Additionally, the airport is frequently used by professional sports team charter flights due to its proximity to FirstEnergy Stadium, Progressive Field, and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

[5] Construction on a dike retaining wall in Lake Erie began in the early 1940s, and by the second half of the decade, the land was strong enough to support a temporary runway.

Designed to serve as a supplemental airfield for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, it originally featured a 2,000-foot dirt temporary runway and a small operations facility and hangar.

The airport was first maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers, which, over time, began deposition 700,000 cubic yards on all sides of this runway to prepare for a permanent presence.

[5] The airport's draw centered on its proximity to downtown Cleveland, making it easier for tourists and other travelers to access the city.

[5] Lake Central Airlines announced plans to move some operations to Burke in the early 1960s, and a Nike missile facility that had become obsolete was shut down in part because of its potential for interference with planes approaching the airport.

Every Labor Day weekend, the airport hosts the annual Cleveland National Air Show attended by 60,000 to 100,000 visitors.

[9] On the evening of Thursday, October 25, 2012, president Barack Obama held a rally on the ramp in front of Air Force One for the 2012 presidential election.

[1] The airfield is fully capable of handling large jets including, 737s, 757s, and A320s along with the smaller general aviation aircraft operations.

[12] For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2019, the airport had 41,245 aircraft operations, an average of 113 per day: 74% general aviation, 23% air taxi, 2% commercial, and 1% military.

In addition to airport traffic, Burke Lakefront tower and approach control typically provide radar separation to medivac helicopters en route to University Hospitals of Cleveland and Cleveland Clinic which fall within the airspace that extends from the surface to 3000 feet above mean sea level.

A decommissioned freighter Kearsarge (Now called Barge Number 225) has been converted to office space and is permanently owned by and docked at the airport.

Dwindling operations and increasing interest in waterfront redevelopment have led to calls for the city to consider closing Burke Lakefront Airport.