โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
St. Louis Downtown Airport (CPS/KCPS) is a premier public-use aviation facility located in Cahokia, Illinois, serving the St. Louis metropolitan area. Strategically positioned just minutes from the Gateway Arch and the St. Louis city center, it is the busiest general aviation airport in the region and one of the most significant in Illinois. The airport plays a vital role in supporting corporate travel, private aviation, and flight training, being the home base for the Saint Louis University Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology.
The terminal building is a modern and professional facility that serves as the center for airport administration and passenger services. Inside, visitors will find a welcoming lobby area, multiple pilot's lounges with comfortable seating, and clean restroom facilities. Although the airport does not currently support scheduled commercial airline service, the terminal is designed to handle the needs of transient aviators and corporate personnel with high efficiency. Amenities at CPS include high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the building and a popular on-site restaurant, the Jetway Cafe, which offers a variety of dining options with views of the airfield and the St. Louis skyline.
Operational capacity at St. Louis Downtown Airport is supported by three primary paved runways, with the longest (12R/30L) measuring approximately 7,002 feet in length, which is capable of handling a wide range of regional aircraft and large corporate jets. The airport also boasts world-class support services provided by multiple Fixed-Base Operators (FBOs), including major facilities for Gulfstream Aerospace and Jet Aviation. Navigation through the terminal is exceptionally easy due to its compact and logical layout. For ground transportation, the airport is located within a very short drive of downtown St. Louis, with taxi services and private vehicle transfers readily available to transport visitors to their local destinations or hotels.
๐ Connection Tips
St. Louis Downtown Airport (CPS) is a strong private-aviation and corporate field, but it is not a scheduled-airline airport, so any connection through it is really a transfer into downtown St. Louis or to a larger commercial airport. The airport's biggest advantage is location. It puts travelers very close to the central business district and riverfront, which makes it highly attractive for business aviation. But that same advantage should not be confused with commercial-network flexibility. If your next segment depends on an airline, that airline is almost certainly somewhere else.
For many travelers, that means St. Louis Lambert becomes the real hub, and the surface transfer between downtown-area private aviation and the commercial airport system is the critical part of the itinerary. Because the airport sits so close to the city core, CPS works beautifully when the destination is downtown. It is less straightforward when the traveler assumes a same-day private-to-airline transfer will be trivial without planning.
Use CPS as a city-access airport, not as an airline-transfer station. Confirm the car service before landing, allow for downtown traffic and cross-metro movement, and if a commercial departure matters later the same day, give yourself more margin than the raw mileage suggests. CPS is efficient for reaching St. Louis quickly. The fragility begins when the trip depends on reconnecting to the scheduled-airline network afterward.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
75
minutes
International โ Domestic
75
minutes
International โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) is the primary international airport serving New Mexico, located just three miles southeast of downtown Albuquerque. The airport boasts a distinctive Pueblo-style architectural terminal, which is both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional. This single, multi-level terminal efficiently manages all arrivals and departures, featuring a logical layout designed for passenger convenience. The lower level is dedicated to arriving passengers, housing baggage claim areas (three in total to serve Concourses A and B) and providing direct exits to ground transportation.
The upper level of the terminal is the departure zone, where travelers will find airline ticketing counters, security checkpoints, and access to the two main concourses, Concourse A and Concourse B. Concourse A primarily serves American Airlines, Delta, and United, while Southwest Airlines predominantly operates out of Concourse B. The terminal has a total of 22 gates, ensuring ample capacity for its scheduled domestic flights and limited international services. Recent upgrades include a TSA Checkpoint Terminal Connector Project, which has enhanced security screening with up to four lanes and modern passenger amenities like new escalators and elevators.
Amenities at ABQ are comprehensive for a regional international facility. Passengers can enjoy free Wi-Fi, numerous charging stations, a variety of shops (including those offering local artisanal gifts), and diverse dining options ranging from cafes and fast-food outlets to restaurants serving New Mexican cuisine. Additional facilities like a Meditation Room and an observation deck contribute to a comfortable travel experience, complemented by a notable art collection displayed throughout the terminal.
๐ Connection Tips
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) offers excellent ground transportation connectivity just 3 miles southeast of downtown. ABQ RIDE provides completely free bus service (fare-free since November 2023) with Route 50 connecting the airport to downtown via Union Square Bus Station every 15-30 minutes, taking just 24 minutes total - the bus stop is conveniently located on the lower level at the west end of the shuttle island. Route 50 also connects to the Alvarado Transportation Center downtown where passengers can transfer to the New Mexico Rail Runner Express.
Rail Runner connections are enhanced through Route 350 (Railrunner Connecting bus) and free bus transfers when you have a valid Rail Runner ticket purchased in advance online or via mobile app - otherwise pay the driver a $1 fare each way. Official taxi service is available with fares starting at $35 to downtown Albuquerque through companies like ABQ Metro Taxi (505-450-8580) and Aspen Rides (505-388-3692). Ride-sharing via Uber and Lyft requires pre-booking as street hailing is not permitted.
For Santa Fe destinations, Groome Transportation operates 30 daily trips taking 75 minutes with variable pricing, while RoadRunner Charter provides door-to-door service to Santa Fe and Los Alamos areas. The Rail Runner Express connects Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Belen with convenient airport shuttle connections. Recent December 2025 improvements under the ABQ RIDE Forward Network Plan enhanced transit connectivity throughout the metropolitan area.
โ Back to St Louis Downtown Airport