Louisville Gears Up for Derby Traffic Tide
The 145th running of the Kentucky Derby is expected to attract hundreds of private aircraft to the area.
The Kentucky Derby typically draws flocks of business jets to Louisville Louisville International Airport-Standiford Field. Atlantic Aviation, the lone service provider there expects to handle between six and seven hundred private aircraft during the week leading up to the race, and vows not to turn any aircraft away. It works closely with the airport authority to secure remote parking space all over the field.
The Kentucky Derby typically draws flocks of business jets to Louisville Louisville International Airport-Standiford Field. Atlantic Aviation, the lone service provider there expects to handle between six and seven hundred private aircraft during the week leading up to the race, and vows not to turn any aircraft away. It works closely with the airport authority to secure remote parking space all over the field.

With the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby tomorrow at Churchill Downs, Louisville International Airport-Standiford Field (SDF)—located just three miles from the famed racecourse—is preparing for the customary onslaught of private aircraft. While the airport generally sees less than 20 private departures a day, according to statistics from WingX, Derby Week accounts for 10 percent of the private traffic for the year, with as many as 500 operations a day.