Editing Lihue Airport

{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox airport
| name                = Lihue Airport
| nativename          = ''Kahua Mokulele o Līhuʻe''
| image               = Lihue-Airport-aerial.jpg
| image-width         = 250
| caption             = Runway 03/21 and the passenger terminal in background; fire station in foreground
| IATA                = LIH
| ICAO                = PHLI
| FAA                 = LIH
| WMO                 = 91165
| type                = Public
| owner-oper          = [[Hawaii Department of Transportation]]
| city-served         = [[Kauai]]
| location            = [[Lihue, Hawaii]]
| elevation-f         = 153
| elevation-m         = 47
| coordinates         = {{Coord|21|58|34|N|159|20|20|W|region:US_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| website             = {{URL|hawaii.gov/lih}}
| image_map           = PHLI Airport Diagram.svg
| image_mapsize       = 200
| image_map_caption   = FAA airport diagram
| mapframe            = yes
| mapframe-zoom       = 9
| mapframe-wikidata   = yes
| r1-number           = 03/21
| r1-length-f         = 6,500
| r1-length-m         = 1,981
| r1-surface          = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| r2-number           = 17/35
| r2-length-f         = 6,500
| r2-length-m         = 1,981
| r2-surface          = Asphalt
| h1-number           = H1
| h1-length-f         = 64
| h1-length-m         = 20
| h1-surface          = Asphalt
| stat-year           = 2024
| stat1-header        = Total passengers
| stat1-data          = 3,671,963
| stat2-header        = Aircraft operations
| stat2-data          = 122,099
| stat3-header        = Based aircraft (2022)
| stat3-data          = 46
| footnotes           = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]],<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=LIH|use=PU|own=PU|site=52420.*A}}, effective February 20, 2025.</ref> Lihue Airport<ref name="Passenger Arrivals & Departures">{{cite web|url=http://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/|title=Lihue Airport|website=airports.hawaii.gov}}</ref>
}}

'''Lihue Airport''' {{airport codes|LIH|PHLI|LIH}} is a state-owned public-use airport located in the [[Lihue|Līhu{{okina}}e CDP]] on the southeast coast of the island of [[Kauai|Kaua{{okina}}i]] in [[Kauai County]], [[Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i]], [[United States]], two nautical miles east of the center of the CDP.<ref name=FAA /><ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US1545200&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Lihue CDP, Hawaii] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119153508/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US1545200&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |date=2011-11-19 }}." ''[[U.S. Census Bureau]]''. Retrieved on May 21, 2009.</ref>

The airport does not serve as a hub for any airline carrier. Numerous inter-island flights are available daily on [[Hawaiian Airlines]] and [[Southwest Airlines]], and major US and Canadian airlines operate flights on [[narrow-body aircraft]] to major cities in western mainland North America.

The airport is mostly un-walled and open-air, and the check-in is completely outside. The airport is the primary gateway to Kauai for visitors (especially tourists), and has several rental car facilities. Five motion pictures have filmed scenes at the Lihue Airport: ''[[Blue Hawaii]]'', ''[[Honeymoon in Vegas]]'', ''[[Six Days Seven Nights]]'', ''[[Soul Surfer (film)|Soul Surfer]]'', and ''[[The Descendants]]''.

It is included in the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) [[National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems]] for 2017–2021, in which it is [[FAA airport categories|categorized]] as a small-hub primary commercial service facility.<ref name="NPIAS Airports">{{cite web|title=List of NPIAS Airports|url=https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/NPIAS-Report-2017-2021-Appendix-A.pdf|website=FAA.gov|publisher=Federal Aviation Administration|accessdate=23 December 2016|format=PDF|date=21 October 2016}}</ref>

==Facilities and aircraft==
Lihue Airport covers an area of {{convert|915|acre|ha|abbr=off}} at an [[elevation]] of {{convert|153|ft|m}} above [[mean sea level]]. It has two [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] paved [[runway]]s designated 3/21 and 17/35, each measuring {{convert|6,500|by|150|ft|m}}. The airport also has one [[helipad]] measuring {{convert|64|by|64|ft|m}}.<ref name=FAA /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://skyvector.com/airport/LIH/Lihue-Airport|title=LIH airport at skyvector.com|access-date=September 2, 2022}}</ref>

For the 12-month period ending on August 5, 2022, the airport had 109,650 aircraft operations, an average of 300 per day: 61% [[air taxi]], 28% [[airline|scheduled commercial]], 10% [[general aviation]] and 1% [[military aviation|military]]. At that time there were 46 aircraft based at this airport: 19 single-[[aircraft engine|engine]], 5 multi-engine and 22 [[helicopter]].<ref name=FAA />

On a typical day, certain gates are used for certain airlines to arrive in and depart out of the Lihue Airport. Gates 9-10 are mostly used by United Airlines, flying [[Boeing 737-800]] and [[Boeing 737-900ER]] aircraft along with occasionally using the [[Boeing 757-200]]. Alaska Airlines occasionally uses Gate 9 as well. Gates 7-8 are mostly used by Delta Air Lines using the [[Airbus A321neo]], Alaska Airlines using [[Boeing 737]] aircraft, Southwest Airlines and WestJet. Hawaiian Airlines uses both [[Boeing 717]] and [[Airbus A321]] aircraft for gates 3-4, and 5-6 for their inter-island and US mainland flights, according to the airline staff. American Airlines mostly uses Gate 3 and occasionally Gate 4, using the [[Airbus A321]] to fly in and out of Lihue. All gate areas are air-conditioned.

Hawaiian Airlines operates one Premier Lounge at the airport, open to first class travelers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Airport Premier Clubs|url=http://www.hawaiianairlines.com/our-services/at-the-airport/hawaiian-airlines-lounges|access-date=2020-12-21|website=Hawaiian Airlines|language=en}}</ref>

<gallery class=center>
2025 Lihue Airport 01.jpg|right|Lihue Airport
2025 Lihue Airport 02.jpg|right|Lihue Airport Concourse
2025 Lihue Airport 03.jpg|right|Lihue Airport Holdroom
2021-10-07 07 46 46 Baggage claim within Lihue Airport in Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii.jpg|right|Lihue Airport Baggage Claim
</gallery>

==Airlines and destinations==
[[File:HA 717 at LIH, October 2014.jpg|thumb|A [[Hawaiian Airlines]] [[Boeing 717]] at the gate]]
[[File:Lihue Airport overview.jpg|thumb|Terminal]]
[[File:Lihue Airport, Kauai, Hawaii - IMG 2572.JPG|thumb|Inside the airport terminal]]
[[File:ATC tower at LIH, November 2005.jpg|thumb|[[Air traffic control|ATC tower]]]]

<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and airlines itself are not independent sources. -->
{{Airport destination list
| [[Alaska Airlines]] | [[San Diego International Airport|San Diego]], [[San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco]] (begins June 13, 2025),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241211-asjun25sfo|title=Alaska Airlines Expands San Francisco - Hawaii Network from June 2025|publisher=AeroRoutes|date=December 11, 2024|accessdate=December 11, 2024}}</ref> [[San Jose International Airport|San Jose (CA)]], [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]] <br />'''Seasonal:''' [[Portland International Airport|Portland (OR)]]{{cn|date=May 2025}}
| [[American Airlines]] | [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]]| [[Delta Air Lines]] | [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]]
| [[Hawaiian Airlines]] | [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport|Honolulu]], [[Kahului Airport|Kahului]], [[Kona International Airport|Kailua-Kona]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Oakland International Airport|Oakland]], [[Sacramento International Airport|Sacramento]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Hawaiian Airlines to add new nonstop flights to Lihue and Kona from Sacramento|url= https://www.kcra.com/article/hawaiian-airlines-new-nonstop-flights-lihue-kona-sacramento/45990510|access-date=November 29, 2023|website=KCRA}}</ref>
| {{nowrap|[[Southwest Airlines]]}} | [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport|Honolulu]], [[Kahului Airport|Kahului]], [[McCarran International Airport|Las Vegas]], [[Oakland International Airport|Oakland]] <br /> '''Seasonal:''' [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]]{{cn|date=May 2025}}
| [[United Airlines]] | [[Denver International Airport|Denver]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco]]
| [[WestJet]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Vancouver International Airport|Vancouver]]{{cn|date=May 2025}}
}}

==Statistics==

===Passenger numbers===
{{Airport-Statistics|iata=LIH}}

===Top domestic destinations===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" width= align=
|+ '''Busiest domestic routes from LIH<br />(September 2021 – October 2022)'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Air Carrier Statistics (Form 41 Traffic)- U.S. Carriers |url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=YVU&Nv42146_anzr=Yvu7r,%20UV:%20Yvu7r%20Nv42146&pn44vr4=SNPgf |website=BTS, Transportation Statistics |publisher=Bureau of Transportation Statistics |accessdate=31 May 2022}}</ref>
! Rank
! City
! Passengers
! Airlines<!--Airlines reflect service during time period not current service-->
|-
| 1
| [[Daniel K. Inouye International Airport|Honolulu, HI]]
| 615,810
| Hawaiian, Southwest
|-
| 2
| [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles, CA]]
| 272,470
| American, Delta, Hawaiian, Southwest, United
|-
| 3
| [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle, WA]]
| 143,870
| Alaska, Delta
|-
| 4
| [[Kahului Airport|Kahului, HI]]
| 115,430
| Hawaiian, Southwest
|-
| 5
| [[San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco, CA]]
| 93,710
| United
|-
| 6
| [[Oakland International Airport|Oakland, CA]]
| 92,850
| Hawaiian, Southwest
|-
| 7
| [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix, AZ]]
| 73,560
| American 
|-
| 8
| [[San Jose International Airport|San Jose, CA]]
| 56,700
| Alaska, Southwest
|-
| 9
| [[Denver International Airport|Denver, CO]]
| 51,300
| United
|-
| 10
| [[San Diego International Airport|San Diego, CA]]
| 49,770
| Alaska 
|}

===Airline market share===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%"
|+ '''Busiest airlines serving LIH (March 2021 – February 2022)'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lihue, HI: Lihue Airport (LIH) Scheduled Services except Freight/Mail |url=https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&Nv42146=YVU&Nv42146_anzr=Yvu7r,%20UV:%20Yvu7r%20Nv42146&pn44vr4=SNPgf |access-date=September 11, 2022 |website=Bureau of Transportation Statistics}}</ref>
|-
! Rank
! Airline
! Passengers
! Share
|-
| 1
| [[Hawaiian Airlines]]
| 1,054,000
| 43.01%
|-
| 2
| [[Southwest Airlines]]
| 418,000
| 17.06%
|-
| 3
| [[United Airlines]]
| 334,000
| 13.61%
|-
| 4
| [[Alaska Airlines]]
| 288,000
| 11.75%
|-
| 5
| [[American Airlines]]
| 206,000
| 8.39%
|-
| 6
| Other
| 151,000
| 6.18%
|}

==Public transport==
[[The Kauai Bus|The Kaua{{okina}}i Bus]] route 100/200 connects the airport to downtown [[Lihue]].

== Accidents and incidents ==
*On January 14, 2008, an [[Alpine Air Express]] [[Beechcraft 1900]]C-1 carrying 4,200 lbs. of mail crashed 11km S of Lihue Airport due to spatial disorientation and loss of situational awareness in darkness, along with monitoring cockpit instruments and an aircraft ahead. The sole occupant, the pilot, was killed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/321802|title=Accident description for N410UB at Aviation Safety Network|website=asn.flightsafety.org|accessdate= February 20, 2025}}</ref>
*On December 15, 2022, a Beechcraft Model 77 Skipper belonging to the [[Civil Air Patrol]] crashed into a chain link fence shortly after takeoff. The pilot and his young son suffered non-life threatening injuries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Plane lost power before Līhu‘e Airport crash |url=https://kauainownews.com/2023/01/12/plane-lost-power-before-lihue-airport-crash/ |website=Kauai News Now}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of airports in Hawaii]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://hawaii.gov/lih Lihue Airport] at Hawaii Department of Transportation
* [http://hawaii.gov/hawaiiaviation/hawaii-airfields-airports/kauai/lihue-airport]
* {{FAA-diagram|00776}}
* {{FAA-procedures|LIH}}
* {{US-airport2|LIH|PHLI}}

{{Airports in Hawaii}}
{{Portal bar|Hawaii|United States|Aviation|Transport}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Airports in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Transportation in Kauai County, Hawaii]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kauai County, Hawaii]]