St. Louis Downtown Airport Bolsters Its Role as a Regional Economic Powerhouse in 2025

Discover how St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS) in St. Clair County, Illinois, expanded its role as a key regional economic engine in 2025, with major investments, infrastructure upgrades, and industry growth.

[ST. LOUIS/January 27, 2026]  St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS), a premier general aviation airport located just minutes from the Gateway Arch in St. Clair County, Illinois, grew in its role as a regional economic engine in 2025. Throughout the year, KCPS experienced significant tenant investments and improvements in airport infrastructure, while continuing to be an active regional player in workforce development and industry attraction.

In 2025, the airport welcomed investments by tenants that augmented its own, strengthening St. Louis Downtown Airport’s ability to meet growing demand and ensure it remains a leading destination for business aviation. Among the most recent tenant investments is a new corporate hangar facility recently opened on the airport’s west side by aircraft management company Gateway Jets. The state-of-the-art hangar features 100-foot bi-fold doors and can accommodate up to five Citation aircraft.

This project follows Gulfstream Aerospace’s $30 million expansion of its completions and outfitting operations at the airport, completion of which was celebrated in May 2025. The investment added new equipment and machinery, supporting a growing workforce that now exceeds 700 employees. Gulfstream’s operations in the region encompass maintenance, repair, overhaul and completions, with the facility supporting the completion of brand-new business jets from the heart of the Midwest.

“Here at St. Louis Downtown Airport, our tenants are thriving, and many are expanding their operations,” said Airport Director Sandra Shore. “These investments reflect the confidence businesses have in KCPS as a critical gateway for the region and a strategic location for growth.”

Complementing tenant investments, KCPS is advancing several major capital improvement projects. The airport recently completed $1.1 million in improvements to a key access road, enhancing connectivity for the airport and more than 700 employees who work onsite. Work is also progressing on the Taxiway Bravo reconstruction project. Phase one, which includes drainage and site improvements, is wrapping up at a cost of $2.5 million. Phase two, a $14 million reconstruction of 3,500 feet of taxiway, begins this spring. The third and final phase – reconstruction of the remaining 3,500 feet of taxiway – is scheduled for 2027. The total investment is estimated at $25 to $30 million, with completion expected by the end of 2027. Importantly, the airport will remain fully operational throughout construction.

Shore said the airport also has secured $3.6 million in state funding for a new general aviation terminal, with construction slated to begin mid-2026. The project involves tearing down the existing 55-year-old terminal and rebuilding a modernized facility that better meets the needs of today’s business aviation customers. The airport will remain open during construction, which will take approximately one year.

“All of these improvements ensure we can continue to serve our customers well into the future,” Shore noted. “We’re building the infrastructure that supports growth and strengthens our position as a leader in business aviation.”

Workforce development also remained a priority for St. Louis Downtown Airport in 2025 as the region’s aerospace and aviation industry continues to grow. The airport collaborated with St. Louis University (SLU) and Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) on summer camps, academies and events, including Girls in Aviation Day, inspiring youth to explore careers in this vibrant ecosystem.  In October, KCPS partnered with SLU’s Flying Billikens to host the National Intercollegiate Flying Association’s (NIFA) 2025 Region VI and VIII SAFECON event, welcoming ten collegiate teams from across the Midwest. Competitors showcased their skills in navigation, short-field landing, power-off landing and other aviation exercises. Winners from the event hosted locally are set to advance to the national competition in May 2026.

Located in the communities of Cahokia Heights and the Village of Sauget in Southwestern Illinois, St. Louis Downtown Airport serves as the region’s front door for business aviation, supporting more than 25 tenants. Collectively, the airport and its tenants generate more than $422 million in annual economic impact and sustain well over 1,500 jobs.

“With its strategic location and robust infrastructure, St. Louis Downtown Airport continues to attract investment and jobs, reinforcing its role as a vital contributor to the regional economy,” said Mary Lamie, executive vice president of Multimodal Enterprises for Bi-State Development, which owns and operates the airport as one its enterprises. “KCPS is more than an airport—it’s an economic powerhouse and a catalyst for growth.”

To learn more about St. Louis Downtown Airport, visit www.stlouisdowntownairport.com.

St. Louis Downtown Airport, KCPS, regional economic growth, Illinois airports, general aviation, airport infrastructure, workforce development, industry attraction, Gateway Arch proximity, St. Clair County

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