Lafayette Regional Airport - History

History

The airport opened as Lafayette Municipal Airport on 29 November 1930. On 5 July 1942, during World War II, the airport was commandeered by the United States Army Air Forces and used as a contract primary pilot training airfield under the AAF Gulf Coast Training Center (later Central Flying Training Command). The 384th Army Air Force Base Unit administered the contract to a civilian-operated primary flying school (Lafayette School of Aeronautics) as a sub-base of DeRidder Army Airbase, Louisiana. Had four axillary airfields nearby for emergency and overflow landings. Flying training was performed with Fairchild PT-19s as the primary trainer. Also had several PT-17 Stearmans and a few P-40 Warhawks assigned.

The air field was transferred from the DeRidder AAB to Esler Army Airfield (Third Air Force) on 24 March 1944. The mission of base became training of replacement combat aircrews. On 30 September 1945, the air field was inactivated and returned to civil control.

In 1948, Eastern Airlines began the first regularly scheduled passenger service to the airport. During the 1950s, Eastern operated up to eight flights a day from Lafayette with Martin 4-0-4 and Convair 440 twin prop "Silver Falcon" piston engine airliners with four flights to New Orleans via a stop in Baton Rouge with some of these flights continuing on to Atlanta, and four flights to Houston via stops in Lake Charles, LA and Beaumont/Port Arthur, TX. In later years, the airport was served by Texas International Airlines (formerly known as TTa, Trans-Texas Airways) with Douglas DC-9-10 jet service to Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, New Orleans and several other destinations. TTa and Texas International also operated Convair 600 turboprop service from Lafayette before this aircraft type was phased out of the fleet. Texas International was then merged into Continental Airlines which continued to serve Lafayette with Douglas DC-9-10 and DC-9-30 jet service to Houston. Royale Airlines, a commuter air carrier that was based in Louisiana, also served the airport with Beechcraft and Embraer EMB-110 "Bandeirante" turboprop flights nonstop to Houston and New Orleans. Another commuter air carrier, Metro Airlines, served Lafayette as well with Shorts 330 turboprop flights nonstop to Houston.

The last major airline jet service for the airport was provided by Continental Airlines utilizing Boeing 737-300, Boeing 737-500 and McDonnell Douglas MD-80 jetliners with flights to Houston before this air carrier (which now operates as United Airlines) turned over all passenger service to its regional airline partners. The airport was also previously served by Northwest Airlink with nonstop Saab 340 turboprop and Canadair CRJ-200 regional jet flights to Memphis. Following the merger of Northwest Airlines with Delta, Delta Connection CRJ-200 regional jet service to Memphis was discontinued. All current passenger airline flights at the airport are operated with either Canadair CRJ-200 regional jets (flown by ExpressJet to Atlanta and operating as Delta Connection) or Embraer ERJ-135/140/145 series regional jets (flown by American Eagle to Dallas/Ft. Worth and also by ExpressJet to Houston operating as United Express). Colgan Air, operating as United Express, ceased serving Lafayette during the summer of 2012. Colgan had operated Bombardier Q400 and Saab 340 turboprop aircraft on feeder services for United to Houston. ExpressJet then replaced the Colgan service with additional Embraer ERJ-135/145 regional jet frequencies operating as United Express nonstop to Houston. Vision Airlines also briefly served Lafayette with Dornier 328 turboprop service nonstop to Ft. Walton Beach/Destin, FL before withdrawing from the market.

The three airlines that currently serve Lafayette now operate all flights with regional jet aircraft. Previously, the only mainline jet aircraft type serving Lafayette (following the cessation of Continental Airlines mainline jet service) was the twice weekly McDonnell Douglas MD-80 service provided by Allegiant Air nonstop to and from Las Vegas before this service was canceled as well. On June 7, 2012 Delta Connection began operating daily service to Atlanta flying Canadair CRJ-700 aircraft equipped with wi-fi, nine first class seats and 56 economy class seats including an enhanced "Economy Comfort" section featuring additional legroom. These Delta Connection CRJ-700 flights featured the only first class service available at the time from Lafayette. However, according to Delta's November 2012 system timetable, all Delta Connection CRJ-700 service into Lafayette has now been replaced with smaller Canadair CRJ-200 regional jets. The last Allegiant Air service took place on February 26, 2012 after which this airline discontinued all service to Lafayette.

In March 2001, Air Force One landed in Lafayette transporting President George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States. This Boeing 747-200B (USAF aircraft designation VC-25A) flight into Lafayette with President Bush onboard appears to have been the largest aircraft ever to land at the airport. More recently, U.S. Air Force C-17 "Globemaster III" aircraft have flown into Lafayette. These large, four engine, military transport jets were supporting air show activities at the airfield. In addition, United Airlines uses Lafayette Regional as a diversion airport when inclement weather disrupts flight operations at the airline's major connecting hub located at Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Texas. Up to five (5) Boeing 737 jetliners operated by United have been observed on the airport ramp at one time due to weather diversions.

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