Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport to close main runway for safety upgrades

Founded in 1920 as Speedway Field, MSP is a joint commercial-military airport serving both Minneapolis and St. Paul. It remains the busiest airport in the Upper Midwest and ranks as the nineteenth busiest in North America. Last year, MSP handled 37.2 million passengers and over 342,000 takeoffs and landings—its highest totals since before the COVID-19 pandemic—though still below pre-pandemic figures when it saw 39.5 million passengers.

"MSP generates an economic output of $15.9 billion and supports nearly 87,000 jobs," according to MAC.

Delta Air Lines operates its second-largest hub at MSP alongside regional subsidiary Endeavor Air and Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines. Delta Air Lines and its partners account for about seventy percent of passenger traffic at MSP.

In March 2025, MAC’s Board approved $571.5 million for capital improvements aimed at modernizing facilities and accommodating increased passenger numbers. Recent projects include completion of the first phase of Terminal 1 upgrades ahead of schedule with an added fifty thousand square feet between gates G17 and G22 along with expanded seating and amenities.

Looking ahead, further expansion is planned for Concourse G to enhance operations and sustainability while improving passenger experience. This project will add one hundred fifty-seven thousand square feet between gates G8 and G13, widen corridors by fifty-two percent for more gate seating, introduce a two-story atrium with additional natural light, and speed up control processes. The phased construction approach is intended to minimize disruption with most work occurring overnight; completion is scheduled for 2028 with a budget exceeding six hundred million dollars.