Business View Magazine | March 2020

194 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE MARCH 2020 KALAMAZOO/ BATTLE CREEK International Airport T he Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport is a non-hub, commercial and general aviation airport that serves the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas, among other communities in southwest Michigan. It is located approximately 50 miles south of Grand Rapids, 130 miles west of Detroit, and 100 miles northeast of Chicago. Plans to build an airport to serve the Kalamazoo area began in 1925 and concluded in 1926 when the City of Kalamazoo purchased 383 acres of land near Portage Road and Kilgore Road. In July 1928, regular airmail service started at the Airport, leading the facility to become the first licensed municipal airport in Michigan in February 1929. At this time, the Airport was named Lindbergh Field in honor of famous aviator, Charles Lindbergh. The first airline service was initiated at the Airport in May 1944, followed with service by many small airlines until 1955, when North Central Airlines began daily service from Kalamazoo to Detroit, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. FLY HOME, BE HOME THE