It’s not, and probably never will be, a major air traffic hub, but the Lawrence Municipal Airport still plays an important role in the community.

A story in Sunday’s Journal-World provided a snapshot of the airport on the city’s northern edge. The terminal is small, and services are few. There are no commercial flights, and regular commuter flights to Kansas City International Airport were discontinued a number of years ago. But there also is no troublesome airport security and, since most of the pilots and passengers are setting their own schedules, few flight delays.

The Lawrence airport, of course, is a home away from home for local pilots, especially those who keep airplanes there. As one would guess, people visiting Kansas University for business or pleasure account for the biggest share of traffic through the airport, although representatives of a number of large industries or retail chains also fly into the airport to check on their local ventures. In addition to handling flights, the airport offers charter services and flight instruction.

The city is working on a new master plan for the airport, and airport manager Lloyd Hetrick hopes the plan includes a longer runway to serve jet traffic that he expects to increase in the future. Money is tight, but the longer runway might be a good investment for the city.

One of Lawrence’s selling points is the relatively easy access local residents have to KCI, but for some businesses and individuals, the Lawrence Municipal Airport is an important added convenience. Having even a small, well-run airport is an asset for Lawrence and KU and could play a role in helping the community attract new businesses in the future.

City officials have done a good job of supporting airport facilities and operations in the past. Hopefully, the master plan now being developed will set a road map for reasonable growth in the airport’s services in the future.