Airlines expand summer capacity

Travelers at Glacier Park International Airport can look forward to an additional 150 airline seats a day starting in July.

In anticipation of the summer spike in area visitors, America West Airlines will replace its 50-seat regional jet with a 150-passenger aircraft on its daily Phoenix route, while Northwest Airlines will add a third 50-seat aircraft each day for its Minneapolis route.

Both new schedules are slated to remain in effect through the end of summer, but airport director Mike Daigle said the airport is holding ongoing discussions with Northwest about continuing the extra flight throughout the year.

"We have seen consistent growth in the passenger counts into our airport," Daigle said. "We need more seats because the demand for access to Northwest Montana is growing. The population base has increased in this area and more businesses are now located here."

Passenger loads at Glacier Park International increased 7 percent in 2004 over the previous year. So far in 2005, passenger travel is up almost 14 percent here.

"We have also had interest from another airline which is currently not yet serving this area," Daigle said. "And although it is too late in the year for them to begin service this summer, we are now preparing a presentation to this new airline in the hope of their starting service here next summer."