Wednesday, Apr 29, 2026

In need of an easy-to-use and efficient aviation hub in Minnesota, the St. Paul Downtown Airport (STP), also referred to as Holman Field, is a well-known reliever airport in the Twin Cities aviation system. This airport is situated right across the Mississippi River from downtown Saint Paul and is important in serving general aviation, corporate travel, and military operations in the Twin Cities area.
Although the operations of larger airports are associated with commercial traffic, STP is one of the most important reliever airports that ensures that air traffic moves without problems in the region, supporting the operations of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission manages St. Paul Downtown Airport, which is a hub to:
Corporate aviation
Flight training schools
Minnesota Army National Guard aviation unit.
General aviation and transient aircraft.
The airport is spread over a total of 540 acres and has three well-maintained asphalt runways serving different aircraft types and can accommodate a wide range of aircraft, including business jets, turboprops, helicopters, and military aircraft, large or small, single-engine planes, as well as personal jets or military helicopters.
The history of Holman Field is rich in aviation history. The airport is named after Charles W. Speed Holman, a great pioneer in aviation and a stunt pilot. Incidentally, due to his bold demonstrations, Holman made a world record by concurrently doing 1,433 loops in a span of five hours only- a feat that continues to impress the imagination of aviation enthusiasts.
The airport was very important in aircraft modification during World War II. Thousands of workers were employed on the site by Northwest Airlines as it converted B-24 Liberator bombers and fitted some with sophisticated radar equipment, such as the H2X, crucial in operation in Europe.
The airport did not stop at making a cultural appearance, even as a filming site in the movie Slaughterhouse-Five, and this gave the place a special cinematic touch to its heritage.
The airport has three runways:
Runway 14/32 - the longest, with capacity to hold larger aircraft.
Runway 13/31 – mid-sized operations
Runway 9/27 - small aircraft runway.
The airport is an average mix of general aviation, military, and air taxi. Although aircraft movements decreased between 2011 and 2020, the recent years have demonstrated that aircraft activity is recovering, and a new wave of demand toward both personal and corporate aviation is emerging.
According to the latest statistics, over 100 aircraft are based at the airport, including jets, helicopters, and military units, which is why it is a dynamic environment in the aviation industry.
St. Paul Downtown Airport is especially known to be used for private and charter flights. Companies such as:
NetJets
Executive Jet Management
Best Jets International
Delta Private Jets
Provide charter services at a premium price, which means that STP is a great option among business travelers who want to be flexible, private, and arrive within minutes in downtown Saint Paul.
Two historically important structures at the airport are on the National Register of Historic Places:
Holman Field Administration Building (1939)
Riverside Hangar (1942)
These milestones indicate the long history of the airport regarding the aviation industry and its significance in wartime activities.
Floods have been a common issue at St. Paul Downtown Airport due to its location close to the Mississippi River. Following a series of floods in the 1990s and early 2000s, in 2009, a contemporary solution was introduced: a removable flood wall system.
This new construction is only put in place during high-risk floods, which saves scenic views of rivers and saves important airport infrastructure. It is a viable trade-off between functionality and aesthetics, including issues of both advocates and opponents.
The St. Paul Downtown Airport might not be a commercial airline airport, but its value cannot be overestimated. It supports:
Business travel and local businesses.
Military preparedness via National Guard operations.
Flight training and aviation development.
Less traffic at bigger airports.
To travelers, pilots, and aviation enthusiasts, STP provides a distinction in history, efficiency, and accessibility.
You may be a business traveler flying privately, you may be a student pilot in training, or you may be just an aviation enthusiast, but St. Paul Downtown Airport is a very important component of the Minnesota aviation network. It is not merely a reliever airport but rather a pillar of the airspace of the Twin Cities because of its strategic location, rich history, and modern facilities.
Unless you are unfamiliar with STP, it is worth considering in case you plan aviation activities in Minnesota.

Monday, Jan 06, 2025

Thursday, Jan 02, 2025

Monday, Dec 23, 2024

Monday, Dec 30, 2024

Thursday, Dec 26, 2024

Thursday, Dec 26, 2024

Monday, Dec 23, 2024

Tuesday, Jun 17, 2025
.png)
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2025
.png)
Thursday, Jul 03, 2025
.png)
Friday, Jul 04, 2025
.png)
Monday, Jul 07, 2025

Monday, Jul 07, 2025

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2025

Tuesday, Jul 08, 2025

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2025

Wednesday, Jul 09, 2025

Friday, Jul 11, 2025

Wednesday, Jul 16, 2025

Wednesday, Jul 16, 2025

Thursday, Jul 17, 2025

Friday, Jul 18, 2025

Monday, Jul 21, 2025

Friday, Jul 25, 2025

Tuesday, Jul 29, 2025

Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

Tuesday, Aug 05, 2025

Thursday, Aug 07, 2025

Monday, Aug 11, 2025

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025

Thursday, Aug 14, 2025

Wednesday, Aug 20, 2025

Thursday, Sep 04, 2025

Thursday, Sep 18, 2025

Monday, Sep 29, 2025

Tuesday, Sep 30, 2025

Tuesday, Sep 30, 2025

Wednesday, Oct 01, 2025

Monday, Oct 06, 2025

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2025

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2025

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2025

Thursday, Oct 09, 2025

Thursday, Oct 09, 2025

Friday, Oct 10, 2025

Monday, Oct 13, 2025

Monday, Oct 13, 2025

Thursday, Oct 16, 2025

Friday, Oct 17, 2025

Thursday, Oct 23, 2025

Monday, Dec 08, 2025

Tuesday, Dec 09, 2025

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2026

Friday, Feb 06, 2026

Monday, Mar 23, 2026

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2026

Tuesday, Mar 24, 2026

Wednesday, Mar 25, 2026

Thursday, Mar 26, 2026

Thursday, Mar 26, 2026

Monday, Mar 30, 2026

Monday, Mar 30, 2026

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2026

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2026

Thursday, Apr 02, 2026

Thursday, Apr 02, 2026

Friday, Apr 03, 2026

Friday, Apr 03, 2026

Monday, Apr 06, 2026

Monday, Apr 06, 2026

Tuesday, Apr 07, 2026

Tuesday, Apr 07, 2026

Wednesday, Apr 08, 2026

Wednesday, Apr 08, 2026

Thursday, Apr 09, 2026

Thursday, Apr 09, 2026

Monday, Apr 13, 2026

Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026

Tuesday, Apr 14, 2026

Tuesday, Apr 21, 2026

Wednesday, Apr 22, 2026

Thursday, Apr 23, 2026

Thursday, Apr 23, 2026

Monday, Apr 27, 2026

Monday, Apr 27, 2026

Monday, Apr 27, 2026

Tuesday, Apr 28, 2026

Tuesday, Apr 28, 2026

Wednesday, Apr 29, 2026

Wednesday, Apr 29, 2026

Thursday, Apr 30, 2026

Thursday, Apr 30, 2026

Tuesday, May 05, 2026

Tuesday, May 05, 2026

Friday, May 08, 2026

Friday, May 08, 2026

Subscribe to unlock our secret deals