St. George Municipal Airport (IATA: SGU, ICAO: KSGU, FAALID: SGU) was a public airport in St. George, serving southern Utah, until 13 January 2011. It was used for general aviation and by St. George-based SkyWest Airlines on behalf of Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. SkyWest has served St. George since its founding in 1972. SkyWest, which is now one of the largest regional airlines in the world, continues to be based in St. George.
Replacement airport
The prospect of a new airport for the region had been around for many years. The old St. George Municipal Airport, located on top of a mesa, was land-locked and had no room for expansion. The runway and terminal were too small for larger aircraft. With the rapid growth of the area and tourism increasing, a new airport became essential.
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was completed in August 2006. The study concluded the impact on the environment and noise pollution would be minimal. Plans for the new airport include a single runway usable by regional jets and larger airliners. It is initially 9,300 by 150 feet, with plans for the runway to be extended to 11,500 ft. The new airport includes a precision instrument approach, which the old airport did not have.
The new airport has been partially funded by grants from the Federal Aviation Administration totaling US$24.2 million. The project was expected to cost between $170 million and $190 million. The city broke ground on the new site in October 2008, and the new airport opened on January 13, 2011.
Facilities
The 274-acre (111 ha) facility included a 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) terminal.[1] It had one asphalt runway, 16/34, 6,606 feet (2,014 m) long.