Lake Charles Regional Airport Vital in Boosting Local Tourism and Economy

by Kerri Cooke

Any community which has a local airport is blessed with not only a nearby convenient travel option, but also the economic benefits air traffic provides. The Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH) boosts tourism as visitors easily access SWLA, a prime location for hunting, sport and casino resorts. Incoming guests will eat at local restaurants and stay at local hotels, bringing in critical dollars to the economy.

Serviced by both American and United Airlines, the annual economic impact of LCH is estimated to be $333,458,000. The airport offers a great return on investment (ROI), making $300 on every tax dollar invested in the operation of the facility. The running of the airport is 75% self-sustained. It boasts 1,900 acres, 2 runways and over 50 based aircraft.

The airport has 31 tenants who provide critical services within the five-parish area. LCH serves as a base for the Marine Spill Response Corporation, regional weather forecasting by NOAA, flight training by Rock Solid Flight School, emergency MediVac flights with Acadian AirMed, regional navigational aid maintenance by FAA TechOps, and the CPSO Aviation Unit.

“We pride ourselves on serving the Southwest community with air service. We are local, convenient and the gateway to southwest Louisiana,” says Amelia Hebert, manager of marketing and business development. LCH is also the first airport in the state to boast an electric aircraft charging station, included in the more than $30 million in airport improvements since 2022. Last year, “LCH achieved a total net position of $81,447,471.00, an increase of $7,820,794, representing a 10.6% increase compared to the previous year,” says Hebert.

In 2024, LCH experienced its best year with more commercial passengers than it’s ever seen. As the year progressed, the airport not only maintained current demand but saw an increase in passengers choosing to utilize the airport. It should be noted that numerous months last year saw air traffic levels exceeding numbers not seen in the last 20 years.

These facts and figures bode well for the continued recovery and growth of the SWLA economy. The five-parish area is on track to continue to see growth across our cities in every sector, from hospitality to retail services.