Air Service

The Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA) in Madison is the second largest airport in the state, providing service to commercial air passenger and air cargo carriers, and for general aviation and the military. The airport is served by seven commercial air carriers with over 100 scheduled flights per day, and two air freight airlines. Non-stop service is provided to 14 major destinations:  Chicago (O’Hare), Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Detroit, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Memphis, New York (LaGuardia), Newark, Washington, D.C., Dallas/Ft. Worth, and Atlanta. Annually, there are nearly 120,000 aircraft landing and take-off operations (59% general aviation, 34% commercial, 7% military).

In 2008, the airport had 739,700 air carrier enplanements, a 5.8% decrease from 2007. Air carrier enplanements peaked in 2004 at 847,300, but have decreased each year since then. The chart below shows enplanements at the airport from 2000-2008. In addition, there was 10.99 million pounds of enplaned cargo (freight) at the airport in 2008, a 9.0% decrease from 2007.

Construction work on a major terminal expansion and remodeling project was completed in 2005, increasing the passenger terminal’s square footage from 126,000 in 2001 to 274,000. The increased space has been used to expand the airlines’ operations and commuter areas, add a baggage claim carousel, and accommodate a new commuter security checkpoint. Work was completed on a new three-level parking ramp that added nearly 1,300 spaces. A new 2,000 square foot exit plaza and parking administration building is also being added and was expected to be completed in early 2009. 

Metro bus service to the airport was expanded in January 2004 and again in October 2008. Direct service is now provided from the North Transfer Point with 30-minute service on weekdays and 60-minute service on weekends and holidays.

   

In addition to the DCRA, the county is served by the City of Middleton Airport and Blackhawk Airfield in the Village of Cottage Grove. Both are general aviation airports serving smaller aircraft used for business and charter flying and for personal reasons.