MKE Airport

General Mitchell Milwaukee International Airport (MKE)

About MKE Airport
Milwaukee County’s General Mitchell International Airport has long been ranked as one of the top five airports in the country for business travel. The airport serves northern Chicago and southeastern Wisconsin and offers nonstop travel to over 40 cities. Its name honors the late General Billy Mitchell, who is often regarded to as ‘the father of the US Air Force’. The airport is the largest in the state of Wisconsin and its terminal is open to passengers 24-hours each day.

Location
General Mitchell International, MKE, is five miles south from downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Whether you are driving in from Illinois or further north of Wisconsin, the airport is easily accessible from I-94 and Highway 119. A new Amtrak station has a line running between Chicago and the airport several times a day, providing convenient access to those wishing not to drive.


History
Originally established as Hamilton Airport in 1920, the airport was purchased in 1926 by the county of Milwaukee and began passenger service across the big Lake Michigan three years later. In 1940, a passenger terminal was finally constructed and the airport was renamed General Mitchell Field in 1941.

During World War II, the airport was leased and used as a prisoner-of-war camp, with over 3,000 prisoners staying there. MKE’s present terminal was built in 1955 with significant expansions three decades later. In 1986, the airport gained international status and was reflected in its name change. The airport saw an increase in business in the early 1990’s, and expansion was inevitable. 16 additional gates were added to its lineup, in addition to a Concourse D.

Find Transportation To/From MKE Airport

Expanding its runway safety area is currently a top priority for MKE; construction is due to be finished by 2011. The airport’s Master Plan includes the proposal to significantly increase the terminal area by expanding or constructing an additional facility. Either situation will greatly affect future traffic of the airport.

Services
There are ten airlines offering services from MKE; 200 daily departures which includes 40 available cities with nonstop or direct service, such as Appleton, Boston, Columbus, Denver, Hartford, Madison and Toronto.

The airport’s main building is home to the Michelle Gallery of Flight, the standard retail outlets and a handful of dining options in a small food court. Renaissance Books can also be found in the airport, and is believed to be the world’s first used-book store housed in an airport.


 

*Information accuracy not guaranteed.