Purdue University Airport
West Lafayette, United States

Purdue University Airport
Purdue University's aviation hub in West Lafayette, Indiana.
- ›Purdue University Airport is one of the few major airports in the United States owned and operated by a university.
- ›It serves as a primary training facility for Purdue's School of Aviation and Transportation Technology students.
- ›The airport has two runways, with the primary runway measuring approximately 6,600 feet in length.
- ›Neil Armstrong, a Purdue alumnus, was associated with the university's aviation heritage.
- ›The airport is classified as a general aviation reliever airport in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).
Purdue University Airport, designated with IATA code LAF, is a public-use general aviation airport located in West Lafayette, Indiana, serving the greater Lafayette metropolitan area and the renowned Purdue University community. Founded in 1930, it holds a storied place in aviation history as the home institution of numerous pioneering aviators, including Amelia Earhart, who once taught here. The airport primarily supports general aviation, charter flights, and university-affiliated aviation programs rather than scheduled commercial service.
- Main Terminal — A single general aviation terminal handling passenger check-in, charter operations, and flight school administrative functions.
- Rental cars available on-site through national agencies
- Taxi and rideshare services (Uber, Lyft) available at the terminal
- CityBus local transit serving West Lafayette and Lafayette
- Private shuttle arrangements through the university
- Marriott at Purdue University
- Hyatt Place West Lafayette
- Homewood Suites by Hilton West Lafayette
- Hampton Inn Lafayette
Dining options within the airport terminal itself are limited, typical of a small general aviation facility. West Lafayette and the Purdue University campus, located just minutes away, offer a wide range of restaurants, cafes, and fast-food outlets. The surrounding area features everything from casual American diners to international cuisine catering to the diverse university population.
- Confirm your flight type before arriving — this airport does not serve scheduled commercial airlines, so most visitors arrive via charter or private aircraft.
- Rental car reservations should be made well in advance, especially during Purdue home football games and graduation weekends.
- The Purdue campus is only a short drive away and is worth exploring for its aviation heritage exhibits and the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering.
- Weather in Indiana can shift quickly; check local forecasts carefully if you are a pilot planning a departure.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
Airlines serving this airport
No scheduled airline data available.
Routes
No route data available.
Pick what matters for your layover or early flight, then compare on your favorite booking site.
IndianAirports may receive compensation when you book or purchase through some of the links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the booking provider and may change. We never share your private trip details with partners — only the destination, dates and party size you searched.
City & Place Guide
No guide exists for this place yet — Click to generate a Traveler Pulse guide.
Passport, Visa & Immigration
Flying internationally via LAF? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for United States from official government sources.
Purdue University Airport is a public-use airport in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States. It is owned by Purdue University, and is 2 nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Lafayette, Indiana, in West Lafayette.
Read full article on Wikipedia
Translate