As some regional airports saw a decrease in operations last year, the St. Paul Downtown Airport increased its operations by more than 10%.

The St. Paul Downtown Airport, also known as Holman Field, saw 42,476 operations in 2024, an 11% increase compared to the 38,167 it logged in 2023 and surpassing the pre-pandemic total of 40,934 operations it reported in 2019, according to a news release from the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

“We’re grateful to partner with dedicated customers and businesses at our general aviation airports,” said Joe Harris, director of reliever airports for MAC, in the release. “These partnerships improve operations and customer experiences, and our investments ensure the airports remain safe, efficient and adaptable for the future.”

The airports commission, which owns and operates the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport as well as the six regional airports, said it will invest over $30 million this year in capital improvements.

The St. Paul Downtown Airport will receive two of the largest projects of the year with the rehabilitation of the primary runway and the construction of a new international arrivals facility for U.S. Customs and Border Protection “to clear general aviation passengers and cargo,” according to the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

The new international arrivals facility, which is expected to cost $10 million, is necessary to meet U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s standards for aircraft and passenger inspection services, said Michael Schommer, assistant director of strategic communications for MAC, in an email.

“The new St. Paul Airport General Aviation Facility will improve the safety and security of incoming aircraft and passengers from around the globe,” Schommer said. “This facility will continue to serve as an appealing option for international private planes, helping to give smaller aircraft another option beyond Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.”

St. Paul Downtown Airport annual operations:

• 2019: 40,934

• 2020: 25,418

• 2021: 37,787

• 2022: 41,118

• 2023: 38,167

• 2024: 42,476

The busiest of the commission’s six general aviation airports, Flying Cloud in Eden Prairie, logged 132,744 operations, down 3% from the previous year, per the release. Lakeville’s Airlake Airport saw the second-highest increase in operations at 10% with 42,611 operations.

How other regional airports fared in 2024:

• Anoka County-Blaine Airport: up 2% from 69,908 operations to 71,614

• Lake Elmo Airport: up 1% from 41,593 operations to 41,854

• Crystal Airport: down 9% from 45,541 operations to 41,310

Among all six reliever airports, there was a 1% increase in operations from 370,509 operations to 372,609.

“The continued growth of the MAC’s general aviation airports highlights their value for business aviation, flight training, recreational flying and other services,” said Brian Ryks, CEO of MAC, in the release. “These airports are vital to the state’s aviation system and benefit our regional economy as well as those who rely on them for travel and business.”

MSP saw a nearly 7% increase with 37.2 million passengers served in 2024.