Ohio community opposes request to close Burke Lakefront Airport

Businesses, pilots and schools in Cleveland have joined together to create the Lakefront Airport Preservation Partnership (LAPP) in opposition of Mayor Justin Bibb's attempts to close the Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL). Mayor Bibb requested last month that the federal government relieve the city of its obligation to keep BKL open. LAPP has sent a letter to DOT Secretary Duffy, Representative Shontel Brown and Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted stating that the airport cannot be closed down. The letter highlights that almost $20 million in grants have been awarded to improve the airport and that the funding requires it to remain open until the late 2030s. "The airport serves as a vital link for public safety, medevac operations, Coast Guard missions and training, flight training, educational opportunities, both personal and corporate aviation, recreation, and tourism of the greater Cleveland area," the letter states. "The mayor has offered no plan of how the current operations, tenants, and other users of the airport will be absorbed or replicated at other facilities. Federal law requires that closing a grant-obligated public use airport must "benefit the aviation system". This is impossible in this instance. There are no other airports currently positioned to acquire the influx of operations from BKL." This is not the first time BKL's future was unsure. In 2022, city officials discussed closing the airport due to a decline in usage. Traffic volume at the airport hit its peak in 2000, with just over 100,000 takeoffs and landings but dropped almost 60% in 2 decades. Despite continued claims of lack of use, the airport generates $76.6 million in annual economic activity, according to data verified as part of the studies commissioned by the Cleveland City Council. RELATED STORIES: Future uncertain for Burke Lakefront Airport as city officials talk closure Airport on U.S., Canada border closes Fire destroys 3 aircraft at Florida airport "Burke Lakefront Airport isn't just used by general aviation pilots—it's a vital asset to northeast Ohio and the country," said AOPA Great Lakes Regional Manager Kyle Lewis. "Planes take off and land there more than 50,000 times each year, and the airport serves as an important link for public safety, medevac operations, Coast Guard missions and training, flight training, educational opportunities, and more. For example, just one medevac operator based at Burke Lakefront operates more than 500 medical and organ transplant flights there every year." LAPP has invited Mayor Bibb to meet and discuss how the airport can continue to play an important role for the city of Cleveland.