St. Paul Downtown Airport plans $105M overhaul
St. Paul Downtown Airport officials have rolled out a $105 million redevelopment plan that would close one of Holman Field's three runways to make room for new hangars and future electric aircraft operations on the city's riverfront.[1]
The proposal, unveiled this week, outlines a long-term strategy to consolidate flight operations on the remaining runways while converting the freed-up pavement and adjacent land into modern hangar space aimed at business aviation and emerging electric aircraft technologies.[1]
Holman Field, just across the Mississippi River from downtown St. Paul, has been under growing pressure to modernize as corporate aviation demand evolves and new types of low- and zero-emission aircraft move from concept to commercial testing. The Metropolitan Airports Commission and city leaders have for several years weighed how to increase hangar capacity at the land-constrained airport without expanding its footprint into surrounding neighborhoods or sensitive riverfront areas.
Earlier planning work identified one runway as underused relative to the airport's main air traffic needs, setting up the current strategy to close it and re-purpose the area rather than seek costly expansions or off-site relocations. Airport leaders have also signaled that keeping St. Paul competitive with other regional business aviation hubs will require facilities designed from the ground up to handle charging, maintenance and storage for electric aircraft once they start regular service.
Supporters of the overhaul argue that dedicating space now for electric aviation infrastructure could help St. Paul attract early investment and jobs tied to cleaner aircraft technologies rather than playing catch-up later. They also frame the plan as a way to boost downtown's appeal to corporate travelers and charter operators while keeping flight paths largely within existing corridors, since the remaining runways would continue to handle takeoffs and landings.
The timeline for construction, phasing of the runway closure, and detailed funding sources have not yet been fully laid out, but airport and regional officials are expected to refine those pieces as the $105 million strategy moves into environmental review, community engagement and design work.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- St. Paul Downtown Airport has proposed a $105 million development strategy.
- The plan includes closing one of Holman Field’s runways to open land for additional hangars.
- Space would be set aside to support future electric aircraft operations at the downtown St. Paul airport.
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