 91.25667°W / 43.87917; -91.25667
Public transit access
Bus transport MTU:  7  (demand-response)
Websitewww.lseairport.com
Maps
FAA airport diagram
FAA airport diagram
LSE is located in Wisconsin
LSE
LSE
Location of airport in Wisconsin
LSE is located in the United States
LSE
LSE
LSE (the United States)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18/36 8,742 2,665 Concrete
13/31 6,050 1,844 Asphalt
4/22 5,199 1,585 Asphalt
Statistics (12 months ending May 2026 except where noted)
Passenger volume97,870
Departing passengers49,250
Scheduled flights1,051
Cargo (lb.)3,699
Aircraft operations (2022)18,143
Based aircraft (2024)63
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[2]

La Crosse Regional Airport (IATA: LSE[3], ICAO: KLSE, FAA LID: LSE) is a public airport located 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) northwest of La Crosse, a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States.[2] Until August 2013, the airport was called La Crosse Municipal Airport.[4]

It occupies the northern area of French Island, next to the Mississippi River. La Crosse's airport is the closest scheduled airline airport to the U.S. Army Fort McCoy base near Sparta, Wisconsin.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2025–2029 categorized it as a non-hub primary commercial service facility.[5] It is the sixth busiest of eight commercial airports in Wisconsin in terms of passengers served.[6]

History

The La Crosse Municipal Airport was first dedicated as a Class IV airfield on March 1, 1947.[7] Prior, air traffic in La Crosse was hosted at Salzer Field which first opened in 1919 on the city's south side.

The city opened the present day public terminal in 1988.[8] Various hangar and facility expansions and upgrades occurred in the years following.

In 1998 President Bill Clinton flew to La Crosse in AF1 Boeing 707 (VC-137C SAM 26000). This was the last time a US President flew on this plane, which was retired to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.[9] Other presidents who have flown into La Crosse's airport include Truman, Ford, Bush 43, Clinton, Bush 41, and Obama.

One of the world's largest cargo jets, a Russian Antonov An-124, has flown to La Crosse airport. The US military C-5A cargo and KC-10 Extender cargo/refueling jets have been at the annual summer Deke Slayton Airshow (area astronaut), Airfest at the airport, along with vintage and modern military and private planes. The show has also featured the US Navy Blue Angels and the US Air Force Thunderbirds.

In the past, Sun Country Airlines has flown DC-10 (380 passenger seats) on charter flights from La Crosse to other cities. The New Orleans Saints NFL football team flew the 180-seat Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 planes each week to La Crosse for summer camp, and to and from NFL cities for pre-season games.

The airport's control tower was one of 143 towers slated for closure by the FAA due to the 2013 federal sequester.[10][11] However, the closures did not occur after Congress restored funding to the FAA.[12]

In 2013 the La Crosse Municipal Airport was renamed and rebranded to La Crosse Regional Airport, in an effort to reflect its broader reach for commercial air access across the region.[13] A multi-year remodel began later that year.

In 2016 the La Crosse Regional Airport completed its $14 million remodel featuring a new security checkpoint, mechanical and electrical systems, a new restaurant and bar, and reconfigured gates on the terminal's upper level.[14] That year 200,000 passengers traveled through the airport.

As of 2026 commercial air at La Crosse Regional Airport is provided by Allegiant Air, American Airlines, and United Airlines.[15] Airport officials are working to return Delta Airlines service which would provide a fourth major carrier.

Facilities

The airport covers 1,380 acres (558 ha) at an elevation of 655.4 feet (199.8 m). It has three runways: the primary runway 18/36 is 8,742 by 150 feet (2,665 m × 46 m) concrete; 13/31 is 6,050 by 150 feet (1,844 m × 46 m) asphalt; 4/22 is 5,199 by 150 feet (1,585 m × 46 m) asphalt.[2]

The original runway layout is still in use, with many improvements. The 8,742-foot paved runway is the fourth longest in Wisconsin, after runways at MKE, MSN, and VOK airfields.

The airport has a modern two-story passenger terminal with three gates. The following are provided:

  • Allegiant Air passenger counter
  • American Airlines passenger counter and kiosk
  • Ground Transportation
  • Arrowhead Taphouse and Gifts
  • Conference rooms

There are 11 corporate hangars and eight multi-aircraft T-hangars on the airport property. There is a cellphone-use free parking area for those awaiting passenger arrivals.

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2022, the airport had 18,143 aircraft operations, an average of 50 per day: 70% general aviation, 26% air taxi / airline and 4% military. In August 2024, there were 63 aircraft based at this airport: 49 single-engine, 5 multi-engine, 8 jet and 1 glider.[2]

La Crosse Regional Airport
La Crosse airport

Airlines and destinations

A Sun Country Airlines Boeing 737-800

American Airlines, served by American Eagle, has three daily departures and arrivals with direct service to Chicago. Sun Country Airlines provides periodic Boeing 737 flights to cities such as Bullhead City, Arizona (next to Laughlin, Nevada). Allegiant Air offers seasonal non-stop flights to Phoenix and Orlando.[16] United Airlines, operated by United Express, will begin four daily direct service flights to and from Chicago beginning October 2026.[17]

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Allegiant Air Orlando/Sanford,[18] Phoenix/Mesa,[18] Punta Gorda (FL) (begins October 1, 2026)[19]
American Eagle Chicago–O'Hare

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
UPS Airlines Minneapolis/St. Paul

Statistics

Number of daily flights

Airline Airport Daily flights
American Eagle Chicago–O'Hare 2 - 3 daily
United Express Chicago–O'Hare 4 daily (beginning October 2026)

Carrier shares

Carrier shares (June 2025 – May 2026)[6]
Carrier Passengers (arriving and departing)
Envoy
87,940(89.86%)
Allegiant
9,920(10.13%)

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes out of LSE
(June 2025 – May 2026)[6]
Rank City Passengers Carriers
1 Chicago, IL (O’Hare) 44,370 American
2 Phoenix–Mesa, Arizona 4,380 Allegiant
3 Orlando–Sanford, Florida 500 Allegiant

Annual traffic

PassengersYear60,00090,000120,000150,000180,000210,000240,000270,0001995200020052010201520202025PassengersAnnual passenger traffic

See also

References

  1. ↑ "History". La Crosse Regional Airport. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "FAA Airport Form 5010 for LSE" (PDF). FAA. . Federal Aviation Administration. effective August 8, 2024.
  3. ↑ "IATA Airport Code Search (LSE: La Crosse Municipal)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  4. ↑ Chris Hubbuch; Allison Geyer (August 12, 2013). "Use it or lose it: La Crosse airport attempts to lure fare-conscious travelers with convenience". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  5. ↑ "NPIAS Report 2025-2029 Appendix A" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. October 28, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "RITA BTS Transtats – LSE". www.transtats.bts.gov. Retrieved August 15, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Guide to the La Crosse, Wisconsin, Committee on Aviation, Resolutions and Reports Relating to Aviation, 1919-1932 La Crosse Series 031". archives.lacrosselibrary.org. La Crosse Library. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Our Airport | La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE)". lseairport.com. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  9. ↑ "La Crosse Public Library Archives :: Presidential Visits: Truman, Ford, Bush 41, Clinton, Bush 43, and Obama". archives.lacrosselibrary.org. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  10. ↑ "FAA Contract Tower Closure List". American Association of Airport Executives. March 22, 2013. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015.
  11. ↑ "FAA: 149 control towers to close at small airports". USA Today. March 22, 2013.
  12. ↑ Bloom, Betsy (May 11, 2013). "Airport tower to stay open". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  13. ↑ staff, WIZM (August 13, 2013). "Airport Name Change". WIZM 92.3FM 106.7FM 1410AM. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  14. ↑ Dimke, Kyle (February 5, 2016). "La Crosse airport celebrates remodel, new space for military". News8000.com. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Flight Resources | La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE)". lseairport.com.
  16. ↑ "'Years in the making': La Crosse leaders share excitement as Allegiant Air announces new routes". News8000.com. November 18, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  17. ↑ Michaelson, Gavin (May 3, 2026). "United Airlines' service at La Crosse Regional Airport delayed until October". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  18. 1 2 "Allegiant Adds 30 New Nonstop Routes, Entering Four New Markets". FOX 40. November 18, 2025. Archived from the original on January 7, 2026. Retrieved November 18, 2025. Cite error: Unknown parameter "<ref" in <ref> tag; supported parameters are dir, follow, group, name (see the help page).
  19. ↑ "Allegiant Air adds 8 new Florida routes starting fall 2026". WINK News. May 19, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
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