Lea County Regional Airport (IATA: HOB, ICAO: KHOB) (Lea County-Hobbs Airport) is four miles (6.4 km) west of Hobbs, in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The airport covers 898 acres (363 ha) and has three runways. It is an FAA certified commercial airport served by United Airlines' affiliate with daily regional flights. Lea County Regional Airport is the largest of the three airports owned and operated by Lea County Government. Lea County also owns and operates two general aviation airports in Lovington and Jal, New Mexico.
The airport covers 898 acres (363 ha) and has three asphalt runways:[1]
3/21 – 7,398 × 150 ft (2,255 × 46 m)
12/30 – 6,002 × 150 ft (1,829 × 46 m)
17/35 – 4,998 × 100 ft (1,523 × 30 m)
In the year ending January 31, 2023 the airport had 15,445 aircraft operations, average 42 per day: 83% general aviation, 14% air taxi, 3% military, and <1% airline. 57 aircraft at the time were based at this airport: 51 single-engine, 3 multi-engine, 2 jet, and 1 helicopter.[1] The airport has one terminal for all arrivals and departures, and two FBOs, Tailwind Aviation and Christian Aero.
The data below lists annual total aircraft operations from 2009 to 2013 from the FAA's air traffic activity system. The percent changes indicate an average of −13.93% in aircraft operations per year over these five years.[2]
Destinations from Lea County Regional Airport Red = Year-round destination Blue = Future destination
HistoryEdit
Me-Tex Airport opened on July 23, 1937, where the Hobbs golf course is now, next to Lea County Regional Airport.[3] The Me-Tex Supply Company had leased land from the state and built oiled runways and a hangar at Me-Tex.[4]
In 1940, the city of Hobbs passed a bond issue to purchase some adjoining acreage, with the intent of bringing airline service and airmail delivery. Federal grants helped pay for paved runways and taxiways and a terminal building for Hobbs Municipal Airport, which opened during World War II.[5] Me-Tex Airport closed in 1946–47.
Ownership of the airport was transferred from the city of Hobbs to Lea County on November 19, 1945[6] The terminal building was expanded in the late 2000s and another significant expansion occurred in the late 2010s.
Historical airline serviceEdit
The first air mail arrived in Hobbs via Continental Airlines in May 1940,[7] and started passenger flights that year to Albuquerque, El Paso, San Antonio, and Tulsa, each making several stops en route. Service was started using Lockheed Electras and Lodestars, later upgraded to Douglas DC-3s and Convair 340s. As Hobbs was a crossroads on Continental's routes from Albuquerque to San Antonio and from El Paso to Tulsa in the 1950s, passengers were able to change planes at Hobbs between the two routes.[5]
In 1963, Continental Airlines was replaced by Trans-Texas Airways (TTa). Supplemental service was provided by Bison Airlines in 1963–64.[5] TTa started with DC-3s but soon upgraded to Convair 600s. The name was later changed to Texas International Airlines (TI) and nonstop flights to Dallas TX were occasionally operated. For a brief time in 1977/1978 the airline introduced Douglas DC-9 jets to Hobbs but reverted back to Convair 600s. TI's service ended in early 1979, being replaced by Crown Airlines with nonstop flights to Albuquerque and Air Midwest to Albuquerque and Lubbock. Crown Airlines flights ended about a year later and Air Midwest switched the Lubbock flights to Midland/Odessa, TX. Mesa Airlines came to Hobbs in early 1984 with Beechcraft 99s to Albuquerque and Lubbock while Air Midwest left the city late that year. Mesa upgraded to Beechcraft 1900s and was the main airline at Hobbs for over 22 years until they were replaced by New Mexico Airlines in 2007 operating 9-seat Cessna 208 Caravans to Albuquerque, El Paso, and Midland/Odessa. The city was also briefly served by Permian Airways in 1979 with flights to El Paso and Midland/Odessa, and by Big Sky Airlines in 2000/2001 first with nonstop flights to Dallas/Ft. Worth but later a stop in Brownwood, TX was added. New Mexico Airlines left Hobbs in early 2011 and new nonstop service to Houston Bush Airport by Continental Express began on July 1, 2011, using 50-seat Embraer 145 regional jets. Continental Airlines merged into United Airlines in early 2012, changing the Hobbs flights to United Express.[8] The contract carrier operating as United Express switched from ExpressJet to SkyWest Airlines and began flights to Denver on October 27, 2019.[9] The Denver flights were suspended in March of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but were reinstated in October of 2021. All United Express flights were switched from SkyWest Airlines to CommuteAir in mid-2022.
FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective October 5, 2023
Resources for this airport:
AirNav airport information for KHOB
ASN accident history for HOB
FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
SkyVector aeronautical chart for KHOB
FAA current HOB delay information
FlyHobbs.com – official site
October 15, 2023
county, regional, airport, iata, icao, khob, county, hobbs, airport, four, miles, west, hobbs, county, mexico, united, states, airport, covers, acres, three, runways, certified, commercial, airport, served, united, airlines, affiliate, with, daily, regional, f. Lea County Regional Airport IATA HOB ICAO KHOB Lea County Hobbs Airport is four miles 6 4 km west of Hobbs in Lea County New Mexico United States The airport covers 898 acres 363 ha and has three runways It is an FAA certified commercial airport served by United Airlines affiliate with daily regional flights Lea County Regional Airport is the largest of the three airports owned and operated by Lea County Government Lea County also owns and operates two general aviation airports in Lovington and Jal New Mexico Lea County Regional Airport2006 USGS airphotoIATA HOBICAO KHOBSummaryAirport typePublicOperatorLea CountyLocationHobbs New MexicoElevation AMSL3 661 ft 1 115 9 mCoordinates32 41 15 N 103 13 01 W 32 68750 N 103 21694 W 32 68750 103 21694MapHOBShow map of New MexicoHOBShow map of the United StatesRunwaysDirection Length Surfaceft m3 21 7 398 2 255 Asphalt12 30 6 002 1 829 Asphalt17 35 4 998 1 523 AsphaltSource Federal Aviation Administration 1 Contents 1 Facilities 2 Airline and destinations 3 History 3 1 Historical airline service 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksFacilities EditThe airport covers 898 acres 363 ha and has three asphalt runways 1 3 21 7 398 150 ft 2 255 46 m 12 30 6 002 150 ft 1 829 46 m 17 35 4 998 100 ft 1 523 30 m In the year ending January 31 2023 the airport had 15 445 aircraft operations average 42 per day 83 general aviation 14 air taxi 3 military and lt 1 airline 57 aircraft at the time were based at this airport 51 single engine 3 multi engine 2 jet and 1 helicopter 1 The airport has one terminal for all arrivals and departures and two FBOs Tailwind Aviation and Christian Aero The data below lists annual total aircraft operations from 2009 to 2013 from the FAA s air traffic activity system The percent changes indicate an average of 13 93 in aircraft operations per year over these five years 2 Aircraft operations HOB 2009 2013 2 Calendar year Aircraft operations 2009 19 9082010 16 637 16 43 2011 10 752 35 37 2012 9 270 13 78 2013 8 893 4 07 Airline and destinations EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed January 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message AirlinesDestinationsUnited ExpressDenver Houston IntercontinentalDestinations map nbsp nbsp Hobbs nbsp Houston Intercontinental nbsp Denverclass notpageimage Destinations from Lea County Regional Airport Red Year round destination Blue Future destinationHistory EditMe Tex Airport opened on July 23 1937 where the Hobbs golf course is now next to Lea County Regional Airport 3 The Me Tex Supply Company had leased land from the state and built oiled runways and a hangar at Me Tex 4 In 1940 the city of Hobbs passed a bond issue to purchase some adjoining acreage with the intent of bringing airline service and airmail delivery Federal grants helped pay for paved runways and taxiways and a terminal building for Hobbs Municipal Airport which opened during World War II 5 Me Tex Airport closed in 1946 47 Ownership of the airport was transferred from the city of Hobbs to Lea County on November 19 1945 6 The terminal building was expanded in the late 2000s and another significant expansion occurred in the late 2010s Historical airline service Edit The first air mail arrived in Hobbs via Continental Airlines in May 1940 7 and started passenger flights that year to Albuquerque El Paso San Antonio and Tulsa each making several stops en route Service was started using Lockheed Electras and Lodestars later upgraded to Douglas DC 3s and Convair 340s As Hobbs was a crossroads on Continental s routes from Albuquerque to San Antonio and from El Paso to Tulsa in the 1950s passengers were able to change planes at Hobbs between the two routes 5 In 1963 Continental Airlines was replaced by Trans Texas Airways TTa Supplemental service was provided by Bison Airlines in 1963 64 5 TTa started with DC 3s but soon upgraded to Convair 600s The name was later changed to Texas International Airlines TI and nonstop flights to Dallas TX were occasionally operated For a brief time in 1977 1978 the airline introduced Douglas DC 9 jets to Hobbs but reverted back to Convair 600s TI s service ended in early 1979 being replaced by Crown Airlines with nonstop flights to Albuquerque and Air Midwest to Albuquerque and Lubbock Crown Airlines flights ended about a year later and Air Midwest switched the Lubbock flights to Midland Odessa TX Mesa Airlines came to Hobbs in early 1984 with Beechcraft 99s to Albuquerque and Lubbock while Air Midwest left the city late that year Mesa upgraded to Beechcraft 1900s and was the main airline at Hobbs for over 22 years until they were replaced by New Mexico Airlines in 2007 operating 9 seat Cessna 208 Caravans to Albuquerque El Paso and Midland Odessa The city was also briefly served by Permian Airways in 1979 with flights to El Paso and Midland Odessa and by Big Sky Airlines in 2000 2001 first with nonstop flights to Dallas Ft Worth but later a stop in Brownwood TX was added New Mexico Airlines left Hobbs in early 2011 and new nonstop service to Houston Bush Airport by Continental Express began on July 1 2011 using 50 seat Embraer 145 regional jets Continental Airlines merged into United Airlines in early 2012 changing the Hobbs flights to United Express 8 The contract carrier operating as United Express switched from ExpressJet to SkyWest Airlines and began flights to Denver on October 27 2019 9 The Denver flights were suspended in March of 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic but were reinstated in October of 2021 All United Express flights were switched from SkyWest Airlines to CommuteAir in mid 2022 See also EditHobbs New MexicoReferences Edit a b c FAA Airport Form 5010 for HOB PDF effective 2023 7 13 a b Air Traffic Activity System Archived from the original on October 4 2014 Retrieved October 29 2014 Photograph at HobbsHistory com Fact Fantasy amp Fiction by Max Clampitt published in Hobbs News Sun newspaper a b c Max Clampitt Lea New Mexico s Last Frontier Gil Hinshaw published 1976 HobbsHistory com various timetables by carriers serving Hobbs Albuquerque Journal August 6 2019 FAA Airport Form 5010 for HOB PDF Lea County Regional AirportExternal links EditFAA Airport Diagram PDF effective October 5 2023 Resources for this airport AirNav airport information for KHOB ASN accident history for HOB FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker NOAA NWS weather observations current past three days SkyVector aeronautical chart for KHOB FAA current HOB delay information FlyHobbs com official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lea County Regional Airport amp oldid 1168388496, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
