Lake Chuck did recently build a new 28 mil terminal after Hurricane Rita destroyed the old one. Haven't been inside, but looks nice from the outside. I believe it has two boarding bridges.
Regarding IFR capabilities, LCH has one CAT I ILS (precision) approach to runway 15 while LFT has them for both 22L and 4R. A CAT I ILS provides precision guidance down to 200' (typically) before the pilot must make visual contact with the runway environment. BTR also has two, but is pushing to upgrade one of them to a CAT II (100').
The main runway at LFT was recently lengthened to 8,001' when the FAA required EMAS installations at both ends. The runway at ARA in New Iberia is 8,002'. The main advantage between the two goes to LFT with load-bearing capacity being nearly twice that of the runway at ARA.
Ah, ARA could have the best runways in the world, but there is no way in hell Lafayette would ever support moving operations there. Until recent years, political dignitaries landed at ARA. But at the way the population base is moving, it's possible in a few decades the airlines will make the decision.
The Cajuns charter flights as well. Also, the planes sometimes fly multiple teams the same day so plane size shouldn't be an issue.
I recall one road trip after we landed on the Friday afternoon, the attendant said they were flying to L.A., staying the night to pick up Ohio State after their noon game against USC, flying them home, then coming back to where we were to bring us back to Lafayette after our night game. (I think it was the k-state game around '07).
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