“St. Louis Downtown Airport’s story is one of resiliency and continued evolution. Flight operations have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels and are still accelerating. We will break ground on a new Ground Engine Run Up facility later this year which will support more than 450 high-tech aerospace manufacturing jobs by improving production safety, reliability and efficiency, improving airport businesses and increasing global competitiveness for Southwestern Illinois. We’re excited to become an increasingly important part of the Midwest’s network of airports.”
– Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises at Bi-State Development
The Convenience of KCPS
St. Louis Downtown Airport works every day to provide its customers with a convenient experience. With a multitude of competitive advantages, there’s a reason KCPS if one of the most successful airports of its state and region. St. Louis Downtown Airport is located minutes away from downtown St. Louis, with direct access to downtown Clayton, MO via Interstate-64. The pilot-friendly airport is home to:
- Single terminal
- Aircraft rental and parking
- Full-service, 24-hour FBO
- A variety of available hangars of different shapes & sizes
- Ground transportation to/from your aircraft including limousines or onsite car rental
- Ample land available for development
- Pilot supplies
- Five aircraft charter service companies
- Major airframe/powerplant services
Our History
The airport opened in 1929 as Curtiss-Steinberg Airport, later being renamed Curtiss-Parks Airport in 1940, followed by Parks Metropolitan Airport later that same year. The airport served as a pilot training airfield during World War II, with Parks Air College conducting basic flying training primarily in Fairchild PT-19s. The airport closed in 1959 and reopened six years later as Bi-State Parks Airport, upon being purchased by Bi-State Development. It was renamed St. Louis Downtown-Parks Airport in 1984 and received its current name in 1999, as the airport sought to emphasize its easy accessibility to downtown St. Louis.
Today, St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS) is one of the most active airports in the region. Though rich in history (two of the airport’s original four hangars, Hangars One and Two, are currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places), St. Louis Downtown Airport is dedicated to building on its bold future. Learn more about our history here.
1929: In the Beginning
The beginning of St. Louis Downtown Airport’s intricate history consists of name changes, assistance from pioneering airmen of the region, and implementing the structural roots of what is now a leading airfield.
The 1930’s: Oliver Parks Enters the Scene
With help from aviation pioneers including Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, and a young pilot named Oliver Parks, St. Louis Downtown Airport gains national prominence as a centrally located air field and center for aviation education.
The 1940s: A Name Change to Curtiss-Parks Airport
The airport continues its way through a revolving door of names while the Parks College of Aviation grows, bringing added popularity to the already burgeoning airport.
The 1950s: A Period of Decline
Financial strain causes the airport to close, though an eventual demand for increased regional air service offers a new opportunity for the downtown airport.