General Mitchell International Airport Guide

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport sits 9 km south of downtown Milwaukee on Milwaukee County land the county has owned since 1926. Commercial service began in 1927 when Northwest Airlines launched flights to Chicago and Minneapolis. The airport covers 2,314 acres and operates five runways, making it the largest commercial airport in Wisconsin.

The terminal connects to two active concourses — C and D — with 38 gates combined. Southwest Airlines and United Airlines anchor Concourse C, while Delta, American, Alaska, Frontier, JetBlue, and Spirit operate from Concourse D. A Concourse E redevelopment project broke ground in September 2025 to add a new international concourse. The airport hosts a General Mitchell Air National Guard Base on its eastern grounds.

MKE drew 6.3 million passengers in 2024, a 5% increase year-on-year. It offers nonstop service to more than 30 destinations across the continental US, with seasonal international flights to Mexico and the Caribbean. Chicago O'Hare lies roughly 120 km to the south, and MKE serves as an alternative gateway for travelers from northern Illinois seeking shorter security lines and lower fares.