Boise, Idaho: Airport Accessibility And Convenience

Boise Airport (BOI) is a joint civil-military airport located in Idaho, just 3 miles (5 km) south of downtown Boise in Ada County. The airport is the busiest in the state, serving more passengers than all other Idaho airports combined. The airport is modern and easy to navigate, with a three-level terminal building that houses arrivals, departures, and a conference center. Boise Airport offers numerous daily flights to major cities in the central and western United States, including Denver, Chicago, and San Francisco. With nine airlines serving 27 nonstop destinations, Boise Airport is a convenient gateway for travellers.

Boise Airport's terminal location

Boise Airport, also known as Boise Air Terminal or Gowen Field, is located in Boise, Idaho, in the western United States. The airport is situated approximately three miles south of downtown Boise, in Ada County. The address of the airport is 3201 Airport Way #1000, Boise, ID 83705, United States.

Boise Airport is a dual-use or joint civil-military airport, catering to both commercial and military needs. It serves as a pivotal air transportation hub, providing convenient access to the city for travellers. The airport's layout is designed to accommodate a wide range of aircraft, with a comprehensive runway configuration supporting both commercial airline operations and military activities.

The terminal at Boise Airport is well-equipped to provide a seamless travel experience. It features various amenities, including dining options, retail stores, and free Wi-Fi throughout. The airport also prioritises accessibility, offering services such as wheelchair assistance and facilities for travellers with disabilities.

Boise Airport currently has one terminal building with two concourses and services nine airlines. The terminal is a three-story building containing four baggage carousels, rental car counters, ticketing counters, a consolidated security checkpoint, offices, and fast food outlets. The two concourses have a combined 24 gates with 13 jet bridges.

The airport is easily accessible by various transportation options. It offers valet parking, bus services, taxi services, and ridesharing options such as Lyft and Uber. Additionally, car rental services are available at the airport for those who prefer to drive themselves.

Transport to and from Boise Airport

Boise Airport, also known as Boise Air Terminal or Gowen Field, is located just three miles from downtown Boise, Idaho. It is the state's busiest airport, serving more passengers than all other Idaho airports combined.

Transport to the Airport

Car

The airport is accessible by car via Airport Way. The airport offers valet parking, located on the upper curb at the east end of the terminal. It costs $25 per day, and reservations are encouraged.

Rideshare

Rideshare services like Lyft and Uber are available and have designated pick-up and drop-off locations at the airport. Passengers can follow the rideshare wayfinding signage in the terminal to meet their driver.

Shuttle

The Economy Lot Parking Shuttle provides transportation to the airport, with passenger pick-up at the green curb. Shuttles run approximately every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day.

Bus

The Valley Regional Transit, the regional public transportation authority for Ada and Canyon counties, provides regular bus service to the airport.

Taxi

Taxis are available at the airport and can be found at the black curb on the lower level outside the baggage claim area.

Transport from the Airport

Car Rental

National Car Rental has a location inside the airport terminal on the ground level before baggage claim.

Rideshare

Lyft and Uber have designated pick-up locations at the airport. Passengers can follow the rideshare wayfinding signage to the second-floor rotunda exit door and then follow the curb to the right to meet their driver.

Shuttle

The Sun Valley Express shuttle provides daily transportation from Boise Airport to Sun Valley, with stops in the Wood River Valley. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Additionally, the Salt Lake Express shuttle offers transportation to various destinations, including Burley, Idaho Falls, Jerome, Mountain Home, Twin Falls, and Pocatello.

Taxi and Limousine

Taxi and limousine services are available at the airport for passengers who prefer a more private mode of transportation.

Boise Airport offers a range of transportation options to and from the airport, ensuring that travellers can conveniently get to their desired destinations.

History of Boise Airport

The history of Boise Airport can be traced back to 1926, when the city's first airfield, Booth Field, was built on a gravel bed near the south bank of the Boise River. This airfield, which was located on the present-day campus of Boise State University, served as the first municipal airport in Boise. On April 26, 1926, it witnessed the passage of the first commercial airmail flight in the United States, operated by Varney Airlines. In the following years, Varney Airlines, which would later become United Airlines, commenced passenger services from Boise, carrying four passengers at a time.

In 1936, the foundations for the current airport were laid as Boise began acquiring land for this purpose. By 1938, the airport boasted the longest runway in the United States, stretching 8,800 feet (2,680 metres). The steel hangar for Varney Airlines was relocated to this new site in 1939, but as aircraft sizes increased, the hangar was eventually converted into a passenger terminal.

During World War II, the airfield was leased by the U.S. Army Air Forces and served as a training base for B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bomber crews. Over 6,000 men were stationed here during the war, including actor Jimmy Stewart. Following the war, in 1946, the field was returned to the City of Boise, which established the Boise Department of Aviation and Public Transportation.

The jet age arrived in Boise in the mid-1960s, with United Airlines introducing Boeing 727 jetliners to the airport. The airport infrastructure continued to develop, with the first concourse being built in 1969, followed by the second concourse a decade later, both funded by voter-approved bonds. In 2003, a significant expansion of the current terminal was completed, and in 2013, a new Air Traffic Control Tower, the tallest building in Idaho at the time, was constructed to serve Boise and Bozeman airports.

Airlines and destinations

Boise Airport, also known as Boise Air Terminal or Gowen Field, is served by nine airlines that offer nonstop flights to 27 destinations, with connections to thousands of cities worldwide.

Airlines

The following airlines operate out of Boise Airport:

• United Airlines
• Delta
• Southwest
• American Airlines
• Allegiant
• Alaska Airlines
• Spirit Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• Avelo

Destinations

Nonstop destinations from Boise Airport include:

• Burbank
• Las Vegas
• Los Angeles
• Orange County
• Phoenix–Sky Harbor
• Portland (OR)
• Pullman
• Sacramento
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• San Jose (CA)
• Seattle/Tacoma
• Spokane
• Bozeman
• Orlando
• Palm Springs
• Phoenix-Mesa Gateway
• Dallas/Fort Worth
• Dallas Love Field
• Chicago–O'Hare
• Atlanta
• Minneapolis/St. Paul
• Salt Lake City
• Denver
• Oakland
• Phoenix–Mesa

Boise Airport's facilities

Boise Airport, also known as Boise Air Terminal or Gowen Field, is a joint civil-military airport located in Ada County, Idaho, just three miles south of downtown Boise. It is the busiest airport in the state, serving more passengers than all other Idaho airports combined.

Facilities

The airport has a range of facilities and services for passengers, including:

• Restaurants and cafes
• Shops and duty-free
• Wheelchair service
• Service animal relief area
• ATMs
• Luggage carts
• Valet parking
• Cell phone lot
• Rideshare pick-up location

Terminals

The Boise Airport terminal is a three-story building with four baggage carousels, rental car counters, ticketing counters, a consolidated security checkpoint, offices, and fast-food outlets. The terminal has garnered national attention for its design and is considered a prototypical post-9/11 facility.

Concourses

The airport has two concourses with a total of 24 gates and 13 jet bridges. Concourse B has 13 gates and 11 jet bridges, while Concourse C serves Alaska Airlines and has 11 gates, with two equipped with jet bridges.

Development Plans

Boise Airport has released a master plan outlining short, medium, and long-term development projects. These include:

• Three new parking garages
• Upgrades to Concourse B
• A new Concourse A with ten new gates equipped to handle narrow-body aircraft

Frequently asked questions