Rochester International Airport (RST)

Rochester International Airport operates as the premier gateway to Mayo Clinic and Minnesota's second-busiest aviation facility, positioned 7 miles south of downtown Rochester on two concrete runways including a 9,034-foot primary runway capable of accommodating international charter flights from business jets to Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Originally founded in 1928 by the Mayo Foundation specifically to transport patients to Mayo Clinic, this unique facility is owned by the City of Rochester and operated by the Rochester Airport Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mayo Clinic, reflecting its specialized medical aviation mission.

The compact terminal features a single-building design spanning two levels with 14 gates (1-6 on the lower level), specifically optimized for medical travelers with specialized amenities including private rooms equipped with beds or recliners and adjacent restrooms for nursing mothers and patients requiring quiet spaces before departure. The facility operates dedicated Mayo Clinic concierge services within the main lobby, providing appointment information, local resources, and ground transportation coordination, while maintaining U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities specifically added in 1995 for international medical charter operations.

Terminal amenities emphasize patient comfort and convenience including free Wi-Fi ('RST FREE' network), quiet rooms, mini-library, and Tailwind concessions offering meals and local craft beer, supported by comprehensive medical aviation infrastructure including air ambulance services critical for Mayo Clinic operations. The facility processes approximately 200,000 annual passengers (6% increase in 2024) while serving specialized international medical charter traffic ranging from routine business aviation to emergency medical evacuations.

Strategic partnerships with American Airlines and Delta Air Lines provide daily service to Chicago O'Hare and Minneapolis-Saint Paul, while the airport's proximity to IBM Rochester campus supports significant business aviation traffic. The facility's unique dual role as both a commercial regional airport and specialized medical aviation hub positions it as an essential component of Mayo Clinic's global healthcare delivery system, serving patients and medical professionals from around the world while maintaining critical connections to national transportation networks.