Lewistown, Mt: Airport Or No?

Lewistown, Montana, is served by Lewistown Municipal Airport, a general aviation airport located two miles southwest of the town in Fergus County. The airport covers 2,200 acres at an elevation of 4,170 feet and has three asphalt runways. Lewistown Municipal Airport is owned by the city and county and is part of a National Air Commerce System for National Defense and Civil Aeronautics. The airport has a rich history, having been a satellite field for the Great Falls Army Air Base during World War II and later serving as a stop on commercial air routes across the Western United States.

Lewistown Municipal Airport's history

Lewistown Municipal Airport is located two miles southwest of Lewistown, in Fergus County, Montana, and is owned by the city and county. The airport covers 2,200 acres of land at an elevation of 4,170 feet and has three asphalt runways.

The airport was originally a satellite field for the Great Falls Army Air Base, operating between 1942 and 1943. During this time, squadrons received training in navigation, gunnery, and bombing practice before being deployed to the European front. After the airfield was deactivated, it was declared surplus in 1948 and transitioned into a municipal airport.

In the late 1930s, Inland Air Lines introduced the first scheduled commercial air service to Lewistown. The route originated in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and ended in Great Falls, Montana, with stops in Casper, Sheridan, Billings, and Lewistown. In 1944, Inland was acquired by Western Airlines, and by 1952, the route had expanded to include Denver, Colorado, as its origin, with stops in all the previously mentioned cities. Western Airlines continued serving Lewistown until around 1960.

From 1960 to 1980, the original Frontier Airlines served the airport with nonstop flights to Billings and Great Falls, Montana, as well as direct flights to Denver and Salt Lake City. Frontier initially used Douglas DC-3 piston aircraft but later upgraded to Convair 340s and then Convair 580 turbo props. After a brief suspension in 1970, Frontier resumed service in 1971 with de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.

Big Sky Airlines then served Lewistown from 1980 until 2008, operating commuter airline flights on a Billings-Lewistown-Havre, Montana route. During this time, Big Sky also operated as a Northwest Airlink code-share affiliate for Northwest Airlines. When Big Sky Airlines ceased operations in 2008 due to bankruptcy, Great Lakes Airlines stepped in and provided service from 2008 to 2011, offering direct flights to Denver with a stop in Worland, Wyoming.

Silver Airways, formerly known as Gulfstream International Airlines, was the final air carrier to serve Lewistown from 2011 until July 15, 2013, operating the same route as Big Sky Airlines. However, scheduled air service ceased in Lewistown after July 2013 due to the termination of EAS subsidies, which exceeded $1000 per passenger.

Airlines that serve Lewistown

Lewistown, Montana, is served by Lewistown Municipal Airport, which is located two miles southwest of the town, in Fergus County. The airport covers 2,200 acres of land and has an elevation of 4,170 feet. It features three asphalt runways, the largest of which is 6,100 feet long.

Lewistown Municipal Airport is currently without a scheduled air service, as the Essential Air Service (EAS) subsidies were terminated in 2013, due to the subsidy per passenger exceeding $1000. Silver Airways was the final carrier to serve the airport, providing flights from 2011 until July 15, 2013, on a Billings-Lewistown-Havre route.

Historically, several airlines have served Lewistown Municipal Airport. Inland Air Lines began the first scheduled commercial air service to Lewistown in the late 1930s, with a route from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Great Falls, Montana, making stops in Casper, Sheridan, Billings, and Lewistown. In 1944, Inland was acquired by Western Airlines, and the route was expanded to originate in Denver, Colorado, with stops in all the previously mentioned cities. However, Western ended its service to Lewistown around 1960.

The original Frontier Airlines, which operated from 1950 to 1986, served Lewistown from 1960 to 1980, offering non-stop flights to Billings and Great Falls, as well as direct flights to Denver, Salt Lake City, and other destinations in the US intermountain west. Frontier initially used Douglas DC-3 piston aircraft but later upgraded to Convair 340s and then Convair 580 turbo props. Service was briefly suspended in 1970 but resumed in 1971 with de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.

Big Sky Airlines served Lewistown from 1980 until 2008, operating commuter airline flights on the Billings-Lewistown-Havre route. During this time, Big Sky also operated as a Northwest Airlink code-share affiliate for Northwest Airlines. After Big Sky ceased operations in 2008 due to bankruptcy, Great Lakes Airlines took over the Essential Air Service (EAS) and served Lewistown from 2008 to 2011, offering direct flights to Denver with a stop in Worland, Wyoming.

While scheduled air service is currently unavailable, Lewistown Municipal Airport remains a part of the National Air Commerce System for National Defense and Civil Aeronautics. The airport's governing body is committed to preserving and maintaining the facility to serve the aeronautical needs of the national, state, and local communities.

The airport's runways and operations

Lewistown Municipal Airport is located two miles southwest of Lewistown, in Fergus County, Montana. It is owned by the city and county and covers 2,200 acres of land at an elevation of 4,170 feet. The airport has three asphalt runways: 8/26, which is 6,100 by 100 feet; 3/21, which is 5,600 by 100 feet; and 13/31, which is 4,102 by 60 feet.

The airport was constructed in 1942 as a satellite field for the Great Falls Army Air Base. During World War II, it served as a training facility for squadrons receiving navigation, gunnery, and bombing practice. After completing their training, the men were deployed to the European front. The airfield was operational for 12 months, from 1942 to 1943, and was then deactivated.

In the late 1930s, Inland Air Lines began the first scheduled commercial air service to Lewistown, with a route from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Great Falls, Montana, making stops at Casper, Sheridan, Billings, and Lewistown. This route was later acquired by Western Airlines, which served Lewistown until about 1960. The original Frontier Airlines served the airport from 1960 to 1980 with non-stop flights to Billings and Great Falls and direct flights to other US cities.

Big Sky Airlines operated at Lewistown Municipal Airport from 1980 to 2008, providing commuter airline flights. However, the airline filed for bankruptcy in 2008, causing a temporary cessation of scheduled air services. Great Lakes Airlines took over the Essential Air Service (EAS) and began operating in 2009. Silver Airways, formerly known as Gulfstream International Airlines, then provided services under an EAS contract until July 2013. Due to high subsidy costs per passenger, EAS subsidies were terminated in July 2013, leaving Lewistown without scheduled air service.

In 2011, the airport recorded 16,804 aircraft operations, averaging 46 per day. The breakdown of these operations was 81% general aviation, 15% air taxi, and 4% military.

Closest major airports to Lewistown

Lewistown, Montana, has an airport: Lewistown Municipal Airport, which is federally assisted and owned by the city and county. However, there are other major airports nearby. The closest of these is Great Falls International Airport, which is 109 miles from Lewistown. This airport offers domestic flights from Great Falls, Montana. Another major airport close to Lewistown is Billings Logan International Airport, which is 127 miles from Lewistown and offers domestic flights from Billings, Montana.

There are also several other major airports within a few hundred miles of Lewistown, including Calgary International Airport, 432 miles away in Canada, and Regina International Airport, 459 miles away, also in Canada. Salt Lake City International Airport is 575 miles from Lewistown, and Edmonton International Airport is 593 miles away, again in Canada.

Lewistown, Pennsylvania, also has an airport close by. The closest major airport is University Park Airport, which is 36 miles from Lewistown and offers domestic flights. Another airport with domestic flights is Altoona-Blair County Airport, 66 miles from Lewistown.

Finally, Lewistown, Illinois, has a few major airports within a hundred miles. The closest is General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport, 40 miles from Lewistown, offering domestic flights from Peoria, Illinois. Another airport with domestic flights is Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, 57 miles from Lewistown, offering flights from Springfield, Illinois.

Lewistown's airport governing body

Lewistown does have an airport: the Lewistown Municipal Airport, which is two miles southwest of the town, in Fergus County, Montana. The airport is owned by the city and county and is part of a National Air Commerce System for National Defense and Civil Aeronautics.

The Lewistown Municipal Airport's governing body has several obligations, including:

• Preserving and maintaining the airport facility in a safe and serviceable condition.
• Serving the public needs for all types, kinds, and classes of aeronautical activity in an efficient manner.
• Allowing for income generation through leasing areas or spaces with reasonable terms for both aviation and non-aviation uses. This includes ensuring that non-aviation uses are compatible with airport operations and that the income derived is used to support the maintenance, operation, and development costs of the aeronautical property.

The airport covers 2,200 acres at an elevation of 4,170 feet and has three asphalt runways. In 2011, the airport had 16,804 aircraft operations, averaging 46 per day, with 81% general aviation, 15% air taxi, and 4% military.

The history of Lewistown Municipal Airport dates back to the 1940s when it was a satellite field for the Great Falls Army Air Base. After serving as a training ground for squadrons during World War II, the field was deactivated and later declared surplus in 1948. It has been a municipal airport since then. Commercial air service to Lewistown began in the late 1930s with Inland Air Lines operating a route from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Great Falls, Montana, with stops at Casper, Sheridan, Billings, and Lewistown.

Over the years, various airlines have served the airport, including Frontier Airlines, Big Sky Airlines, Great Lakes Airlines, and Silver Airways, which was the final air carrier to serve Lewistown until 2013.

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