This page has been optimized for printing through your browser.

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport

DESCRIPTION: Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is the 33rd busiest airport in total passengers (15.2 million) in North America as ranked by ACI-North America. Lambert currently serves more than 70 non-stop national and international destinations with 13 airlines and two charters. Lambert accommodates approximately 700 flights a day. Lambert's two largest air carriers are American and Southwest. The airport provides several billion annually to the St. Louis economy.

ADDRESS: 10701 Lambert International Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63145
Mailing Address: Public Relations, P. O. Box 10212, Lambert Station, St. Louis, MO 63145

LOCATION: 13 miles northwest of downtown St. Louis.

PHONE: 314-426-8000

WEB SITE: http://www.lambert-stlouis.com/

GETTING THERE: From downtown, take I-70 west to Exit 238 (1st airport exit) onto Lambert International Boulevard and follow the signs to the Main Terminal or to the East Terminal.

METROLINK: Visitors can take MetroLink light rail to Lambert Airport from downtown and points in between. There are stations at the East Terminal and at the Main Terminal.

HOURS: 24 hours a day

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Two murals "Black Americans in Flight" and "Aviation - An American Triumph" commemorate contributions to air travel.
  • Lambert now has a business center. The Book Mark Business Center is located in the Main Terminal, lower level near the B-Concourse.
  • Charles Lindbergh's personal Monocoupe plane hangs in the terminal.
  • MetroLink, St. Louis' light rail transportation system, connects the airport's Main terminal and East terminal and links the airport with downtown St. Louis and many points of interest in between. The MetroLink fare is $3.50 from the airport to any point along the system. Passengers with layovers often take advantage of MetroLink to see the Gateway Arch or other St. Louis attractions.
  • Carriers serving Lambert-St. Louis International Airport include: Air Canada, AirTran Airways, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Midwest Express, Northwest, Southwest, US Airways, USA 3000, United and more.

HISTORY: Lambert-St. Louis International Airport began as a balloon launch location called Kinloch Field. It was the site of the first presidential airplane ride when President Theodore Roosevelt boarded a plane there. Soon afterward, the first experimental parachute jump in the world took place in St. Louis. Not much later, Major Albert Lambert, who had his first flight with Orville Wright and was the first person in St. Louis to get a private pilot's license, bought Kinloch Field and renamed it Lambert Field. At his own expense, Lambert cleared, graded and drained the land and erected hangars. Eight years later, Lambert's field offered passenger and freight service.

In November 1927, six months after Charles Lindbergh made his historic non-stop solo flight to Paris and Lambert was dubbed "The New Union Station of St. Louis," the city of St. Louis purchased the field, making it the first municipally owned airport in the United States. By 1930 when the airport was officially dedicated, the site had expanded to 546 acres and six runways, the longest at 3,000 feet. Growth continued throughout the 1930s and 1940s, and by 1945, the airport covered 1,060 acres and had four runways. Continued growth through the late 1940s and early 1950s created the need for more expansion. The current main terminal was built in 1956, and by 1964 the airport had grown to 1,786 acres with its longest runway 10,000 feet long.

In 2006, Lambert completed a $1 billion expansion project that added a third parallel runway (9,000-foot) and supporting taxiways.

WHAT'S COMING UP: In 2008, Lambert will begin a $105 million facelift and renovation program to the Main Terminal and connecting concourses. Functional and aesthetic improvements will be made to the ticketing hall, baggage claim area, security checkpoints, restrooms, restaurants and retail stores.

HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY: The airport is handicapped accessible.

WHERE TO GET LUNCH: There are several restaurants and dining outlets throughout the airport including the Rib Café, serving St. Louis-style barbecue, familiar chains such as Cheers, California Pizza Kitchen, Chili's, The Great American Bagel Company, Carvel Ice Cream Shops, Starbucks, Budweiser Stadium Club Bar & Grill and Wolfgang Puck.

GIFT SHOP: There are many gift and souvenir shops including Brighton, Brooks Brothers and CNBC News throughout the airport with well-known brands of merchandise, bookstores, and also two PGA golf stores.

WHAT'S NEARBY: Two historic cemeteries - Bellefontaine and Calvary - are nearby as are Bigfoot 4 x 4, and the historic home Taille de Noyer. Visitors often use MetroLink light rail to reach other St. Louis attractions including the Gateway Arch and the Forest Park museums during layovers.

PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: Mike Donatt, 314-426-8125, MDonatt@lambert-stl.org 

Updated:  February 19, 2008

 

 

Readers should call 1-800-916-0040 to request a free copy of the Official St. Louis Visitor Guide or point, click and explore St. Louis at www.explorestlouis.com