The Metropolitan Airports Commission has reengaged it's long-term planning process for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
Community members are invited to an Experience MSP event on Aug. 23 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. - the third of four events for the public to learn more about the airport's long-term planning process and to provide input into that process.
More information about the event can be found on this flyer.
If you are unable to attend, you can learn more about how to participate in the process by visiting this page on the airport's website.
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The latest aircraft featured in the MAC’s “Meet the Fleet” series is the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, which operates frequently at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
The video tour of the C-130 (run-time 3:55) is guided by
Lt. Col. Denny Paulsen, director of operations for the Minnesota Air National Guard. The video features a behind-the-scenes look inside a C-130 and provides details of how it operates.
The 133rd Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard, and the 934th Airlift Wing of the Air Force Reserve are both based at MSP. The C-130 is often flown in formation for air drop missions, explaining why the aircraft are commonly seen flying in pairs in and out of MSP.
Watch the tour on MSP’s YouTube Channel or access it through our Meet the Fleet web page, where you’ll find earlier videos in the series as well.
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 Holman’s Table, the unique dining experience located at the St. Paul Downtown Airport, continues its live music programming in Cora’s Lounge in August with pianist and composer Will Kjeer performing on Aug. 4, 11 and 18, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The restaurant and bar is located in the historic terminal building at the downtown airport, with airfield views. Guests can also enjoy seating on our outdoor patio overlooking the airfield. The menu offers a variety of American favorites and modern seafood, elevated steaks, and unique pasta dishes.
Holman’s Table also has event space for rehearsal dinners or company gatherings, and popular helicopter flights on Saturdays, offered through Minnesota Helicopters. The flights provide a commanding view of downtown St. Paul and the surrounding area. Stop by and see what you’ve been missing.
Summer events at airports operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) drew large crowds again this summer, including two events in July.
At the Wings of the North Air Expo July 23 and 24, thousands gathered at Flying Cloud Airport for the two-day event. Guests were treated to an aerial flight show, including a visit from the Goodyear Blimp and a large variety of aircraft on display on the airfield. Food trucks, plane rides, a hangar full of displays and opportunities to get inside several aircraft were all a part of the show.
The MAC also staffed a booth at Flying Cloud to greet visitors and MAC field maintenance equipment was on display. Kids could paint a snowplow and all MAC guests could enjoy some gifts after spinning a prize wheel and answering an airport-related trivia question.
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The scene was similar earlier this month, as thousands of visitors viewed planes and helicopters up close during the Lions Club Fly-in Breakfast held on Sunday, July 10 at Lakeville’s Airlake Airport. (Pictured at right.)
The Fly-in Breakfast takes place during Lakeville’s annual week-long Pan-O-Prog celebration, which started in 1967 with support from the developer of the Airlake Industrial Park, adjacent to the airport. The MAC’s booth was also set up at Airlake Airport.
If you didn’t make it to these events this year, keep a watch of this website for the July, 2023 dates.
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 The Twin Cities are hosting the MLS All-Star game on Aug. 10 at St. Paul's Allianz Field, home of Minnesota United. MSP Airport is ready to greet guests coming to town for the weeks-worth of events tied to the soccer match.
Concerts, community service projects and other activities are planned across the Twin Cities as part of the celebration of soccer, which culminates with the Wednesday night game. The MLS All-Star team will take on the Liga MX All-Stars from Mexico, which is a rematch of last year's All-Star game held in Los Angeles.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission has plans of its own to welcome the arrival of fans at MSP Airport, with welcome signs throughout the terminals and a DJ set to perform on Terminal 1's arrivals level on Monday, Aug. 8, from 4 to 6 p.m., and in the Terminal 1 airport mall gallery on Thursday, Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon.
 The Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) MSP Airport’s COVID-19 testing site at Terminal 1 is now offering test-to-treat options.
At community test-to-treat sites, Minnesotans can get tested for COVID-19 and, if positive and determined to be high-risk, will receive a prescription for medication at the same time.
As a result, MDH is also now offering rapid COVID-19 testing to all patients at the MSP site.
Minnesotans who test positive for COVID-19 via a rapid antigen test will be able to choose to be evaluated on site by a clinician and be given a prescription for the antiviral medication Paxlovid if it is deemed appropriate. Walk-ins are accepted but appointments are recommended at https://www.mn.gov/covid19.
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The Airport Police Department at MSP is now using the VitalsTM App, becoming the first airport in the country to utilize the cutting-edge technology that helps create safe, confident interactions between law enforcement and airport visitors.
Vitals is a downloadable app that allows an individual or caregiver to voluntarily provide real-time critical information about medical conditions, visible and invisible intellectual and developmental conditions, or disabilities, memory loss and mental health challenges.
The customized account profiles often include de-escalation cues and techniques, behavior triggers, current medications, and other critical information for first responders. The app uses a Bluetooth feature that pings authorities when in proximity to the individual.
The Vitals App helps clearly communicate for users of the app when they are unable to provide information regarding their mental and physical health.
“The Vitals App will help create a sense of trust, ease and safety for all individuals while traveling, and help us appropriately respond to travelers’ needs in a caring and effective manner,” said Matt Christenson, MSP Airport police chief.
>>READ MORE
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The Silver Ramp at MSP Airport’s Terminal 1 opened recently for parking, providing an additional 3,500 parking spaces and giving more guests quick access to the airport.
The award-winning Silver Ramp now has six levels of the 11-story structure dedicated to public parking, including 50 electrical vehicle charging stations. The ramp’s opening helps alleviate parking congestion as summer travel heats up.
New visitors to the Silver Ramp will find a modern, spacious facility that’s also home to our new rental car center and Minnesota’s tallest escalator – 55 feet. Originally completed in 2020, the Silver Ramp also serves as the Terminal 1 transit center, bringing together auto rental, bus, shuttle, light rail, and bicycle transportation to Terminal 1.
Signs at the entry to parking along the inbound roadway will direct drivers to the Silver Ramp.
The ramp is connected to the same lobby that serves the Red and Blue ramps and provides a similar travel time to the terminal. Silver ramp parkers will take the tram to Terminal 1 and have a short walk to the ticketing lobby or the baggage claim level.
The net gain in parking spaces from the new ramp will eventually be 5,000, as the former rental car levels in the existing Red and Blue ramps will be converted to public parking spaces.
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We're well into the heart of the summer travel season, and MSP Airport is anxious to hear what influences your travel plans. We have an ongoing survey that gauges attitudes about air travel and the answers are helping shape the MSP experience.
One thing we already know: Travel is back. Our surveys are now showing that 88 percent of respondents would be willing to get on a plane tomorrow, a figure that's almost triple what it was at the start of the pandemic.
Even if you’ve already taken the survey, please consider taking it again, as your thoughts and answers may have changed over time. We also add new questions each month. This month, we're asking "Aisle seat or window, and why?"
Among topics that survey takers have shown an interest in: MSP's safety initiatives related to the pandemic, which are a part of our Travel Confidently MSP program.
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