Duluth Airport Prepares For Fort Myers Return, Control Tower Replacement

DULUTH, Minn. — This has already been a record-breaking year for the Duluth International Airport. In each month of 2023, the number of take-offs and landings exceeded last year’s numbers.

The number of flyers has also increased, and that’s one measure an airline looks at in deciding whether to enter or expand in a city.  One reason for the increase is because Great Lakes Excursions has some of its cruises beginning or ending in Duluth.

For area residents looking to escape the coldest months in our area, Sun Country is back for a third year with two direct flights each week to Fort Myers. In past years the airline also had direct flights to Phoenix, but they will not happen this winter.

Duluth Airport Spokesperson, Natalie Baker explained Sun Country’s reasoning, “The industry is severely constrained by a lack of pilots right now. So airlines have been taking a pretty hard look at the feasibility of routes they’ve been offering and unfortunately, the Phoenix route just didn’t perform as well as they would have liked it to in the regional market.”

Construction of five new hangers was completed and the second of a planned eight-year project for the reconstruction of the main taxiway continues.

The planning to replace the more than 70-year-old Control Tower is moving forward.  The siting study, environmental study, and noise study have all been completed and paid for by the Duluth Airport Authority.

“We’ve passed the point of being aligned to make those repairs and now it’s time for a new tower.,” said Baker. “So we’ve submitted a federal funding request, I believe last week. So, we’re waiting to hear from them on that. We also will be bringing a request to the state this session for $14 million dollars for any other enabling projects for the tower.”

The current tower no longer meets the FAA’s line-of-sight requirements.  With a new tower, the eye height for the controllers will be 124 feet, more than twice as high as what is in place today.

So while airport authorities are not on Cloud Nine, they are pleased with the direction the airport is moving. They’re hopeful both the national and state funding requests come through.