Aberdeen Regional Airport

The airport is one of two commercial airports in the state of South Dakota with airline service to only one destination, the other being Pierre Regional Airport. Rapid City serves 16 destinations & Sioux Falls serves 15 destinations, while Watertown serves two destinations. As of 2022, Delta Connection currently operates mainly CRJ200 aircraft and sometimes CRJ700 and CrJ900 aircraft seasonally. Sun Country also does seasonal charter flights to Arizona. these flights have been known as gambling flights.

Map of destinations

Destinations map
Aberdeen Minneapolis/Saint Paul All passenger destinations from Aberdeen Regional Airport (ABR)

FedEx Feeder is operated at the field by CSA and mainly flys to Sioux Falls.

Aberdeen Regional Airport covers an area of 1,284 acres (520 ha) at an elevation of 1,302 feet (397 m) above mean sea level. It has two runways: 13/31 is 6,901 by 100 feet (2,103 x 30 m) with a concrete surface; 17/35 is 5,500 by 100 feet (1,676 x 30 m) with an asphalt surface.[1]

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2017, the airport had 40,152 aircraft operations, an average of 110 per day: 83% general aviation, 4% scheduled commercial, 13% air taxi and <1% military. At that time there were 55 aircraft based at this airport: 34 single-engine, 15 multi-engine, 5 jet and 1 helicopter.[1]

The passenger terminal is one of four terminals in South Dakota that boasts a moving jet bridge, the other three being Sioux Falls Regional Airport, Rapid City Regional Airport, and Pierre Regional Airport. The loading bridge allows passengers to board the aircraft from directly inside the terminal and right onto the aircraft without having to walk outside. As of August 2021, Delta Connection is the only commercial airline currently operating out of Aberdeen Regional Airport, providing jet only service on daily flights to Minneapolis/St. Paul on their Canadair Regional Jet 200.

Remarks:[1]

• 605-626-7020 Airport Administration Office.
• For services after hours call (605) 225-1384/8008.
• Prior Permission Required for unscheduled air carrier operations with more than 30 passenger seats call airport manager 605-626-7020. After hours call 605-216-0321.
• MIRL runway 17/35 & HIRL runway 13/31 preset on low intensity sunset - 00:00; to increase intensity & activate REIL runways 13; 17; 35 & MALSR runway 31 - CTAF.
• Gulls & geese on and in the vicinity of airport from March to December.
• Runway 13 & runway 17 approach ends are closely aligned. Verify correct runway and compass heading prior to departure.
• This airport has been surveyed by the National Geodetic Survey.

In 1923, Aberdeen hosted the first fly-in event in South Dakota. During World War II, the airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a contract glider training airfield owned by Anderson & Brennan Flying Service, beginning on 25 May 1942. The mission of the school was to train glider pilot students in proficiency in operation of gliders in various types of towed and soaring flight, both day and night, and in servicing of gliders in the field. They primarily used C-47 Skytrains and Waco CG-4 Gliders.

From 1950s to 2002 the military pulled out and airline service was boosted at the airport. Airlines such as Northwest, United Express(operated by Great Lakes Airlines), and Republic Airlines were now operated at a small terminal (now a Ground Crew shed) in the middle of the airport. The terminal had a ramp gate meaning passengers would walk up to the plane. In, 2002 United pulled out of Aberdeen, after terminating Great Lakes contract, and Northwest continued to operate now with Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft.

In, 2006 a new terminal was built south of the airport. It was much larger and more modern, and was equipped with two gates. One had a jetway and one would be an on-ramp if the jetway had maintenance issues. Delta would eventually replace Northwest after merging with the airline, and Delta Connection would continue flying to Minneapolis.

In 2019, a new modern jetway was added to the airport, which was able to support larger aircraft. In 2020, the town proposed plans to expand the terminal, extend and expand the runway, due to Delta announcing the retirement of their CRJ-200s. In 2021, Aberdeen renewed their contract with Skywest to continue their air service at Aberdeen after Pierre and Watertown replaced Skywest's United operations with Denver Air Connection.

A Delta Connection CRJ200 parked at the current terminal and new jetway

President George W. Bush landed here in the early 2000s to speak at a rally at Northern State University. Reba McEntire made a stop here on July 22, 2013, when the Phenom 100 jet she was traveling in stopped at the airport to refuel. She was on her way to a concert in Edmonton, Alberta.

• South Dakota World War II Army Airfields
• 31st Flying Training Wing (World War II)

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History's Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
• Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC

• Aberdeen Regional Airport at City of Aberdeen website
• "Aberdeen Regional Airport" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-25. (146 KiB) at South Dakota DOT Airport Directory
• The WW II Glider Pilots
• FAA Terminal Procedures for ABR, effective April 21, 2022
• Resources for this airport:
  • FAA airport information for ABR
  • AirNav airport information for ABR
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for ABR