Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland Gains Support from The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association as Mayor Pushes for Closure

Published on November 23, 2025

Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland has become the center of a heated debate, with strong opposition from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) against its proposed closure. As one of the region’s key aviation hubs, the airport supports general aviation, flight training, and essential public safety operations like medevac and Coast Guard missions. The AOPA, a prominent advocate for general aviation, has rallied a coalition of businesses, pilots, and local groups to protect the airport from being shut down. In contrast, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb has pushed for repurposing the 450-acre waterfront site, claiming that it presents a unique opportunity for economic development. This disagreement has raised questions about the future of the airport and its significant role in both Cleveland’s aviation infrastructure and emergency services. The debate continues to unfold, with the AOPA working to ensure that Burke Lakefront remains a vital asset to the city.

Mayor’s Push for Repurposing the Waterfront Site

In October 2025, Mayor Bibb, along with Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, sent a letter to federal officials, including Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Ohio’s Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted, requesting the federal government relieve Cleveland of its obligation to maintain the airport. In their letter, Bibb and Ronayne argued that repurposing the airport’s 450-acre waterfront site would offer a once-in-a-century opportunity for public access and job-creating development. Their vision for the land includes transforming it into a prime location for commercial projects, which they believe could boost Cleveland’s economy.

AOPA and LAPP’s Opposition to the Airport’s Closure

However, the push for closure has met strong opposition from the AOPA, which has played a pivotal role in rallying support for Burke Lakefront Airport. The AOPA helped organize a coalition of businesses, pilots and educational institutions, known as the Lakefront Airport Preservation Partnership (LAPP), to oppose Mayor Bibb’s efforts. The coalition sent a letter to the same federal leaders on November 19, 2025, stressing that the airport is an essential part of Cleveland’s infrastructure, providing not only a critical link for general aviation but also vital support for emergency services.

The Airport’s Critical Role in Public Safety and Local Operations

AOPA Great Lakes Regional Manager Kyle Lewis emphasized that Burke Lakefront Airport is much more than just an aviation facility. With more than 50,000 takeoffs and landings annually, it serves as a hub for medevac operations, flight training, educational opportunities and public safety missions, including Coast Guard operations. One of the airport’s medevac operators performs more than 500 medical and organ transplant flights each year, underscoring the significant role the airport plays in saving lives.

The Future of Burke Lakefront Airport

Despite the growing support for keeping the airport open, Mayor Bibb has reiterated his position on multiple occasions since taking office in 2022. In 2024, the mayor released two studies—one examining the airport’s economic impact and another exploring alternative uses for the land. While these studies suggested that repurposing the airport site could provide economic benefits for Cleveland, the AOPA has criticized the reports, arguing that they fail to account for the broader value the airport provides to the region, particularly in terms of its contribution to public safety and general aviation.

Burke Lakefront Airport’s fate remains uncertain as the debate over its future continues. The AOPA’s efforts to preserve the airport have brought attention to its significance as a crucial part of Cleveland’s transportation and emergency infrastructure. As the situation develops, stakeholders from both sides of the issue are expected to continue pushing for their respective visions for the land’s future, making the outcome of the debate a key matter for the city’s aviation community and beyond.