Durant Regional, Airport Layout Plan

Durant Regional Airport is experiencing a period of extraordinary growth fueled by several triggering events including the 2020 completion of an 1,800-foot runway extension, $600 million expansion of the Choctaw Casino & Resort, and the overwhelming success and imminent expansion of the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Aviation Science Institute. As the Airport continues to flourish, this Airport Layout Plan (ALP) update aims to provide a playbook for the development of the Airport throughout the 20-year planning horizon. Among the chief drivers of this planning effort is the need to craft a plan for the accommodation of the forecast demand and significant increase in business jet traffic including, apron expansion, Jet-A self-serve fuel capability, and city-owned/private hangar development.

The Durant Regional Airport features a wide array of aeronautical activities which challenge the planning process and create a potential for increased growth at the Airport. The SEOSU aviation program serves over 150 students through a fleet of Cessna 152, 172, Cirrus SR-20, and Piper Seminole aircraft. The university maintains airline pathway programs with several major airlines including Southwest, Delta, and Envoy making SEOSU one of the premier collegiate aviation programs in the nation.

With the recent expansion of the Choctaw Nation Casino & Resort, adding an additional 1,000 hotel rooms, expanded gaming and entertainment, and dining options, the Airport has seen an exponential increase in business jet activity in recent months. The resort maintains a robust schedule of live entertainment including artists like Blake Shelton, Kane Brown, Brett Young, and Tim McGraw. Weekends at the Airport can feature multiple large-cabin business jets including Global Express 5000, Gulfstream G650, and Challenger 600 aircraft, among others.

Highlighted by the opportunity for growth, Durant Regional Airport is poised to bring a new level of aviation activity to the Southeast Oklahoma and North Texas regions. As we craft a plan for the future of the airport, it will be important to engage local stakeholders with the ultimate goal of providing the premier general aviation facility in Southern Oklahoma.