Chennault International Airport

What Chennault International Airport does

Chennault International Airport Authority (CIAA) is a political subdivision and instrumentality of the State of Louisiana, operating a Part 139 certified public airport on the site of the former Chennault Air Force Base in Lake Charles, Louisiana, since 1986. The airport's core physical asset is a 10,702-foot runway — the longest between Houston and Cape Canaveral — supported by an FAA contract air traffic control tower, ILS/GPS approaches, 24/7 security and fire protection, on-site U.S. Customs foreign clearance, and approximately 900 acres of developable land surrounding 1.5–2 million square feet of existing hangar, office, and warehouse space plus 85+ acres of aircraft ramp and 285 acres of usable concrete.

Chennault generates revenue through four primary streams: (1) recurring hangar, facility, and land leases to aviation and aerospace tenants; (2) transaction-based FBO fuel flowage fees from Million Air Lake Charles ($0.08/gallon plus success-based compensation); (3) federal, state, and disaster-recovery grants from FAA, Louisiana DOTD, FEMA, and Louisiana Economic Development for capital improvements; and (4) parish property tax revenue. Anchor tenants include Northrop Grumman (Joint STARS surveillance aircraft maintenance, described as the most productive plant in the NG family), Citadel Aviation (VIP/VVIP completions, four consecutive FAA Diamond Awards), LandLocked Aviation Services (aircraft painting), Million Air Lake Charles (FBO), NextGen Aviation (Part 145 avionics), the Louisiana National Guard, Metrie Louisiana Millwork, Diamond D Industries, and Bechtel/Louisiana LNG. The airport supports four primary customer segments — Military Aviation, Aerospace & MRO Companies, Corporate/Private Aviation, and Air Cargo Operators — and reports approximately $410 million in annual regional economic impact and nearly 1,000 daily on-site workers across tenant operations.

Chennault's commercial posture combines direct enterprise leasing with channel-partner recruitment through Louisiana Economic Development and the Chamber SWLA Alliance Foundation, complemented by an annual Thunder Over Louisiana Air Show (featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels) and participation in events such as the Paris Airshow. A new 37,449-square-foot aircraft paint hangar broke ground in March 2026 with FEMA and LED funding, with LandLocked Aviation Services as the anticipated tenant. The authority's operating leadership comprises Executive Director Kevin Melton and a Board of Commissioners led by President Nora Popillion. Note: as a public government entity, Chennault does not disclose P&L revenue and is not a traditional equity investment target.

Name

Chennault International Airport

Legal name

Chennault International Airport Authority

Website

https://chennault.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chennault International Airport Authority operates a Part 139 certified public airport in Lake Charles, Louisiana, featuring the region's longest runway (10,702 ft). It leases hangars, ramp, and ~900 developable acres to military, aerospace MRO, corporate aviation, and industrial tenants including Northrop Grumman and Citadel Aviation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Charles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Hangar and facility leasing: The airport generates revenue by leasing hangars, office space, warehouse space, and land to aviation and aerospace tenants. Nearly 1.5 million square feet of hangar, office, and warehouse space is currently in use.
2. FBO fuel flowage fees: The airport receives fuel flowage fees from its FBO operator Million Air Lake Charles. Chennault receives .08 cents/gallon fuel flowage fee plus additional success-based compensation.
3. Government grants and funding: The airport receives significant funding from FAA grants, Louisiana DOTD grants, and FEMA disaster recovery funds for infrastructure projects and capital improvements.
4. Property tax revenue: The airport receives property tax revenue from the parish as part of its operating funding, supported by tax renewal elections.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chennault International Airport operates as a public airport authority providing aviation infrastructure and services at a former Air Force Base site in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Its core offerings include fixed base operator (FBO) services, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, air cargo handling, and runway and industrial property leasing. The facility is organized as a multimodal industrial complex serving commercial aviation, military, and industrial tenants.

Product overview

Chennault International Airport is a leading aerospace hub in Lake Charles, Louisiana, offering a comprehensive suite of aviation services through an integrated airport operations platform. Core offerings include Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) services, MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) services with specialized aircraft painting capabilities, air cargo handling facilities, and general aviation support. The airport provides a 10,702-foot runway (the longest between Houston and Cape Canaveral) with full airfield infrastructure including FAA air traffic control, ILS/GPS approaches, and Part 139 certification. Development opportunities are available through Chennault Park, with nearly 900 acres of land for development and access to Foreign Trade Zone 87 benefits. The airport supports diverse aviation operations including corporate, military, civilian, and general aviation, with major tenant partners engaged in aerospace manufacturing, aircraft maintenance, and completion services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fixed Base Operator (FBO) Services Ground handling, fueling, and aircraft servicing for general aviation, commercial, and military operators using the airport. Targeted at pilots, aircraft owners, and tenant companies operating at the field.
• Aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Facilities Leased hangar and shop facilities, ramp access, and airfield support for commercial and military aircraft maintenance providers. Targeted at MRO companies seeking a regional base for heavy aircraft maintenance.
• Air Cargo Handling Ramp, runway, and warehouse support for air cargo and freight operators moving goods through the Lake Charles region. Targeted at commercial air cargo carriers and logistics companies.
• Runway and Airfield Access Use of the airport's long runway and airfield infrastructure by commercial, cargo, general aviation, and military aircraft operators. Targeted at aviation operators requiring regional Gulf Coast airfield access.
• Industrial and Aviation Real Estate Leasing Lease of hangars, buildings, and land within the airport's multimodal industrial complex to aviation and industrial tenants. Targeted at companies needing air-adjacent industrial or hangar space.

Quantifiable outcome

• $410 million annual economic impact for the region
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northrop GrummancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthrop Grumman has built and maintained the Joint STARS military surveillance aircraft for the United States Air Force at Chennault since the turn of the century. The Chennault site has repeatedly ranked as the most productive plant in the Northrop Grumman family. This is a flagship tenant relationship supporting critical defense operations.
• Citadel AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitadel Aviation is an industry leader in VIP/VVIP luxury aircraft interior community, supporting private owners, government/heads of state, and corporate protocol operators. The company provides wide range of MRO services and has earned FAA Employer Diamond Award of Excellence for 4 consecutive years (2022-2025).
• LandLocked Aviation ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandLocked Aviation Services specializes in painting a variety of commercial, private and military aircraft out of its flagship location at Chennault International Airport. Anticipated tenant for new 37,449-square-foot paint hangar with projected creation of 100+ permanent jobs.
• Million Air Lake CharlescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMillion Air Lake Charles is Chennault's fixed base operator (FBO) providing full range of world-class aviation amenities for charter operations and business and general aviation. Its 64-acre ramp can serve unlimited assortment types of aircraft from helicopter operations to military deployments.
• Louisiana National GuardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Louisiana National Guard is the armed force through which the Louisiana Military Department executes the state's security policy. Conducts joint exercises at Chennault including operations with B-52s from Barksdale Air Force Base and F-15 training missions.
• Louisiana Department of Wildlife and FisheriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency responsible for managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources, operating facilities at Chennault.
• NextGen AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNextGen Aviation provides avionics services with Part 145 certification at Chennault, offering installations, diagnostics, system troubleshooting, and general maintenance support. Operates three certificated Part 145 repair stations including at Stennis International Airport.
• McNeese State UniversitycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorkforce training partnership providing access to university resources for aviation workforce development. McNeese State University houses a Chennault collection of historical materials related to the Air Force Base.
• Sowela Technical Community CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorkforce training partnership providing technical education and aviation workforce development. Cross-promotion agreement where Chennault promotes 'work here' and 'learn there' and vice versa. Students graduating from Sowela have been hired by LandLocked Aviation Services at Chennault.
• Louisiana Economic Development (LED)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerState economic development agency providing LED-certified sites, business incentives, and support for airport development. LED has committed to support Chennault's 10% matching funds for FEMA disaster recovery funds.
• Bechtel / Louisiana LNGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy sector company expanding footprint at Chennault by 26.9+ acres for LNG operations, demonstrating diversification of airport tenant base beyond traditional aviation.
• Rostan Solutions, LLCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm selected through competitive RFQ process for FEMA and GOHSEP Program Management to support disaster recovery project administration and reimbursement processes.
• DVW Aviation AdvisorcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAir cargo consultant engaged to provide commercial air cargo business development services including site visits with potential customers and industry networking. Compensation includes hourly rate of $225 and success-based fees.
• O'Carroll GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMarketing and public relations consultant providing ongoing social media management, media relations, and communications support for the airport.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7Jahvqm2GzXIL3mqKTLmLg
• Facebookfacebook.com/chennaultair
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chennault-international-airport-authority
• Xx.com/chennaultcwf

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chennault International Airport