Kirksville Municipal Airport

✅ Trip Verified | Kirksville (IRK) is served by the federal Essential Air Service, with one or two daily jet round-trips to Chicago O’Hare provided by Contour Airlines. This small airport was a joy to fly into and out of -- it’s definitely preferable to driving into town from Des Moines or Columbia. The highlight was the friendliness of the staff -- everyone from the airline counter staff to the TSA screeners was very pleasant and helpful. The building itself is clean and compact -- I understand there are plans to build a new terminal, maybe because the addition of TSA screening equipment ate up some of the interior space? That left the seating space in the departure area a bit tight, but not uncomfortable. The main waiting area is roomier and quite comfortable. Deplaning and boarding was quick and easy – a short walk to the aircraft (no jetways), with luggage handled efficiently. Outside, the grounds were very well kept. Overall the impression is of a well-run facility that gets a lot of care. The parking lot (free!) is immediately outside the terminal and my rental car (arranged in advance – there isn’t on-site car rental in the terminal) was easy to find. It’s only a short drive to town. Returning to the airport for my departure, the terminal wasn’t directly visible from the highway but the entrance is well-marked with a large sign. Overall, I can't remember when I last had such a good experience at any airport. I guess "Midwest Nice" is really a thing!