Airports / Minnesota / AEL
Albert Lea Municipal Airport
KAEL / AELAlbert Lea, MinnesotaELEV 1,260 FT
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#9 / 38
Minnesota airports by Google rating
4.8★ across 8 Google ratings — ranked against 38 rated MN fields.
31 nm
To the nearest alternate
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW) — 3 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Albert Lea Municipal Airport, listed as KAEL / AEL, is a general aviation field in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The airport sits 1,260 feet above sea level. With no scheduled airline service, it caters to private, charter, and general aviation traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into AEL for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW, 31 nm), Rochester International Airport (RST, 40 nm), and Northeast Iowa Regional Airport (CCY, 49 nm).
Charter pricing from AEL depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Albert Lea.
What fliers highlight
Terminal & facilities
4/4 reviews“Fuel, including hi octane mogas, is dispensed through a self service facility in front of the terminal.”
John “Jay” McGowan5★ on Google
FBO & ground handling
2/4 reviews“Fuel, including hi octane mogas, is dispensed through a self service facility in front of the terminal.”
John “Jay” McGowan5★ on Google
Staff & service
2/4 reviews“Fuel, including hi octane mogas, is dispensed through a self service facility in front of the terminal.”
John “Jay” McGowan5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Albert Lea Municipal Airport — every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
KAEL
IATA
AEL
FAA / Local
AEL
Elevation
1,260 ft
Coordinates
43.6815° N · 93.3672° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G — GolfUncontrolled field — no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Small
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs MN fields
state range 656–1,799 ft
At 1,260 ft, AEL sits higher than 63% of the 43 Minnesota fields on the register.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance — every listing links to its own field brief.
- 31nmMCWMason City Municipal AirportMason City
- 40nmRSTRochester International AirportRochester
- 49nmCCYNortheast Iowa Regional AirportCharles City
- 72nmMSPMinneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain FieldMinneapolis
- 76nmSTPSaint Paul Downtown Holman FieldSaint Paul
- 77nmFODFort Dodge Regional AirportFort Dodge
Location
Open the full mapKAEL · Albert Lea Municipal Airport · Albert Lea, MN
From the ramp
Google Places photography of Albert Lea Municipal Airport — tap any frame to view full-screen, then cycle with the arrows or your keyboard.