| Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Located in Bullhead City, Laughlin Bullhead International Airport is the largest airport in Mohave County. | |||
| IATA: IFP – ICAO: KIFP – FAA LID: IFP | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner | Mohave County | ||
| Operator | Mohave County Airport Authority | ||
| Serves | Laughlin, Nevada, Bullhead City, Arizona | ||
| Location | Bullhead City, Arizona | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 695 ft / 212 m | ||
| Website | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 16/34 | 7,520 | 2,292 | Asphalt |
Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (IATA: IFP, ICAO: KIFP, FAA LID: IFP), also known as Bullhead City International Airport, is a public airport located one mile (2 km) north of the central business district of Bullhead City, in Mohave County, Arizona, USA.[1] The airport is across the Colorado River and one block away from the community of Laughlin, Nevada. Many of the rooms at Laughlin's casino-hotels offer a view of the chartered and private flights that utilize the airport. No larger commercial airlines currently serve the airport. It was named 2011 Airport of the Year by the Arizona Department of Transportation.[2]
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Beginning with Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino, many other hotels began to open franchises in Laughlin. With booming Bullhead City, Arizona, lying directly across the Colorado River, a regional airport was deemed necessary by Nevada and Arizona authorities. Previously, Las Vegas had operated the nearest international airport 90 miles to the north.
Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport used to be known simply as the "Bullhead City Airport" until the 1990s, when such airlines as Air Laughlin, Vanguard Airlines, Viscount Air Services and others offered Boeing 737 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9 flights from Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix. Reno Air offered McDonnell Douglas MD-80 service there briefly in 1995 and 1996 serving San Jose International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. Most of this air service would be accompanied by hotel packages. For a short period, USAir Express operated DH-8 service to Los Angeles International Airport. FedEx Express became the airport's main cargo airline also during that decade.
In 2002, Sun Country decided to start service to Bullhead City from Minneapolis. The airline ultimately decided to make Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport a hub for the American Southwestern region. In 2004, Ryan International Airlines returned the jet services from the Phoenix area, beginning to fly to Bullhead City from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, using MD-82 airplanes. There was service on Western Express Air to Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (Arizona) and Riverside Municipal Airport (California) but that was discontinued when that airline ceased operations at the end of May 2007.[3]
The Airport was featured in the 2003 film 'View from the Top' in which it was used for the setting of the fictional Sierra Airlines based there. The film stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Christina Applegate and Kelly Preston.
In 2008, the airport underwent a multi-million-dollar expansion, which increased passenger capacity, and a heightened security system. In the same year, the largest aircraft to visit the airport, a Boeing 747-SP, landed on the recently expanded runway. [1]
In March 2010 the airport hosted "Legends Over the Colorado", an air show with additional displays of an original B-17 from World War II. The plane is part of the Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, a Texas-based nonprofit organization that has fully restored the B-17, Sentimental Journey. Also on display was a T-6 Texan and 4 other warbirds.
More than 115,000 people flew in to Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport on casino-sponsored chartered flights in 2010, however, no larger established commercial airlines are currently utilizing the Laughlin/Bullhead City airport.
On April 9-10, 2011, Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport held the second annual "Legends Over The Colorado". The main attraction was "FIFI", the only flying B-29 in the world along with two P-51 Mustangs, a Japanese Zero, and several other World War II era warbirds.
On July 20th, 2011 marked the grand opening of the new baggage claim building connected to the main terminal.
The airport is home to three car rental companies: Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz.
Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport has two runways, each measuring 7,500' X 150', and a taxiway measuring 7,500' X 75'.
In 2012, the process will begin for the runway to be extended another 1,000 feet to the south, for a total of 8,500 feet. Paid for by grants, actual site preparation will begin in 2013, and the date of completiion is set for some time in 2013.[4]
In October 1991, Station 4 at the Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport was opened and was manned full time by Bullhead City Fire Department. In 1997, the airport authority established its own fire department. There are six firefighters employed by the airport, and the station is manned twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. As of July 2011, a design is being completed for a newly constructed airport fire station.[5] In September 2011, the Mohave County Airport Authority was awarded two airport improvement grants totaling $7.6 million from the Federal Aviation Administration. One of the grants is for construction of a new facility for aircraft rescue and fire fighting operations and purchase of a new fire truck.[6]
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Allegiant Air | Charter Flights: U.S. and Canada |
| Canadian North | Seasonal: Calgary, Cornwall, Edmonton, Toronto-Pearson |
| Sun Country Airlines | Charter Flights: U.S. |
| Rank | City | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | 13,000 | Sun Country |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | 2,000 | - |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | 2,000 | - |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | 2,000 | - |
| 5 | Portland, OR | 2,000 | - |
| 6 | La Crosse, WI | 1,000 | - |
| 7 | Green Bay, WI | 1,000 | - |
| 8 | Eau Claire, WI | 1,000 | - |
| 9 | Denver, CO | 1,000 | - |
| 10 | Harlingen, TX | 1,000 | - |