# Dane County Regional Airport

Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA) (IATA: MSN, ICAO: KMSN, FAA LID: MSN), also known as Truax Field, is a civil-military airport located 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) northeast of downtown Madison, Wisconsin. In the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2025–2029, it is one of two airports in Wisconsin that is categorized as a small-hub primary commercial service facility; the other is Appleton International Airport. It is the second busiest of eight commercial airports in Wisconsin in terms of passengers served, after Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.

## History

In 1927, the City of Madison purchased 290 acres of land for $35,380. Previously a cabbage patch for a nearby sauerkraut factory, the newly acquired land would later become the present-day home of the Dane County Regional Airport. In January 1936, the city council voted to accept a Works Progress Administration grant for the construction of four runways and an airplane hangar. Additional grants financed the terminal and administrative building as well as electric floodlights. The development price tag was $1 million – 10% paid by the city and the remainder by the federal government (MSN Airport, 2012). In September 1938, Barnstormer Howard Morey of Chicago; Edgar Quinn; and J.J. McMannamy organized the Madison Airways Corporation.
The airport was renamed Truax Field and activated as a U.S. Army Air Corps airfield in June 1942 during World War II. During the war, it was used by the Army Air Corps Eastern Technical Training Center, a major school operating at Truax AAF for training radio operators and mechanics, and the airport later expanded to training in radar operations, control tower operations, and other communications fields for the Army Airways Communication Service. A unit established in 1943 trained radio operators and mechanics on B-29 Superfortress communications equipment. The host unit on the airfield was the 334th (later 3508th) Army Air Corps Base Unit. On September 17, 1945, the airfield's mission was changed to that of a separation center and it was closed as an active AAF airfield on November 30, 1945.
Conveyed to local civil authorities, the Madison Municipal Airport became the home to the 1st Battalion 147th Aviation Regiment. The 1-147th operates the UH-60M Blackhawk Helicopter and has deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The airport is also home to the Wisconsin Air National Guard and its present-day 115th Fighter Wing (115 FW), an Air National Guard fighter wing operationally gained by the Air Combat Command (ACC). Today, the Air National Guard's Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II operates at the base. The 115th Fighter Wing is one of the 14 operational air defense units responsible for air defense of the eastern continental United States.
On December 15, 1966, a 31,000 square foot terminal building opened on the west side of the airfield at a cost of $2.36 million. The first scheduled jets were Northwest Orient 727s in 1965. In 1986, the airport tripled in size with a $12 million project that expanded the terminal from 32,000 square feet to 90,000 square feet, adding a second-level concourse with six boarding bridges.
In 2006, the airport completed a $68 million expansion that doubled the size of the terminal, built in a Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced prairie style designed by the Architectural Alliance based in Minneapolis. The new terminal accommodates 13 gates with jetways, WiFi, additional restaurant and retail vendors post-security, an art court, and both business and family lounges. The airport has also continued to expand its parking options, most recently in 2014.
On February 7, 2018, the airport announced a significant terminal modernization program, including replacement of existing jet bridges and design work beginning in 2018 as well as major construction including additional jet boarding bridges beginning in 2019. The county is also planning to add an 8 MW solar energy site on airport-owned land.
In 2021, the airport began construction on an $85 million expansion of the terminal dubbed the South Terminal expansion. This project adds three additional gates that can accommodate larger aircraft. The new terminal contains two stories with 45,000 square feet of public space. The first floor consists of 45,000 square feet of maintenance workshops and infrastructure. The concourse floor above includes the new gates, a restaurant, a play area for children, a nursing suite for mothers and a service animal relief area. The south terminal expansion was completed, and formally opened, in June 2023. As part of this expansion, three new gates were added to the airport. In addition to this expansion, development has begun on three additional gates.
Between October 4 and 19, 2024, the airport offered nonstop flights to Houston–Intercontinental Airport through United Airlines.
In February 2025, DCRA announced that it will be formally applying for international airport status.

## Facilities
### Runways

Dane County Regional Airport covers 3,500 acres (1,416 ha) with a field elevation of 887 feet (270 m) above mean sea level. It has three concrete runways: the primary runway 18/36 is 9,006 by 150 feet (2,745 x 46 m); 3/21 is 7,200 by 150 feet (2,195 x 46 m); 14/32 is 5,846 by 150 feet (1,782 x 46 m).
The fixed-base operator (FBO) is Wisconsin Aviation, which leased the assets of the former FBO, Four Lakes Aviation and Coldstream Aviation, in 1994.
In August 2024, there were 163 aircraft based at this airport: 92 single-engine, 7 multi-engine, 28 jet, 1 helicopter and 35 various military aircraft.

### Terminal

The terminal currently has 16 gates on one concourse.
Pre-security amenities include a Coffee Shop and Gift Shop. The post-security side of the terminal includes two restaurants, a coffee shop, and three travel markets. The South Terminal expansion when complete will add an additional restaurant, a lactation room and a new post-security pet relief area.

### Ground transportation

Taxi service and Transportation Network Company drivers (e.g. Uber and Lyft) are available outside the terminal. Rental car counters are located across from the baggage claim area. Many local hotels provide courtesy shuttle service to and from the airport.
Metro Transit serves the airport via Route D2 which offers direct service every 30 minutes to Downtown Madison including, the Capitol Square, State Street, the UW Campus and other points west.
Both short and long-term parking are available in a large parking structure and in several adjacent lots.

## Airlines and destinations
### Passenger

| Airlines | Destinations |
| American Airlines | Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix–Sky Harbor |
| American Eagle | Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Philadelphia, Washington–National Seasonal: Miami |
| Breeze Airways | Tampa Seasonal: Los Angeles, Orlando |
| Delta Air Lines | Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul |
| Delta Connection | Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–LaGuardia, Washington–National Seasonal: Atlanta |
| Frontier Airlines | Denver, Orlando |
| Sun Country Airlines | Seasonal: Fort Myers, Phoenix–Sky Harbor |
| United Airlines | Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Newark |
| United Express | Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Newark |

### Cargo

| Airlines | Destinations |
| Air Cargo Carriers | Louisville, Milwaukee, Traverse City |
| FedEx Express | Appleton, Bloomington/Normal, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Des Moines, Fargo, Indianapolis, Memphis, Sioux Falls |
| FedEx Feeder | Houghton, Mosinee, Rhinelander |
| Freight Runners Express | Bemidji, Milwaukee, Rhinelander, Wisconsin Dells |

## Statistics
### Airline market share

Largest airlines at MSN (January 2024 – December 2024) :
| Rank | Airline | Passengers | Share |
| 1 | American | 503,000 | 22.04% |
| 2 | United | 393,000 | 17.20% |
| 3 | Delta | 385,000 | 16.87% |
| 4 | SkyWest | 272,000 | 11.92% |
| 5 | Republic | 141,000 | 6.19% |
| — | Other | 588,000 | 25.77% |

### Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from MSN (January 2024 – December 2024) :
| Rank | Airport | Passengers | Carriers |
| 1 | Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois | 207,040 | American, United |
| 2 | Denver, Colorado | 152,370 | Frontier, United |
| 3 | Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas | 122,300 | American |
| 4 | Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota | 114,040 | Delta |
| 5 | Charlotte, North Carolina | 101,440 | American |
| 6 | Detroit, Michigan | 99,800 | Delta |
| 7 | Atlanta, Georgia | 98,200 | Delta |
| 8 | Phoenix, Arizona | 57,610 | American, Sun Country |
| 9 | Washington–National, D.C. | 50,060 | American, Delta |
| 10 | New York–LaGuardia, New York | 34,150 | Delta |

## Accidents and incidents

* On November 23, 1978, a hijacker crashed through a vehicle gate and drove to a North Central Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and boarded the aircraft. There was 23 passengers and crew on board. After claiming to have a bomb in a trash bag, the passengers deplaned and the crew escaped. The hijacker then locked himself in the cockpit and threatened to burn the plane. Police then boarded, broke into the cockpit and the hijacker arrested. No explosives were found. Charges were dismissed because of mental incompetence.