This July, Gallatin Field Airport will complete a two-year, $40 million expansion. The new terminal adds about 125,000 square feet to the existing building, and airport’s new footprint will be the largest in Montana.
Gallatin Field has seen unprecedented growth in the last 12 calendar months, and the airport’s Deputy Director Scott Humphrey said, “Yellowstone Park and Big Sky play a large part [in that].” He added, “We’re looking at 12 percent growth in enplanements as compared to last June.”
The concourse itself and all the gates opened June 30, and the entire terminal will open July 20. Major changes will include a new entrance and passenger check-in area, four new gates, more efficient passenger security screening, TSA bag screening behind closed doors, and indoor storage for airline machinery.
Generally, 18-21 commercial flights come through Gallatin Field daily. The airport doesn’t have new flights lined up immediately, but the expansion will give everyone a lot more room, particularly solving the morning time crunch. More than 200 people work at the airport complex.
– E.S.
