Opened in 1978 as a modest municipal airfield, the Katrina H. Lochburn County International Airport has grown into GUOA's primary cargo hub and a key regional gateway for passenger and charter operations, following a sweeping privately-funded expansion completed in December 2025.
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KEY INFO
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🏗️ Opened : 1978 (as Lochburn County Municipal Airport)
✈️ Type : International Airport
📍 Location : Flatfields, Lochburn County
🏳️ Jurisdiction : GUOA Bureau of Transportation
🏢 Operator : Diplodocus Group
🏙️ Serves : Lochburn County, Grand Utopia of America
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TIMELINE
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KEY STAKEHOLDERS
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RELATED LINKS
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Manuel Mendoza — Pure Cane Sugar
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FUN FACTS
⇀ Sébastien Quinze's famous cheese is the most exported "luxury" item from the airport.
⇀ Katrina H. Airport is sometimes used as an alternative stopover for cargo flights to and from Asia, much like Anchorage, Alaska.
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In 1978 the Utopia of America Transportation Authority (UATA) commissioned a plot of land from unused farmland in Lochburn County outside of Flatfields for general aviation and agricultural use. As years went by the airport grew, and as the local economy grew it required expansion and upgrades to the runway and terminal. In 1980 the first scheduled commercial flight, flying passengers from Seattle, Washington — an Alaska Airlines Boeing 727-200 carrying 87 passengers — landed at Lochburn County Municipal Airport. For many years the municipal airport was served by Alaska Airlines until the 727s were phased out in the 1990s. On June 19, 2006, daily service to Seattle returned once again with Alaska Airlines, now operating 737-800s. This service continued for many years, and in 2015 Alaska added a daily flight from San Francisco operating 737-700s. Lochburn County Municipal remained small but steady, offering a cheaper alternative to the Lex Luthor International Airport in Metropolis.
In 2020, the MM Refinery discovered that the sugar cane grown in GUOA had only slightly more calories, when combined with their unique and secret refining technique, than the many artificial sweeteners on the market. As a result, real sugar could now be used in many diet products and other food and beverage products, causing massive demand globally from several large food conglomerates. The airport as it stood could not handle all the demand, and the port in Lochburn County was too small to handle larger cargo ships. At the same time, GUOA was attracting more attention from the rise of the internet and influencer culture, causing a spike in tourism. These factors combined put both of GUOA's civil airports under significant strain, prompting a formal proposal to Governor MyGodness and the GUOA Bureau of Transportation from the MM Refinery and other local hospitality and business stakeholders.
Governor MyGodness and the GUOA Bureau of Transportation both agreed the airport needed a major upgrade. The proposal called for a larger terminal to handle increased cargo and passenger demand, and a runway extension capable of accommodating larger aircraft. Governor MyGodness approved the plan, but public finances were committed to other infrastructure priorities, including roads, rail, and the Lex Luthor Airport in Metropolis. The solution came through Diplodocus Group. Governor MyGodness worked closely with Katrina H., CEO of Diplodocus Group, who regularly acts as an advisor and major financial backer for GUOA's projects. Together they agreed that Diplodocus Group would finance the expansion and operate the airport on behalf of the GUOA Bureau of Transportation.
Groundbreaking began in 2021, requiring a temporary closure of the airport. The runway was expanded and widened to handle the largest cargo aircraft, including the Antonov An-124, McDonnell Douglas MD-10 and MD-11, Airbus A330, and Boeing 747F series, though smaller freighters such as the Boeing 757, 767, and Airbus A310 series remain more common. The passenger terminal was upgraded to comfortably handle aircraft such as the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350, though most scheduled passenger flights continue to operate Boeing 737 NG/MAX or Airbus A320/A321 family aircraft. The access road was resurfaced, widened, and slightly extended beyond the old terminal, ending at a new parking terminus and the new terminal building. The old terminal and its original taxiway were preserved, requiring the road to cross over the taxiway at grade. A new intersection with GUOA Route 66 was also constructed to accommodate the increase in automobile, bus, and truck traffic.
In December 2025 the airport was completed and officially reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The old terminal was renamed the Sébastien Quinze General Aviation Terminal, serving private operations, sightseeing, and local charter flights. The new, larger facility was named the Manuel Mendoza International Terminal, handling most charter, cargo, and passenger flights, as well as customs operations. While the majority of GUOA's scheduled passenger traffic flows through the larger Lex Luthor International Airport in Metropolis, Katrina H. Airport has carved out a niche for low-fare carriers and charter operations, and handles the bulk of GUOA's cargo flights. Diplodocus Group's own airline, Charlemagne Air, has established its base at the airport, operating primarily cargo services alongside a handful of scheduled flights to Ceresia, Esterlon, and Utopia in Grand Utopia. The first scheduled arrival after the ribbon-cutting was an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX, symbolising a new era for the airport and the continuation of its long partnership with the airline.
Following its expansion, the airport has become a major cargo hub. The rerouting of most cargo and charter flights away from Metropolis has eased congestion at Lex Luthor International while establishing Katrina H. as the de facto gateway for freight in and out of GUOA. The Manuel Mendoza Refinery is among the primary beneficiaries, relying on the airport to keep pace with global sugar export demand. Tourism has also increased considerably, with budget travellers and backpackers frequently opting for lower-cost charter and low-fare carrier options into this airport.
Diplodocus Group employs approximately 1,000 people in the airport area, including Charlemagne Air staff, terminal and airport personnel, and employees of the Big Al's Diplodocus Depots. Numerous additional jobs in hospitality, commerce, and related sectors have been created indirectly through the airport and the broader growth of GUOA's economy. Big Al's and Utopian Home Builders now operate a joint venture from a small industrial area adjacent to the airport. Diplodocus also operates a depot for general goods and parcel transport. An express cargo flight connecting Esterlon to GUOA is operated by Charlemagne Airlines, with onward distribution handled by truck until Esterlon constructs a dedicated ferry port.
Schedule coming soon.
FedEx / UPS / Lufthansa Cargo / Charlemagne Air / Air China Cargo / Prime Air / NCA Cargo Airlines
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