News & Videos2023-09-30T15:46:13+00:00

News, Video and Photos

Public Notice for Airport Projects

May 17th, 2023|

Public Notice for Airport Projects The Chennault International Airport Authority as sponsor for the Chennault International Airport hereby announces its proposed Fiscal Year 2022-2024 Triennial DBE Goal for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) airport construction projects as indicated below: Fiscal Year 2022: N/A - No Federally Funded Project Fiscal Year 2023: 7.89% - Rehabilitate South Apron Pavement - Phase 3 Fiscal [...]

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Goal For ATCT Rainscreen Project

May 16th, 2023|

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Goal For ATCT Rainscreen Project The Chennault International Airport Authority hereby announces the DBE Goal for the ATCT Rainscreen project at the Chennault International Airport.  The proposed goal and goal setting methodology are available for inspection between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning May 17, 2023, through June 16, 2023, in the Chennault [...]

Chennault International Airport Establishes Foreign Clearance Capabilities

October 17th, 2022|

Chennault International Airport Establishes Foreign Clearance Capabilities Partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilitates international air cargo arrivals Chennault International Airport (CWF) in Lake Charles, Louisiana, has signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to enable regular clearance of select international aircraft. The agreement allows for the clearance into the United States of foreign crews [...]

Chennault International Airport announces its new air cargo facility is available for lease

September 6th, 2022|

Chennault International Airport Announces Its New Air Cargo Facility Is Available for Lease Chennault International Airport, an emerging aerospace hub along the central U.S. Gulf Coast, has completed a $4 million air cargo facility that is now available for lease. Air cargo facility development, incentives, and specialized ground equipment purchases – in addition to land acquisition and remediation, and taxiway [...]

Chennault hosts Chamber SWLA’s Business After Hours at Million Air

May 24th, 2022|

Business After Hours at Million Air Draws Capacity Crowd The Chennault International Airport team welcomed a packed house at Million Air, Chennault’s fixed-base operator, as host of the Chamber Southwest Louisiana's (SWLA) “Business After Hours” gathering for area business professionals. The event showcased Chennault’s major role in the Southwest Louisiana economy — as a source of [...]

Chennault is ‘emerging national aerospace hub’

February 24th, 2022|

Chennault Is ‘Emerging National Aerospace Hub' Thrive magazine Chennault International Airport is an emerging national aerospace hub that has kept military, corporate and personal aircraft in tip-top condition for more than three decades. Much of the industry is already familiar with Chennault and the Lake Charles region, given its first-class tenant partners — including Northrop Grumman, [...]

Big plans with a big runway: Historic airport seeks to transform itself

November 29th, 2021|

Big Plans with a Big Runway: Historic Airport Seeks to Transform Itself An Airbus 320 being serviced at the airport is pictured Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles, La. STAFF PHOTO BY LESLIE WESTBROOK LAKE CHARLES - It’s been a Cold War air base, a deserted strip used for drag races and driving [...]

Chennault Breaks Ground on $4 Million Air Cargo Facility

June 30th, 2021|

Chennault International Airport broke ground today on a $4 million facility to enter the air cargo sector. Stakeholders with golden shovels turned the first ceremonial dirt on Thursday to build an air cargo warehouse. The new facility will be the centerpiece of Chennault’s latest effort to provide economic diversity and ultimately create new jobs at the airport, which is recognized [...]

Chennault’s Progress Profiled by KPLC-TV

March 31st, 2021|

Chennault International Airport’s Progress Profiled by KPLC-TV More articles on Chennault International Airport by KPLC-TV https://www.kplctv.com/2021/11/02/chennault-international-airport-continues-moving-forward-with-plans-economic-development/ https://www.kplctv.com/2022/06/20/chennault-builds-hurricane-proof-emergency-operations-center/

Historical Fact Sheet

March 12th, 2021|

Historical Fact Sheet About Chennault International Airport Modern-day Chennault International Airport is home to an active airfield and business community in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Originally constructed as a WWII-era air base, the facility now functions as a non-commercial airport—supporting general aviation, military operations, disaster relief, education, aircraft maintenance and repair, and other aviation and non-aviation businesses. Its runway—at 2 miles [...]

CHEN Fact Sheet

March 12th, 2021|

CHEN Fact Sheet Chennault International Airport is a leading hub of aerospace activity strategically located in the south central U.S. in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The airport serves general aviation civilian and military aircraft with an FAA contract tower and a first-class FBO—Million Air—providing fuel and terminal service. Chennault Park is home to such corporate tenants as Northrop Grumman, Citadel Completions, [...]

Chennault welcomes special aircraft for refurbishment

January 29th, 2021|

Chennault welcomes special aircraft for refurbishment LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - Spirits are flying high at Chennault International Airport, as the U.S. Government P-3 Orion Aircraft landed as it prepares for maintenance and repair. Chennault International Airport has been a staple for Lake Charles since World War II, securing jobs and investments for the region since its rejuvenation in 1986. [...]

Chennault to be home to new National Guard readiness site

December 26th, 2020|

Chennault to be home to new National Guard readiness site Chennault International Airport officials announced this week that the airport will serve as host of a new training center for the Louisiana National Guard set to be completed in 2023. Above, an artist’s rendering of the proposed training center. Chennault International Airport will be the future home to National Guard [...]

October 2020-Public Emergency Notice

October 26th, 2020|

October 2020-Public Emergency Notice NOTICE A    RESOLUTION      DECLARING    AN    EXTREME PUBLIC EMERGENCY AS CHENNAULT INTERNATIONAL HAS RECEIVED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE FACILITY WHICH ENTAILS HANGARS, BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT, PERIMETER SECURITY AND FENCING, AND UNFORESEEN PURCHASES ON AUGUST 27, 2020 AND OCTOBER 9, 2020, AS A DIRECT RESULT OF HURRICANE LAURA AND HURRICANE DELTA [...]

Sunrise Interview: Kevin Melton with Chennault International Airport – Sept. 15, 2020

September 15th, 2020|

Sunrise Interview: Kevin Melton with Chennault International Airport - Sept. 15, 2020 LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - We spoke with Executive Director Kevin Melton with Chennault International Airport this morning about the over $50 million in damages there and how several businesses at the airport are already up and running. Melton says that unfortunately the Fournet plane in front of [...]

The Chennault International Airport Authority has declared an extreme Public Emergency

August 29th, 2020|

The Chennault International Airport Authority has declared an extreme Public Emergency NOTICE The Chennault International Airport Authority has declared an extreme Public Emergency regarding the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Laura. Hurricane Laura was an unforeseen mischance bringing with it destruction of public property and the imminent threat of further damage to Chennault publicly-owned facilities; and The current damage and [...]

Louisiana: Building A More Resilient State

August 17th, 2020|

Louisiana: Building A More Resilient State When COVID-19 rewrote business plans worldwide in 2020, Louisiana leaders viewed the pandemic through a paramount lens: How can we build a more resilient state? In April, Louisiana formed an 18-member Resilient Louisiana Commission with 15 associated task forces with two important missions: charting a path toward safely reopening the economy and making Louisiana [...]

Forbes profiles Air Force hurricane exercise hosted at Chennault

August 3rd, 2020|

Forbes profiles Air Force hurricane exercise hosted at Chennault Aug. 3,  2020 Forbes magazine was on-site at Chennault to cover the just-concluded Swamp Devil exercise by the 621st Contingency Response Wing. The story offers up-close detail about the training for emergency response after a disaster. The article by Jim Clash is titled “USAF Exercise Swamp Devil Tests Hurricane Prep During [...]

Northrop Grumman $36M contract for B-52 work in Louisiana

July 16th, 2020|

Northrop Grumman $36M contract for B-52 work in Louisiana LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. has a contract for up to nearly $36 million worth of work on B-52 parts at its repair plant in southwest Louisiana. The Air Force contract is among those signed Wednesday by the Pentagon and described in a daily list. Northrop Grumman was hired [...]

Chennault Park Primed and Ready for Growth

April 5th, 2020|

Chennault Park Primed and Ready for Growth An aerial view of Chennault Park. Current tenants include Northrop Grumman, Landlocked Aviation Services, Citadel Completions, Louisiana Millwork (Masonite), Million Air, Bechtel, Habitat for Humanity and Tadlock LLC.   An aircraft is prepped for painting.   A plane on the Chennault runway. While Chennault’s main focus is the safety and compliance of air [...]

Citadel Completions to expand at Chennault International Airport

February 2nd, 2020|

Citadel Completions to expand at Chennault International Airport LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - Citadel Completions, a luxury aircraft interior company, said they’ll be expanding their footprint by 35 acres within the business community known as Chennault Park. “They’re growing. They gotta have more room, their business is - the number of their clients is increasing," Kevin Melton, executive director at Chennault International [...]

Chennault on the Grow

January 30th, 2020|

Chennault on the Grow Air Cargo, Blue Angels and More On any given day, aircraft of all shapes and sizes land at Chennault International Airport in northeast Lake Charles. Many stop for rest and fuel, while others come for repairs and modifications in one of the facility’s towering hangars. Originally constructed in WWII as a military air base, Chennault is [...]

CWF Mallard Cove Draft EA Public Notice & Meeting Advertisements

December 16th, 2019|

CWF Mallard Cove Draft EA Public Notice & Meeting Advertisements NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) – MALLARD COVE GOLF COURSE LAND ACQUISITION CHENNAULT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT The Chennault International Airport Authority, per the direction of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the project described [...]

Chennault hosting Air Force and C-130s for joint training exercises this week

October 24th, 2019|

Chennault hosting Air Force and C-130s for joint training exercises this week LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - If you have seen new aircraft in the skies above Southwest Louisiana, it’s because the United States Air Force has landed in Lake Charles at Chennault. The airport says they are hosting the aircrews and 2 C-130 aircrafts this week as a part [...]

Staying at Top of Game

July 28th, 2019|

Staying at Top of Game Chennault International Airport hosted a two-day, intensive safety training course this week for airport personnel across the state, including New Orleans, Alexandria and Shreveport. The Basic Airport Safety and Operations Specialist school trains airport personnel on how to enhance and improve the quality of service in Louisiana’s aerospace community. More than 35 aviation personnel members [...]

Inaugural balloon festival brings “glow” to Lake Charles sky

July 21st, 2019|

Inaugural balloon festival brings "glow" to Lake Charles sky Jude Yousser said she can jump just as high as the hot air balloons that gave tethered rides this weekend at the inaugural Southwest Louisiana Balloon Festival at Chennault International Airport. The 5-year-old — who’s quick to point out she’ll be 6 in September — jumped as high as she could [...]

Aviation Industry is Taking Off

July 16th, 2019|

Aviation Industry Is Taking Off The economy of the Southwest Louisiana Region is very diverse. Petrochemical and LNG industries are getting the most talk because of the billions in projects underway. The backbone of our region remains agriculture and forestry. Healthcare is growing and, in fact, currently employs more people than any other sector. Hospitality and gaming bring millions of people to [...]

Severe weather in Oklahoma forces Air Force pilots, jets to seek shelter at Chennault

May 21st, 2019|

Severe weather in Oklahoma forces Air Force pilots, jets to seek shelter at Chennault LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - Chennault International Airport housed around two dozen U.S. Air Force jets and their pilots this week. The T-38 Talon twinjet supersonic jet trainers were from Oklahoma, which has been facing severe weather this week. The Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma [...]

US ‘energy superpower’

May 15th, 2019|

US ‘energy superpower’ President Donald Trump visited Sempra Energy's $10 billion Cameron LNG export facility in Hackberry on Tuesday, touting the United States as being an "energy superpower" under his administration, while also promising a new Interstate 10-Calcasieu River bridge, if re-elected. "Now we have an America-first energy policy just like we have an America-first policy," Trump said. "It's music [...]

Chennault International Airshow Helps Fund STEM Programs in SWLA Schools

April 15th, 2019|

Chennault International Airshow Helps Fund STEM Programs in SWLA Schools We all know about the excitement and power of the Airshow, but you may not know about its educational side. The money the airshow makes goes to support STEM education--a national movement to get schoolkids interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Click here to view the video on KPLCTV.com

Growing Momentum

March 28th, 2019|

view the Lagniappe article as a .pdf New Tenant, New Land And A Newly Renovated Runway By Emily Fontenot East of Lake Charles, just off the Interstate 210 loop, lies one of the more impressive sights in Southwest Louisiana: the towering hangars at Chennault International Airport, home to some of the world’s leading companies in aerospace and commercial services, such [...]

CHENNAULT PARK: Where business can take off

March 26th, 2019|

CHENNAULT PARK: Where business can take off Chennault Park the new name for the world-class business community at Chennault International Airport. It’s where major names in aerospace and other industries—such as Northrop Grumman, Citadel Completions, Bechtel and Masonite’s Louisiana Millwork—do business. There’s plenty of room and opportunity at Chennault Park. It’s where your business can grow and reach the world. [...]

Flight Lines – March 2019

March 1st, 2019|

view the Flight Lines newsletter Becoming a Hub of Aerospace, Commerce Chennault International Airport had a busy 2018. We secured a major new tenant, acquired Mallard Cove Golf Course, and reopened our newly renovated runway, to name a few milestones. This year is proving to be equally as challenging and exciting. We're gearing up now for some big events [...]

Up, Up and Away: First Hot Air Balloon Festival coming to SWLA

February 22nd, 2019|

Up, Up and Away: First Hot Air Balloon Festival coming to SWLA BY JACK VANCHIERE NEWS@AMERICANPRESS.COM The first Southwest Louisiana Hot Air Balloon Festival is set for this spring. This two-day event will be held at the Chennault International Airport.   The first Southwest Louisiana Hot Air Balloon Festival is set for 3-11 p.m. July 19-20 at Chennault International [...]

Southwest Louisiana Hot Air Balloon Festival details released

February 21st, 2019|

Southwest Louisiana Hot Air Balloon Festival details released LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) - Pat Harwell knows hot air balloons. In fact, he holds a world record for flying a balloon the farthest distance without a basket. The north Louisiana native will be overseeing balloon operations at the Southwest Louisiana Hot Air Balloon Festival in July. He says he is eager [...]

Executive Director Wants to Take Chennault to Next Level

February 17th, 2019|

Executive Director Wants to Take Chennault to Next Level Chennault International Airport Authority’s purpose is economic development and creating jobs. “One of the biggest things we hang our hat on is our runway,” said Kevin Melton, the facility’s executive director. “It’s very significant from an airport perspective because we have the longest runway between Houston and Cape Canaveral, Fla.” Melton [...]

Chennault’s two-mile-long runway has been active lately

December 13th, 2018|

Chennault’s two-mile-long runway has been active lately Chennault International Airport’s most prominent feature is its massive 10,700-foot runway—capable of handling with world’s largest aircraft. Every day, the airfield sees an average of 65 takeoffs and landings—small Cessnas, large charter aircraft, military jets, business flights and airliners arriving for maintenance.   Officially open: Governor John Bel Edwards cut the ribbon marking [...]

Gov. Edwards Dedicates Chennault International Airport Expansion

September 25th, 2018|

September 25, 2018 Gov. Edwards Dedicates Chennault International Airport Expansion More than $18 million in runway, lighting, taxiway improvements herald new era for Lake Charles industrial airport BATON ROUGE – Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards joined airport and community officials in dedicating more than $18 million in runway, taxiway and lighting improvements at Chennault International Airport, a premier industrial airport [...]

Mitch O’Neal Named Chennault’s Director of Operations

September 21st, 2018|

September 21, 2018 LAKE CHARLES, La. — Mitchel D. “Mitch” O’Neal has been named director of operations at Chennault International Airport. O’Neal is a nine-year member of the Chennault team, having served as an AAAE- certified operations specialist and air field superintendent. He previously was the foreign object debris and tool control manager for Northrop Grumman, helping to achieve zero-defect [...]

Kevin Melton aims to expand and grow Chennault International Airport

September 2nd, 2018|

Kevin Melton aims to expand and grow Chennault International Airport Kevin Melton took over the helm as executive director of Chennault International Airport Authority in April. Melton said Chennault has the longest runway of all airports located between Houston and Cape Canaveral, Fla. Kevin Melton is on a mission with one goal in mind: growth. Melton, a retired Air Force [...]

Chennault Main Runway Reopens After Major Repairs

August 27th, 2018|

Chennault Main Runway Reopens After Major Repairs August 16, 2018 LAKE CHARLES, La. — Chennault International Airport reopened its 2-mile-long main runway today after four months of major repairs and upgrades. Chennault staff walked the length of the runway side-by-side this morning checking for unwanted debris as a final safety measure before welcoming planes on what is the longest runway [...]

Tad Martin appointed to CIAA board

August 14th, 2018|

Tad Martin appointed to CIAA board August 14, 2018 Kenneth B. “Tad” Martin was appointed to the Board of Commissioners of Chennault International Airport Authority, the governing body for Chennault International Airport. “I believe that Chennault International Airport is a driving force for the continued diversified economic growth of Southwest Louisiana,” Martin said, “and I am excited for the opportunity [...]

Brothers’ Napkin Notes Grow Into Successful Aircraft Refinishing Company

July 19th, 2018|

Brothers’ Napkin Notes Grow Into Successful Aircraft Refinishing Company Landlocked Aviation Services has been making timeworn airliners look like new again for nearly a year now in its giant paint hangars at Chennault International Airport. The young company’s rise to one of six major aircraft painting companies in the nation began as only the best do: a cup of a [...]

Andrea LaFleur Promoted to Chennault Director of Executive and Airport Affairs

July 9th, 2018|

Andrea LaFleur Promoted to Chennault Director of Executive and Airport Affairs July 9, 2018 LAKE CHARLES — Andrea LaFleur has been promoted to Director of Executive and Airport Affairs at Chennault International Airport Authority. LaFleur has worked under five administrations at Chennault after starting at the airport 24 years ago as a receptionist.  From there she rose through the ranks to [...]

Chennault Dedicates Boardroom to former Mayor Ed Watson

June 13th, 2018|

Chennault Dedicates Boardroom to former Mayor Ed Watson June 13, 2018 Chennault International Airport recently dedicated its boardroom to the former Lake Charles Mayor Ed Watson, a man whose advocacy was instrumental to the creation of modern-day Chennault. During his four years in office from 1985-1989, Watson successfully campaigned for the former Air Force base to reopen as an industrial [...]

Kevin Melton Selected As Chennault Executive Director

April 4th, 2018|

Kevin Melton Selected As Chennault Executive Director Wednesday, April 4, 2018 LAKE CHARLES, LA. — The board of commissioners of Chennault International Airport Authority announced the selection of W. Kevin Melton as Chennault’s executive director, effective late April. Melton joins Chennault from American Airlines, where he was a project manager facilitating and directing airport terminal and hangar construction projects for [...]

Sowela Receives Donated Plane

October 10th, 2017|

Sowela Plane Revealed Tuesday, October 10, 2017 LAKE CHARLES, LA.—Sowela Technical Community College’s Boeing 727-200 training aircraft has taken on a whole new look through a generous donation of labor and materials from Landlocked Aviation Services. The aircraft, which was donated to Sowela by FedEx, is utilized for instructional purposes in Sowela’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program. The aircraft has been [...]

John McMullen Joins Chennault Airport as Director of Maintenance

March 9th, 2017|

John McMullen Joins Chennault Airport as Director of Maintenance Thursday, March 9, 2017 LAKE CHARLES, LA.—John McMullen has joined Chennault International Airport as Director of Maintenance. A native of Sulphur, McMullen is a McNeese State University alumnus, and he has been a state licensed commercial and residential contractor for 27 years. In 2015, he retired from Phillips 66 after 33 [...]

Denise Rau Elected To Chennault Airport Board

August 29th, 2016|

Denise Rau Elected To Chennault Airport Board Tuesday, August 29, 2016 Lake Charles, LA.— Denise Emerson Rau was elected to its board of commissioners of Chennault International Airport Authority on Aug. 17. Rau is a Certified Financial Planner with Rau Financial Group. She has worked in the banking and financial planning industries since 1984. Rau is an alumna of Tulane [...]

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