page_title: Meridian Regional Airport
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Meridian Regional Airport / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Main Hangar at Meridian Regional Airport
context_page_description: Meridian Regional Airport is a public use airport located at Key Field, a joint use public/military airfield. It is located 3 nautical miles southwest of Meridian, a city in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, United States. The airport is owned by the Meridian Airport Authority. At 10,003 feet, Key Field is home to the longest public use runway in Mississippi. It is mostly used for general aviation and military traffic, but is also served by one commercial airline with scheduled passenger service subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.
  As per the Federal Aviation Administration, this airport had 19,599 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008, 18,560 in 2009, and 16,871 in 2010. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a primary commercial service facility.
context_section_description: Meridian Regional Airport was established in 1928 and opened in November 1930 with the completion of the terminal, hangar, powerhouse and a graded and packed dirt runway. Meridian city officials asked Al and Fred Key, who operated the Key Brothers' Flying School at Bonita, to co-manage the new facility. The brothers maintained their flying school at the new field as well as their other duties, such as selling commercial airline tickets, operating the terminal and hangar, and handling airmail delivery schedules.
  With the onset of the Great Depression, the City of Meridian considered abandoning the airport because of the cost of maintenance. Airmail deliveries tapered off, and few people could afford to take commercial flights or pay for flying lessons. The Key Brothers, however, devised a scheme to keep the airport operating. They hoped that by breaking the standing flight endurance record of 23 days they would focus worldwide attention on Meridian and its airport.
  From June 4 until July 1, 1935, the brothers flew over Meridian; a total flight time of over 27 days. Key Field is named in their honor. The hangar and offices used by the Key brothers preceding and following the flight are still in use today and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
  During World War II, the facility operated under the control of the United States Army Air Corps.
caption: Main Hangar at Key Field
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