Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH)

Lake Charles Regional Airport ( LCH ) began operation in 1961. LCH is a commercial air service and serves the air travel needs of the over 180, 000 residents of Southwest Louisiana. Air service is provided by Continental Airlines and American Airlines. Continental provides service to their Houston hub which has connecting flights to virtually any place on the globe. Continental Airlines alone flies to more worldwide destinations than any other airline. American provides service to their Dallas/Fort Worth hub which has connecting flights worldwide. In addition to commercial air travel, Lake Charles Regional Airport also serves general aviation and corporate travel needs. A new $1.8 million FBO facility opened in 2006. LCH is also home to two helicopter operators that service the oil and gas industries in Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico. ERA Helicopters, LLC currently operates a large facility to perform maintenance, repair, training and painting services. LCH also serves as the headquarters for their parent company's ( Seacor Inc. ) helicopter operation. Lastly, the Airport property also includes a 300-acre industrial park and provides land leases to many businesses and individuals.