Without Holiday Inn, the Olive Branch Airport might not exist. In the early 1970s, Holiday Inn announced plans to construct what would become the Holiday Inn University and Conference Center. At the same time, Holiday Inn began construction of a 3,000-acre industrial complex and an airport. The industrial park is now known as Metro Industrial Park, an 800-acre complex that includes the Olive Branch Airport.
Once owned by Belz Enterprises, the City of Olive Branch purchased the airport in 2018. The airport covers an area of 418 acres at an elevation of 402 feet above mean sea level. The facility includes a fully functioning Class D control tower, with an uplink to Memphis International Airport’s radar, that is manned from 7 am until 9 pm daily.
This airport holds a special place for us at Rebel Services. Our founder, Margie James, and her mother both took their first hour of flight training from the Olive Branch Airport.
Services, facilities, and amenities at the Olive Branch Airport include:
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Airport management
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Full service fuels
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Aircraft parking
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Hangars
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Passenger terminal and lounge
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Rental car pickup location for Enterprise
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Crew car
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Pilot’s lounge
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Conference rooms
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Flight planning with weather radar
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GPU available
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Oxygen service available in field
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Lavatory
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Aircraft maintenance in field
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Avionics service in field
The Olive Branch Airport is one of the busiest airports in the State of Mississippi and is a tremendous asset to the City. Its convenient location to the Germantown/Collierville area makes it a popular destination for visitors hoping to avoid the hubbub of Memphis International Airport. The airport is located just ten minutes from Memphis city limits and about 30 minutes from Downtown Memphis.
The airport is home to a couple of flight training academies including the Luke Weathers Flight Academy, a flight school offering FAR 141 and 61 flight training, as well as other courses. The Air Venture Flight Center, a flight school and aircraft rental company, also operates at the Olive Branch Airport.
To learn more about the Olive Branch Airport including contact information, visit their website here.
