Major Air Traffic Will Cram Sky In The Twin Cities For 11 Days

The 2018 Super Bowl at U.S. Bank Stadium will draw thousands of people to the Twin Cities. For many, their first stop will be the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), which is gearing up for a week like none other.

Flight activity at MSP will swell between Saturday, Jan. 27 and Tuesday, Feb. 6. Super Bowl Sunday is Feb. 4.

During the eight days leading up to the big game and the two days after, airport officials expect 550 additional flights into and out of MSP. During the Super Bowl, flights will be restricted from flying near U.S. Bank Stadium for security reasons.

The Monday after the Super Bowl will be the busiest day in the airport's history. Up to 70,000 people will fly out of MSP Feb. 5, which is 20,000 more people than have ever flown out of the airport in a single day.

“It’s not even going to be close. It’s going to blow everything out of the water,” Phil Burke, director of MSP operations at the Metropolitan Airports Commission, told the Star Tribune.

The mix of airplanes will also be different than an average day:

• There will be a lot more corporate jets.
• Charters will bring in an additional 30 to 40 flights.
• Commercial airlines regularly serving MSP are expected to fly larger planes to accommodate more travelers.

The network of smaller airports around MSP will also see a lot of activity, which means those living in surrounding neighborhoods may experience additional flight noise during the day and night:

• Saint Paul Downtown Airport in St. Paul
• Anoka County-Blaine Airport in Blaine
• Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie
• Crystal Airport in Crystal
• Airlake Airport in Lakeville
• Lake Elmo Airport in Lake Elmo

Security

Air traffic will also include security flights performed by local, state and federal agencies, helicopters monitoring traffic patterns, smaller aircraft performing aerial television coverage and gathering news footage, and practice flyovers in preparation for game day.

Beginning Monday, a low-flying helicopter will begin conducting aerial security and geographical surveys of downtown Minneapolis. The helicopter will fly in a grid pattern over the area at 300 feet or higher above ground surface at a speed of approximately 80 mph.

The flyovers will occur only during daylight hours. The aerial surveys are being conducted as part of emergency preparedness efforts required for Special Event Activity Rating Level 1 national security events like the 2018 Super Bowl.

Federal law allows airplanes to land and takeoff at any time of the day or night. Residents can track flights and file a noise complaint on Metropolitan Airports Commission website.

Photo credit: AP Photo/John Locher, File