The Louisville Regional Airport Authority (LRAA) is an autonomous municipal corporation established by KY state statute that is responsible for owning, operating and developing Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) and Bowman Field (LOU).
Much like a private corporation, the Authority is self-funded and derives operating revenue from a variety of user fees. The Authority does not receive local or state funding for the routine operations of either airport.
The forerunner of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority was established in 1928 by the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s General Assembly and is believed to be the first airport to use the authority-type governance in the United States.