Duluth International (KDLH), Minnesota
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Duluth International Airport (KDLH) is a towered, ops-tier-1 field in northeastern Minnesota that combines a long civilian runway with an active Air National Guard presence. The airport recorded 17,225 total annual operations in 2025 according to FAA TFMSC data, with 7,499 of those attributed to business aviation traffic. Its 10,591-foot concrete runway and on-site customs service support a mix of civil, cargo, and military users, including high-speed jet traffic operating above the field.
Runways
Duluth International has two paved runways. The longest, 09/27, is 10,591 ft long and 150 ft wide, with a concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Duluth International has Jet A, 100LL and J8 available on the field. Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Duluth International has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals. A USDA compliance agreement is in place.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Duluth International recorded 7,499 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in June, July and August. Business aviation traffic at KDLH is concentrated in the summer months, peaking in August with 812 operations compared to roughly 480-570 per month over the winter.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month August, 812 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Duluth International averages 0.8 days above 90°F in July, 30.8 freeze days in January and 5.1 snow days in December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 77.7°F, and January the coldest, at 19.9°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Duluth International has published operating constraints in six categories: access, runway notes, emergency arresting systems, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
Caution: windshear and downdrafts reported on final approach.
High-speed military jet traffic not equipped with ADS-B operates in and above Class D airspace between 3,000 feet and 11,500 feet MSL. Contact Duluth approach control for traffic advisories; transit coordination is recommended.
Prior permission required for all aircraft. Operating hours are 1200-2130Z, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays and flex days. Limited operating hours and transient services are available. Contact airfield management, the operations desk, or command post for arrangements. Fighter aircraft and C-12/C-21 cargo aircraft may enter the Air National Guard ramp via Taxiway E or H. All other non-fighter aircraft must use Taxiway F to enter the Air National Guard ramp. Per the Giant Report, Taxiway F is currently restricted to C-17 and C-130 aircraft only. All other cargo AMC aircraft must park at the midfield ramp. All transient aircraft must contact command post 15 minutes prior to landing. Transient aircraft must contact command post before engine startup and before taxi. No services are available when wind chill exceeds or is forecast to exceed -30°F. For runway condition reading, airfield status, and crash rescue capability information, contact command post or the tower. Nonstandard markings are used for alert and maintenance vehicle and aircraft ground equipment parking spots.
When Runway 03/21 is in use, the portion of Taxiway C north of Runway 09/27 may be restricted by ATC to aircraft with wingspans less than 49 feet.
Type H BAK-12B(B) arresting device, 1,470 feet.
Type H BAK-12B(B) arresting device, 2,544 feet.
Birds are present on and in the vicinity of the airport.
Caution: bird hazard (Phase II conditions) exists from September 1 through October 31. Contact the supervisor of flying, airfield manager, or command post for current information.
PCR VALUE: 400/F/B/X/T
PCR VALUE: 570/R/B/W/T
Fuel is available at both military and civil fueling facilities.
JASU equipment on hand: nine AM32A-60, two A/M32A-86, two MC-11, and six MC-2A units (military).
Spot deicing available at LHOX and LHNIT.
Oil grade O-148 available (military). JOAP program in place.
Flight notification service (ADCUS) is available.
Fuel available: Jet A and JP-8 through the civilian FBO, and 100LL and Jet A through another on-field source. A higher-grade military fuel is available through the Air National Guard.
Aircraft deicing Type 1 and Type 4 fluid is available; contact the FBO for arrangements.
US Customs international airport of entry service is available around the clock with no fees. Customs clearing is located at the FBO.
For military transient aircraft parking, refueling, and servicing off the Air National Guard ramp, contact the FBO, available around the clock.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Duluth International has five airfields within 38 NM. The closest is Richard I Bong (KSUW), 10.01 NM southeast.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KDLH
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at KDLH.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
Is customs available at KDLH, and what does it cover?
Duluth International Airport (KDLH) has CBP inspection services on site, along with a USDA compliance agreement. This means international arrivals can clear customs directly at the field rather than diverting to another airport of entry. The customs facility operates around the clock, and clearing takes place through the FBO location on the field. ADCUS flight notification service is also available for arranging inspection ahead of landing. Operators should still coordinate timing directly given the joint civil-military nature of the airport.
What runways does Duluth International offer, and what are their dimensions?
Duluth International operates two paved runways. Runway 09/27 is the primary strip, measuring 10,591 feet long and 150 feet wide with a concrete surface. Runway 03/21 is shorter, at 5,719 feet long and also 150 feet wide, with an asphalt surface. The long concrete runway supports the airport's mixed military and civil jet traffic, including the high-performance aircraft based at the field. Both runways are paved, giving operators flexibility depending on wind conditions.
What fuel types are available at KDLH?
Duluth International (KDLH) stocks 100LL, Jet A, and JP-8 fuel. Jet A and 100LL are available through the civilian FBO, while JP-8 supports military operations tied to the Air National Guard presence on the field. A higher-grade military fuel is also referenced for Guard aircraft. Aircraft deicing fluid, both Type 1 and Type 4, is available through the FBO as well. Operators arriving with mixed civil and military itineraries should confirm fuel access with the appropriate facility given the airport's dual-use layout.
Is there a bird hazard to be aware of at Duluth International?
Yes, Duluth International carries a standing bird hazard advisory for aircraft on and in the vicinity of the airport. A more specific Phase II bird hazard condition applies during the period from September 1 through October 31 each year. During that window, crews are advised to contact the supervisor of flying, airfield manager, or command post for current information. This is a recurring seasonal advisory tied to migratory bird activity rather than a year-round condition. Flight planning during the fall window should account for this elevated hazard status.
Does traffic at KDLH vary by season?
Yes, business aviation traffic at Duluth International (KDLH) is notably concentrated in the summer months. Monthly operations climb from the low 500s in winter and spring to a peak near 812 operations in August, with June, July, and August all exceeding 790 operations. Traffic tapers into the fall and returns to lower winter levels by December and January. This pattern reflects the general seasonal swing common to airports in this part of the upper Midwest. Dispatchers scheduling summer trips into KDLH should anticipate a busier operating environment than in the colder months.