I think we have the opportunity to turn it into a positive.' and noting 'I've got buddies that I went to college with in different cities that can't even remember their own birthdays, but they all know the Sioux City designator - SUX.' The airport now sells merchandise with the words 'Fly SUX'. In October 2007, airport board member Dave Bernstein proposed embracing the identifier, saying 'Let's make the best of it. After petitioning the FAA for a changed airport identifier in 19, authorities found the alternatives offered - GWU, GYO, GYT, SGV and GAY - to be unappealing, and elected to stay with SUX. Sioux City Mayor Craig Berenstein in 2002 described SUX as an 'embarrassment' to the city. The airport designator 'SUX' has been contentious. The Board of Trustees has been pursuing other airlines as well as finalizing plans to remodel the airport. However, Frontier ended all service from the airport on leaving Northwest Airlines (Who has since merged with Delta Air Lines) as the sole carrier at the airport.

Since adding a second airline, passenger numbers at the airport have increased by as low as 120 percent and as high as 210 percent in February 2008. In the first few months of 2008 Frontier was expected to begin another arrival and departure time, adding to total of three arrivals/departures by Frontier and five arrivals/departures by Northwest Airlines daily. Since July 2007 the airport has added an additional three arrivals and departures. In June 2007, after months of waiting, the city and the airport found out that Frontier Airlines would start service to and from Denver. Airport Board members are appointed by the City Council and serve four-year terms. The airport is owned and operated by the City of Sioux City and governed by a seven member Airport Board of Trustees.

Airport 150 miles from sioux city iowa