Tupelo Regional Airport

What Tupelo Regional Airport does

Tupelo Regional Airport is a publicly-owned regional airport operated by the Tupelo Airport Authority, a Mississippi government entity, providing commercial passenger air service and general aviation infrastructure to Northeast Mississippi and parts of Alabama and Tennessee. The airport operates from a single airfield in Tupelo featuring a 7,150-foot runway equipped with an Instrument Landing System (ILS), an on-site Air Traffic Control Tower, HID-based security access control, and a new T-hangar facility accommodating 14 aircraft with space planned for 10 additional nested units. Its commercial service runs scheduled direct flights to Nashville and Dallas via Contour Airlines as the sole scheduled carrier, supplemented by general aviation services operated through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tupelo Aviation Unlimited (FBO), which provides AvGas and JetA fuel sales, aircraft hangar rentals, Cessna C172 rental, and flight instruction alongside partner Shaffer Aviation.

The airport's product portfolio spans three core verticals: (1) commercial passenger service, (2) general aviation FBO services, and (3) a specialized ARFF Training Center that conducts Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting certification courses on an actual Boeing 767 fuselage in partnership with Universal Asset Management. Revenue is generated through a mix of transaction-based fees (parking at $5 per 24-hour period after the first free hour, badge issuance at $100, ARFF training at $350 per person, flight training at $160-$165 per hour, fuel sales) and recurring streams (T-hangar and conventional hangar leases, commercial tenant leases, and ground transportation operator agreements). Supporting services include badge/access control certification training, movement and non-movement area safety programs, See & Avoid military aircraft awareness, and on-site rental car partnerships with Budget and Hertz.

The entity has 89 years of operational history dating to 1934 land acquisition and is credited with supporting 202 jobs and contributing $14 million annually to the regional economy. Its operating model is characteristic of a publicly-owned utility: funded in part through FAA Airport Sponsor Assurances and federal airport development grants, governed by a board under the Tupelo Airport Authority, and pursuing expansion through measured infrastructure investment rather than rapid commercial scaling. Customer segments include business and leisure travelers (primary), general aviation pilots (primary), firefighting professionals seeking ARFF certification (secondary), and the regional community benefiting from airport-driven economic development.

Name

Tupelo Regional Airport

Legal name

Tupelo Airport Authority

Website

https://flytupelo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Airport Services

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Scheduled Air Transportation (48111)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581), Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Essential Air Service (EAS) & Subsidized Regional Operators (THABACAC), Aviation Ground Handling & Air Cargo Operations (EDAOANAM)

Keywords

• Regional airport operations
• Commercial aviation services
• Fixed-base operations
• General aviation facilities
• Aircraft rescue firefighting training

Headquarters

HQ city

Tupelo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Commercial Aviation Services: Airline operations providing direct flights to Nashville and Dallas, generating revenue through ticket sales to business and leisure travelers in the Northeast Mississippi region
2. Parking Services: Paid parking operations offering first hour free and $5 per 24-hour period thereafter, with long-term and overnight parking available
3. Aviation Fuel Sales: AvGas and JetA fuel sales to general aviation pilots through FBO services at Tupelo Aviation Unlimited
4. Aircraft Storage and Hangar Rental: T-hangar and conventional hangar rental for aircraft storage, with eight community hangars accommodating up to 25' tail height
5. Aircraft Rental and Flight Instruction: Cessna C172 rental at $160/hr IFR certified, and flight training services through Tupelo Aviation Unlimited and Shaffer Aviation
6. ARFF Training Programs: Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting training courses at $350 per person, including Advanced Extrication and Search and Rescue programs conducted at the training center on actual Boeing 767 fuselage
7. Badge and Identification Services: Security badge issuance and renewal for airport access at $100 for first badge/renewal, with replacement fees escalating from $200 for first lost badge to $300 for second
8. Commercial Tenant Leases: Commercial activity permits and tenant space leases for various airport businesses including rental car agencies, aviation service providers, and maintenance operations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tupelo Regional Airport operates as a publicly-owned regional airport providing scheduled commercial passenger flights to Nashville and Dallas, general aviation services through its wholly-owned Fixed-Base Operator (Tupelo Aviation Unlimited) including AvGas and JetA fuel sales, T-hangar and conventional hangar rentals, Cessna aircraft rental and flight training. It also delivers Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) training at its on-airfield training center using a Boeing 767 fuselage, badge and security access control certification, parking services, and ground transportation coordination.

Product overview

Tupelo Regional Airport operates as a regional air travel hub offering commercial passenger flights to Nashville and Dallas, alongside comprehensive general aviation services. The airport's product portfolio centers on three pillars: (1) Commercial Air Travel Services providing direct flights with modern jets; (2) ARFF Training Center delivering specialized fire fighting and rescue training; and (3) Fixed Base Operations through Tupelo Aviation Unlimited offering fuel, hangars, and aircraft services. Supporting services include badge/access control certification training, movement/non-movement area safety programs, See & Avoid military awareness, parking, ground transportation coordination, and flight training through partners. The airport infrastructure includes a 7,150-foot runway with ILS, air traffic control tower, T-hangars for 14+ aircraft, and nine additional hangar spaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Air Travel Services
• Tupelo Aviation Unlimited FBO Services
• ARFF Training Center
• Flight Training and Aircraft Rental
• Airport Parking Services
• Airport Badge and Security Access Control
• Ground Transportation Coordination
• Commercial Tenant Leases and Activity Permits

Quantifiable outcome

• 202 jobs supported in the regional economy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universal Asset ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversal Asset Management hosts the ARFF Training Center at 118 Lemons Dr on the airfield, providing facilities for Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting training including practical extrication exercises on Boeing 767 fuselage. A Memorandum of Understanding exists between Tupelo Airport Authority and Universal Asset Management for operational collaboration.
• Columbus Air Force BasecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColumbus Air Force Base MACA (Mid Air Collision Avoidance) program partnership providing safety information about military aircraft operations in the region. T-6, T-37, T-38, and T-1 aircraft operate in the area with heavy training volume. The See & Avoid program aims to promote safe shared airspace operations between military and civilian aviators.
• Contour AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContour Airlines provides scheduled commercial airline service with direct flights from Tupelo to Nashville and Dallas. The airline is the primary commercial carrier operating at Tupelo Regional Airport.
• Budget Car RentalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBudget Car Rental maintains on-site presence at Tupelo Regional Airport, providing vehicle rental services to arriving passengers at phone 662-840-371.
• Hertz Car RentalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHertz Car Rental operates on-site at Tupelo Regional Airport providing vehicle rental services at phone 662-680-9482.
• Community Development FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Community Development Foundation serves as the economic development engine for Tupelo/Lee County, responsible for recruitment of new businesses, retention and expansion of existing businesses. Works with the airport on economic development initiatives.
• Mississippi Development AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development authority providing tax exemptions, incentives and credits available for industries and businesses operating in Mississippi. Supports airport economic development through various programs.
• Boy Scouts of AmericaminorOthersBoy Scouts of America has a lease arrangement with the Tupelo Airport Authority as referenced in board meeting discussions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Direct peers

• Golden Triangle Regional Airport: Regional airport in Columbus/Starkville/West Point, Mississippi providing commercial service and general aviation. Another in-state Mississippi regional peer with similar scale, mission, and publicly-owned operating model.
• Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport: Regional public airport serving the Hattiesburg-Laurel corridor in southern Mississippi with commercial airline service and general aviation facilities. Directly comparable as another small Mississippi regional airport offering commercial flights and GA services similar to Tupelo.
• Meridian Regional Airport: A small commercial-service regional airport in Meridian, Mississippi, also publicly owned and operating regional airline service. Closely comparable in size, mission (regional commercial connectivity, FBO, GA services), and market context within Mississippi to Tupelo Regional Airport.

Others

• Columbus Air Force Base: Military installation in the same Mississippi region as Tupelo with which the airport has an active See & Avoid airspace partnership. Comparable as a neighbor aviation organization sharing airspace and operational coordination responsibilities with the airport.

Broad incumbents

• Million Air: Established FBO chain providing fueling, hangar, crew amenities and aircraft services across multiple U.S. locations. Comparable to Tupelo's FBO operations, though operating as a private competitor rather than an airport-authority-owned entity.
• Signature Flight Support: The largest Fixed Base Operator (FBO) network in the world, offering fueling, hangaring, ground handling and aircraft services. Comparable to Tupelo's wholly-owned FBO subsidiary Tupelo Aviation Unlimited in terms of FBO service model, though at vastly larger scale and as a competing private-sector operator.
• Atlantic Aviation: A major nationwide FBO chain providing fueling, hangar, and aircraft services across hundreds of locations. Directly comparable service offering to Tupelo Aviation Unlimited's FBO business, operating as a competing private FBO incumbent.

Regional players

• Hawkinsville-Pulaski County Airport / Small EAS Operators: Comparable small publicly-owned regional airports receiving Essential Air Service-style federal support to sustain scheduled commercial service to thin markets. Representative of the structural peer group for Tupelo Regional Airport's commercial service mission in underserved regional markets.
• Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport: Larger commercial-service public airport on the Mississippi Gulf Coast serving a broader catchment. Comparable as a fellow Mississippi publicly-owned airport operator, though larger and competing for some of the same regional traffic.

Emerging players

• Contour Airlines: Regional commuter airline providing scheduled passenger service to small communities including Tupelo. Comparable as the operator of the commercial flight service that Tupelo Regional Airport depends on, and a relevant peer for understanding the airport's air-service economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/flytupelo
• Facebookfacebook.com/TupeloAirport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tupelo-aviation-unlimited

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Tupelo Regional Airport