Montana's Major Airports: A Comprehensive Guide

what major airports are in montana

Montana is a huge state with quite a few cities that have airports, partially because they are so far apart. Airports in Montana include Billings Logan International Airport, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Glacier Park International Airport, Great Falls International Airport, Bert Mooney Airport, and Missoula International Airport.

Characteristics Values
Busiest airport Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
Largest airport Billings Logan International Airport
Located in Southern Montana Billings Logan International Airport
Located in Western Montana Missoula International Airport
Located in Central Montana Great Falls International Airport
Located in Northern Montana Bert Mooney Airport
Serviced by Allegiant Air Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Missoula airports
Serviced by American Airlines Billings, Bozeman, Kalispell (Glacier Park), and Missoula
Serviced by Cape Air Billings, Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, and Wolf Pointe
Serviced by Delta Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Kalispell, Helena, and Missoula
Serviced by United Airlines Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, and Kalispell
Serviced by Virgin Atlantic Billings

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Glacier Park International Airport

In terms of airline operations, Glacier Park International Airport is served by several major carriers, including Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and American Airlines. These airlines offer convenient connections to various destinations across the United States. For example, Delta provides year-round nonstop flights to Salt Lake City (SLC) and Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP), while also offering seasonal services to Atlanta (ATL) and Los Angeles (LAX). United Airlines operates a year-round service to Denver (DEN) and seasonal flights to Chicago (ORD), San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), and Houston (IAH). American Airlines, on the other hand, provides seasonal flights to Dallas, Chicago, and New York (LGA).

The history of Glacier Park International Airport dates back to the 1960s when West Coast Airlines served the airport with Fairchild F-27 turboprops flying to Spokane, Seattle, and Great Falls. Over the years, the airport has seen various airlines come and go, with jet service introduced in the 1970s and 1980s by carriers such as Hughes Airwest, Western Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. The airport witnessed significant growth in passenger traffic during this period, with a fivefold increase between 1974 and 1998. Terminal and infrastructure upgrades have been carried out over the years to accommodate the growing demand, including upgrades to the terminal in 1981 and further enhancements in the 1990s.

Today, the airport continues to provide a range of services and facilities for travellers. It offers a first-class experience with a dedicated team that ensures safety, efficiency, and a friendly environment. Shuttle services are available to and from the airport, providing convenient transportation for guests staying at nearby accommodations, such as the Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish. Additionally, rental car services are available through partners like Dollar Rental Car, offering unlimited miles and exclusive deals for visitors exploring Glacier National Park and its surroundings.

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Great Falls International Airport

The airport covers 2,113 acres of land at an elevation of 3,680 feet. It features two asphalt runways: 3/21, which is 10,502 feet long and 150 feet wide, and 17/35, which is 6,030 feet long and 150 feet wide. In the year ending December 31, 2018, the airport recorded 34,599 aircraft operations, averaging 95 per day. These operations included general aviation (40%), air taxi (32%), airline (11%), and military (16%) flights.

The terminal at Great Falls International Airport features what is believed to be the world's largest collection of model airplanes, with 883 models on display. The models were crafted by local Great Falls resident Bary Poletto over a period of 26 years, from 1977 until 2003. The airport has seen scheduled airline flights since the 1930s, and in 2011, it recorded its highest number of boardings in its history, with 172,415 enplanements.

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Billings Logan International Airport

The airport has two fixed-base operators, Beacon Air Group and Edwards Jet Center, providing services such as fuel, maintenance, charter, crew lounge, and snooze rooms. The Aviation and Transit Board governs the airport, consisting of seven members appointed for four-year terms, with the Mayor electing the board members with the Council's consent.

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Missoula International Airport

Missoula Montana Airport, formerly known as Missoula International Airport, is located in Missoula, Missoula County, Montana. It is owned by the Missoula County Airport Authority. The airport is a vital part of Western Montana and is categorised as a primary commercial service airport, with more than 10,000 enplanements per year. Federal Aviation Administration records indicate that the airport handled between 280,000 and 290,000 passenger boardings annually from 2008 to 2010.

Missoula's first landing strip was established in 1923, south of the university. The site for Missoula's first true airport was near the Western Montana Fair Grounds, now Sentinel High School. This airport, named Hale Field, operated from 1935 until its closure in 1954. It was replaced by the Missoula County Airport, which opened in 1941. The current airfield is named after Harry O. Bell, the first president of the Missoula chapter of the National Aeronautic Association, and mountain flying pioneer Bob Johnson of Johnson Flying Service (now Minuteman Aviation).

The Missoula Montana Airport has undergone several expansion projects over the years. A new 101-foot control tower was completed in September 2012, and an expansion of the old terminal building, including a new security screening area, was finished in 2007. Construction of a new terminal began in 2018 and was completed in 2022, with the old terminal being demolished in 2023. In 2024, funding was secured for the eastward terminal expansion, which includes four new gates, an expanded baggage claim area, and a new rental car centre. The airport also allows non-ticketed persons to visit areas past security, a rarity among airports in the country.

Neptune Aviation, an aerial firefighting company, is based at the Missoula Montana Airport. The airport is also home to a U.S. Forest Service smokejumper base, the largest of seven in the nation.

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Yellowstone Airport

Montana has several major airports, including Yellowstone Airport, which is located in Gallatin County. The airport is a state-owned public-use airport situated one nautical mile (2 km) north of West Yellowstone's central business district, a town in Gallatin County, Montana, United States. Yellowstone Airport is relatively small, serving only 4,451 passengers in 2010. It is a non-primary commercial service airport, categorised as having between 2,500 and 10,000 enplanements per year.

The airport is only open from June through September, and commercial passenger service is available during those months. The scheduled airline service is subsidised by the federal Essential Air Service (EAS) program.

The history of Yellowstone Airport dates back to the 1930s when Western Airlines began the first service to West Yellowstone. The airline offered seasonal flights, connecting Los Angeles, California, and Great Falls, Montana, with stops in between, including at Yellowstone Airport. The service was operated using Douglas DC-3 aircraft.

Over the years, the airport has been served by various airlines, including Frontier Airlines, which operated seasonal flights to Denver using Convair 580 turboprop aircraft and later Boeing 737-200 jetliners. Western Airlines returned to the airport in the 1960s, advertising it as a "jet-age airport - right at Yellowstone Park". By 1970, they had replaced turboprop service with Boeing 737-200 jet flights, offering nonstop service to several destinations during the summer of 1973.

Today, Delta Connection, operated by SkyWest Airlines, provides service to Salt Lake City, continuing the legacy of air travel at Yellowstone Airport.

Frequently asked questions

Some of the major airports in Montana are Billings Logan International Airport, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Bert Mooney Airport, Great Falls International Airport, Glacier Park International Airport, and Missoula International Airport.

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Belgrade is Montana's busiest airport.

Some of the major airlines flying into Montana are Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, and Cape Air.

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