Gallatin Field Airport recorded its second busiest year ever with 342,714 passengers boarding airline flights in 2009. While boardings were down 2.4% from the record setting 2008, Gallatin Field Airport fared well compared to other airports across the nation.
The Air Traffic Control Tower at Gallatin Field handled 68,913 aircraft operations during the year. General aviation accounts for 75% of Gallatin Field’s aircraft operations. Scheduled passenger and cargo airline service accounts for approximately 18% and corporate jet operations account for the remaining 7% of all Gallatin Field aircraft operations.
The Gallatin Airport Authority broke ground in July 2009 on a $40 million dollar terminal expansion that will more than double the terminal’s size, add three new gates, improve the passenger and baggage screening experience, add a third baggage claim carousel and increase food, beverage and retail concessions inside the terminal. It is estimated that over 175 direct jobs have been created for the duration of this project. The project is fully funded without any local tax payer support and is expected to be completed in June 2011.
In addition, the Gallatin Airport Authority began work in October on a $3.5 million dollar Consolidated Rental Car Service Facility. The new facility is expected to be completed in April 2010 and is funded through Rental Car Customer Facility Charges.
Gallatin Field Airport serves Bozeman, Big Sky, Southwest Montana and Yellowstone National Park and is served by five airline brands with year round non-stop service to Denver, Great Falls, Las Vegas, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake City and Seattle/Tacoma. Winter and summer schedules include non-stop service to Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and San Francisco. Over 400 people are employed by the 28 entities with offices at Gallatin Field.
Passenger boardings by airline brand in 2009 were:
• Delta (including Northwest) – 157,519
• United – 98,560
• Frontier – 42,528
• Horizon Air – 31,081
• Allegiant Air – 12,894
• Chartered Airline Flights - 132
