The newly renamed Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport recorded an all time passenger boarding record with 397,822 passengers boarding airline flights in 2011. This represents an 8.9% increase of nearly 33,000 passengers more than the previous record set in 2010.
The Air Traffic Control Tower handled 73,749 aircraft operations during the year, up 1.8% over 2010. General aviation accounts for 76% of Gallatin Field’s aircraft operations. Scheduled passenger and cargo airline service accounts for approximately 17% and corporate jet operations account for the remaining 7% of all aircraft operations.
During 2011, a new “state of the art” $40 million dollar terminal expansion was opened. The terminal addition added three new gates, a third baggage claim carousel, improved passenger and baggage screening space and increased food, beverage and retail concessions in the terminal. New concessions include a full-service Grill and Bar inside security, a “Destination Yellowstone” retail and information store sponsored by the Yellowstone Association and the Yellowstone Park Foundation, and the new “Copper Horse Market” serving the needs of arriving passengers.
This coming spring, the airport, which is operated by the Gallatin Airport Authority will open a new Customs and Border Patrol facility that will permit international arriving general aviation aircraft for the first time. This project is funded in cooperation with Signature Flight Support and the Yellowstone Club.
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport serves Big Sky, Southwest Montana and Yellowstone National Park and is served by five airline brands with year round non-stop service to Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Phoenix-Mesa, Salt Lake City and Seattle/Tacoma. Winter and summer schedules include non-stop service to Atlanta, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Over 500 people are employed by the 28 entities with offices at the airport.
Passenger boardings by airline brand in 2011 were:
• Delta Air Lines – 156,233
• United Airlines – 127,315
• Frontier Airlines – 42,703
• Alaska Airlines – 41,575
• Allegiant Air – 28,585
• Chartered Airline Flights – 1,411
