Spokane's Airport Accessibility And Travel Options

Spokane, Washington, has three airports: Spokane International Airport (GEG), Felts Field Airport, and the Airport Business Park. Spokane International Airport is the city's primary commercial airport, with flights to 17 destinations in the United States. It is served by five major and five regional air carriers and processes over 3 million passengers annually. Felts Field Airport, located in eastern Spokane, is a general aviation airport that was once home to the Air National Guard. The third airport is for the US Air Force's Washington Air National Guard and is home to Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. Spokane's airports have played a significant role in the city's prosperity and aviation history.

Spokane has three airports

Spokane, Washington, has three airports: Spokane International Airport, Felts Field Airport, and the Airport Business Park. Spokane International Airport (GEG) is the primary commercial airport for the Washington State city of Spokane, with flights to 17 destinations in the United States. The airport has three main concourse structures: Concourse A and B in the centre, Concourse C to the southwest, and the Ground Transportation Centre to the north. In 2019, Spokane International Airport had a record-breaking 3,881,000 passengers. The airport has ongoing expansion plans, including adding new gates, centralised security, and an expanded baggage claim area.

Felts Field Airport, located in eastern Spokane, is a general aviation airport with a rich history. It served as the starting point for the first nonstop, round-trip, transcontinental flight using aerial refuelling, piloted by Nick Mamer and Art Walker. In 1938, Spokane County Engineer Clarence Griggs affirmed that Felts Field would remain an Air National Guard, flight training, and general aviation field. During World War II, it served as a training base for the Second Air Force and was used for aircraft maintenance and supply.

The Airport Business Park, Spokane's third airport, is currently used by the US Air Force's Washington Air National Guard and houses Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers for aerial refuelling and resupply flights. This airport was previously known as Sunset Airport, activated by Gen. Hap Arnold in 1942, and later renamed Geiger Field after the war. In 1948, it was transferred to Spokane, marking the beginning of Spokane International Airport's development.

Spokane International Airport's history

Spokane International Airport, along with Felts Field Airport and the Airport Business Park, are the three airports that make up Spokane's airport system. Covering 6,140 acres, Spokane International Airport is the largest of the three and serves as a significant aviation hub in the region. The airport's history is deeply intertwined with the city's development and has played a crucial role in shaping Spokane's aviation landscape.

During World War II, what is now Spokane International Airport served as Geiger Field, a major training base for the Second Air Force. It was a bustling airfield for B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment units, with new aircraft being supplied by Boeing near Seattle. The field also served as an aircraft maintenance and supply depot for the Air Technical Service Command, with Deer Park Airport and Felts Field operating as auxiliary sites. In 1943, Geiger Field witnessed the establishment of the first formal fire protection training course by General Hap Arnold. The field remained in use until 1946, after which it was closed and transferred to Spokane County.

In the post-war years, Spokane County transformed Geiger Field into a commercial airport, catering to both civilian and military aviation needs. The airport continued to play a strategic role during the Cold War, hosting USAF Air Defense Command interceptor units for the defence of critical infrastructure such as the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and Grand Coulee Dam. As Spokane's aviation demands grew, the county embarked on a journey to establish a "super-airport" to meet the region's evolving aviation needs.

In 1960, Spokane International Airport took on its current name when Air Canada initiated service to Calgary. The airport's development gained momentum, and by 1962, the city and county had secured sufficient funds to qualify for federal support for a modern air terminal. This terminal, designed by architects Warren Heylman and William Trogdon, opened in May 1965, marking Spokane International Airport's entry into the jet age. The complex included the Concourse A/B structure with a central rotunda, dining, and shopping options. Over the years, the airport has undergone numerous expansions and improvements, including the addition of parking garages, expanded concourses, a taller tower, and a rental car wing.

Today, Spokane International Airport continues to evolve to meet the demands of growing passenger and cargo traffic. With ongoing expansion projects, such as the Terminal Renovation and Expansion (TREX) program, the airport is poised to offer more direct flights and enhanced facilities for travellers. The first phase of the TREX program, which includes expanding Concourse C, broke ground in October 2022, with completion expected in late 2025. As Spokane International Airport looks to the future, it remains committed to accommodating growing aviation demands while serving as a gateway to the city and the surrounding region.

Spokane International Airport's expansion plans

Spokane International Airport (GEG) is the second-largest commercial service airport in the state of Washington. It is served by seven major airlines and three cargo carriers, and provides employment for over 3,000 people. In 2023, the airport welcomed a record-breaking 4,131,266 passengers and handled 77,398 tons of cargo.

Spokane International Airport has expansion plans to accommodate the region's increasing passenger demand. The airport broke ground on Phase 1 of the Terminal Renovation and Expansion (TREX) program in October 2022, which includes the expansion of Concourse C. The $150 million addition will add 144,000 square feet, featuring 6 new gates and the modernization of the existing terminal. The first portion of the expanded concourse, which includes three gates at the west end, opened in June 2024. The remainder of the project is planned to begin construction in late 2024 and be completed the following year.

The second phase of the TREX program will focus on creating a centralized TSA screening checkpoint and baggage claim, as well as an improved operations center. The Central Hall, with a planned construction timeline of 2025 to 2027, is estimated to cost $179 million. Other projects planned in the TREX program include the relocation of rental car facilities and the renovation of the A/B concourse.

By 2030, Spokane International Airport expects more than 6.2 million passengers to pass through its gates. The expansion project aims to increase the airport's capacity to accommodate this exponential growth and better position Spokane to attract, retain, and expand air service connections to the global economy.

Felts Field Airport

Spokane, Washington, is served by three airports: Spokane International Airport, Felts Field Airport, and the Airport Business Park. This answer will focus on Felts Field Airport.

The history of aviation activities at Felts Field date back over a century to 1913, when it was known as the Parkwater airstrip. In 1920, it was designated a municipal flying field, and in 1926, the Department of Commerce officially recognised Parkwater as an airport—one of the first in the western United States. In September 1927, the airport was renamed Felts Field in honour of James Buell Felts, a Washington Air National Guard aviator who had died in a crash a few months prior. The new name was unveiled during Spokane's National Air Races, which were hosted by Felts Field.

Over the years, Felts Field has played a significant role in aviation. It served as the location for flight instruction, charter services, airplane repair, aerial photography, and as the headquarters of the 116th Observation Squadron of the Washington Air National Guard. Notably, Felts Field was also the site of Spokane's first airmail and commercial flights. During World War II, the airport was utilised as an auxiliary field for Geiger Field, a major training base for the Second Air Force. After the war, in 1946, the commercial airlines operating from Felts Field moved to Geiger Field, which later became Spokane International Airport.

In recognition of its historical significance, Felts Field was designated the Felts Field Historic District in 1991 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The airport continues to be a hub for aviation enthusiasts, with the Historic Flight Foundation aviation museum housed in its hangar facilities.

Spokane's aviation history

In the 1930s, with the skies and runways becoming crowded, the Spokane Chamber of Commerce recognised the need for a larger, more modern airport to maintain Spokane's status as a regional transportation and business hub. During World War II, Geiger Field served as a major training base for the Second Air Force and was used for aircraft maintenance and supply. After the war, commercial air traffic moved to Geiger Field, which later became Spokane International Airport. Felts Field remained a hub for private and small-plane aviation.

Spokane International Airport has undergone significant development over the years. The airport, served by major airlines and cargo carriers, processes over 3,000,000 passengers annually. In 2022, the airport broke ground on the first phase of the Terminal Renovation and Expansion (TREX) program, which includes the expansion of Concourse C with a contemporary architectural style. The project aims to add new gates, centralised security, and expanded baggage claim areas to accommodate growing passenger and cargo traffic. Spokane's aviation industry continues to thrive, with the region generating $1 billion in aerospace revenue and employing over 7,000 workers.

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