STL Airport

Location
Owned and operated by the City of St. Louis, Lambert is situated outside of the city and is located in the area of Berkeley and Bridgeton. It is approximately 11 miles northwest of downtown, and is easily accessible from I-70 via I-170 and I-270.

History
The current site of Lambert sits on what was once the balloon-launching base of Kinloch Field. In 1920, the current mayor, Albert Bond Lambert, purchased the field and added hangars in addition to a passenger terminal. A few years later, the City of St. Louis bought the airport from Lambert and it became the very first municipally owned airport in the U.S. A few years later, it became the first airport with air-traffic control in operation.

After World War II, a new passenger terminal at Lambert was constructed and finished in 1956; its four-domed design became an inspiration to other airports such as JFK.

The largest renovation in Lambert’s history started in 2007, and it is currently in its second phase of a major renovation program, called the Airport Experience Program; $105 million would be used towards an overhaul to the Main Terminal, stores, restaurants, pedestrian bridges and a canopy above sidewalks. Completion is scheduled for 2012 with the program’s goal to improve overall passenger experience and the airport’s operations.