Shreveport Regional Airport, the primary commercial airport for the Shreveport-Bossier City metro area, has been named Louisiana's 2026 Commercial Service Airport of the Year.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced the award at the Louisiana Airport Managers and Associates annual conference in New Orleans, according to KTBS. The honor recognizes the airport's performance and contributions to Louisiana aviation.
Stacy Kuba, deputy director of airports for the Shreveport Airport Authority, also received the state's 2026 Aviation Professional of the Year award. Kuba was recognized for 20 years of service in the aviation industry.
"These awards are a tremendous honor for Shreveport and a reflection of the hard work taking place at our airports," Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said, according to the city's announcement reported by KSLA. Arceneaux said the airport team continues to strengthen aviation infrastructure and called both awards "well deserved."
The recognition comes during a stretch of growth. The airport handled 800,135 passengers in calendar year 2025, up about 12% from 2024, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data cited by Wikipedia. United Airlines launched nonstop service between Shreveport and Chicago O'Hare on Oct. 26, making Chicago the airport's 10th nonstop destination and its first direct Chicago route in more than 18 years, KSLA reported.
While at the New Orleans conference, Shreveport Airport Authority representatives met with FAA officials to discuss federal grant funding for the airport's air traffic control tower project. KTBS described the funding as "potential," while the city's announcement called it "additional." The Shreveport-Bossier Advocate reported in September that the FAA had already awarded $18.9 million toward the airport's $40 million tower relocation project.
Larry Blackwell, director of airports for the Shreveport Airport Authority, told the Advocate in September that the existing tower is 50 years old and sits in the path of a planned terminal expansion. A contractor had been selected and design work was about 30% complete at that time, with a groundbreaking expected around February. The state DOTD will provide a 10% match to the FAA grant, Blackwell said.
Blackwell said the state-level recognition reinforces the progress the airport team is making and the commitment of the entire staff.
