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Laredo International Airport

Coordinates: 27°32′38″N 99°27′42″W / 27.54389°N 99.46167°W / 27.54389; -99.46167
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For the military use of this facility prior to 1973, see Laredo Air Force Base.
Laredo International Airport
USGS image 2006
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Laredo
ServesLaredo, Texas
Elevation AMSL508 ft / 155 m
Coordinates27°32′38″N 99°27′42″W / 27.54389°N 99.46167°W / 27.54389; -99.46167
WebsiteFlyLoredoTexas.com...
Map
LRD is located in Texas
LRD
LRD
Location
LRD is located in the United States
LRD
LRD
LRD (the United States)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18L/36R 8,236 2,510 Concrete
18R/36L 8,743 2,665 Concrete
14/32 5,927 1,807 Concrete
Statistics (2023)
Total passengers235,373
Aircraft operations45,092
Based aircraft65
Sources: airport website[1] and FAA[2]
LRD entrance sign
LRD passenger terminal
LRD terminal entrance
2x SkyWest operated for American Airlines Bombardier CRJ-701ER (N709EV & N720EV) at LRD

Laredo International Airport (IATA: LRD, ICAO: KLRD, FAA LID: LRD) is three miles northeast of downtown Laredo, in Webb County, Texas, United States.[2]

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 categorized it as a non-hub primary commercial service airport. The airport sees three airlines with flights to Dallas, Houston, and Las Vegas. In the year ending December 2013, LRD had 102,856 passengers.[3] In 2012, LRD totaled 460,000,612 pounds of cargo.[4]

History

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The Laredo International Airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II as Laredo Army Airfield, and by the United States Air Force as Laredo Air Force Base during the Cold War as a pilot training base with T-33 Shooting Star and later T-37 Tweet and T-38 Talon aircraft. The military presence ended in December 1973 as part of a nationwide defense cut back after the Vietnam War.[5] Commercial air service provided by Texas International Airlines (formerly Trans-Texas Airways) was moved from the Laredo Municipal Airport (now closed) to the Laredo International Airport in the summer of 1975. Texas International was then able to upgrade their service from Convair 600 prop aircraft to Douglas DC-9 jets. Since then several other commercial airlines and air freight carriers have used this airfield.[6]

At the entrance to the airport is the statue Among Friends There Are No Borders, designed by Armando Hinojosa of Laredo, which depicts a South Texas vaquero and a Mexican charro sharing a campfire.

Facilities

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Laredo International Airport covers 1,796 acres (727 ha) at an elevation of 508 feet (155 m). It has three runways:[2]

  • 18L/36R: 8,236 x 150 ft (2,510 x 46 m), concrete
  • 18R/36L: 8,743 x 150 ft (2,665 x 46 m), concrete
  • 14/32: 5,927 x 150 ft (1,807 x 46 m), concrete

In the year ending September 30, 2018 the airport had 97,189 aircraft operations, an average of 266 per day: 41% military, 38% general aviation, 13% air taxi and 8% airline. In December 2019, 65 aircraft were based at this airport: 15 single-engine, 15 multi-engine, 20 jet and 15 helicopter.[2]

There is one, two-floor terminal at the Laredo International Airport. The bottom floor has the check-in counters, a gift shop, a restaurant, baggage carousel, rental car desks, and US customs. The airport's security checkpoint and four gates, all with jetways, are on the second floor. Free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the terminal. Gates 3 and 4 allow direct access to US customs.

LRD sometimes receives diverted flights when severe weather threatens Dallas or Houston.

Airlines and destinations

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Passenger

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AirlinesDestinations
Aerus Monterrey[7]
Allegiant Air Las Vegas
American Eagle Dallas/Fort Worth
United Express Houston–Intercontinental

Destinations map

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Destinations map
class=notpageimage|
Destinations from Laredo International Airport

Cargo

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AirlinesDestinations
ABX Air Cincinnati
Aeronaves TSM Ciudad Juárez, El Paso, Gary, Greensboro, Greenville, Kansas City, Oakland, Puebla, Querétaro, Saltillo, Toledo
Ameristar Air Cargo Houston–Intercontinental
FedEx Express Memphis, San Antonio
Martinair San Antonio
UPS Airlines Louisville, San Antonio

Accidents and incidents

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  • On 31 October 1983, Douglas DC-3C N44896 of FBN Flying Service was destroyed by fire at Laredo International Airport while attempting to take off on a cargo flight to McAllen-Miller International Airport.[8] A fire had developed on board the aircraft during the take-off run, and the crew were unable to extinguish it with the equipment available to them.[9]
  • On 28 July 1987, Douglas C-53 N39DT of La Mesa Leasing Inc was damaged beyond economic repair when the port engine failed shortly after take-off on an international cargo flight to Ciudad Camargo Airport, Mexico. The aircraft was overloaded by 3,809 pounds (1,728 kg) and the power from the remaining good engine was insufficient to sustain flight. The aircraft stalled and crashed whilst attempting to make an emergency landing back at Laredo. Both crew survived.[10] A post-accident investigation revealed no problems with the failed engine.[11]
  • On 18 January 1989, Douglas DC-3 XB-DYP crashed shortly after take-off. The aircraft was on an international cargo flight to Torreón International Airport, Mexico. The cause of the accident was that the cargo was improperly secured and shifted in flight, causing the centre of gravity to move aft.[12]
  • On 21 May 2002, Douglas DC-3A XB-JBR of Aero JBR ditched in Lake Casa Blanca, after a double engine failure while performing a touch-and-go at Laredo International Airport.[13] It is reported that one of the engines suffered a propeller overspeed condition. All three crew escaped from the submerged aircraft.[14]
  • On 9 November 2010, ZA002, a flight test Boeing 787 made an emergency landing after fire had broken out in its P100 electrical panel.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Laredo International Airport, official site
  2. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for LRD PDF, effective December 5, 2019.
  3. ^ Bureau of Transportation Statistics T-100 Market data.
  4. ^ City of Laredo Airport Stats
  5. ^ www.tshaonline.org LAFB
  6. ^ Multiple editions of the Official Airline Guide
  7. ^ "Aerus Moves Monterrey – Laredo Launch to Dec 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  8. ^ "N44896 Accident report". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  9. ^ "NTSB Identification: FTW84FA038". National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  10. ^ "N39DT Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  11. ^ "NTSB Identification: FTW87LA180". National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  12. ^ "XB-DYP Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  13. ^ "XB-JBR Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  14. ^ Garcia, Robert. "3 survive ditching Engine failure lands plane in Lake Casa Blanca". The DC3 Aviation Museum. Archived from the original on 28 April 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  15. ^ flightgobal.com Fire on 787 Test Aircraft
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