Airport has busiest year ever

For the second consecutive year, Glacier Park International Airport has set an annual passenger record.

A total 452,588 passengers traveled via Glacier Park International in 2015, breaking the 2014 mark by 4 percent.

“It is very encouraging to see passenger number growth year over year and to see economic recovery continue to manifest itself in travel,” Airport Director Cindi Martin said. “We believe we are seeing both tourism and business travel improvements as evidenced by the fact that nearly every month in 2015 saw a record number of travelers arriving and departing through the airport.”

July and August were the most popular months for air travel through the airport, with the enplaned passenger count (travelers who board airplanes) at 36,079 in July and 39,710 in August. The total number of enplaned passengers for 2015 was 236,628, up 4 percent from 227,561 in 2014.

The number of arriving passengers in 2015 was 233,610, also up 4 percent from 2014.

“The growing consumer demand reflects the appeal of the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park region as a place to live, work and play,” Martin said.

In the past year, the airport finished a nine-year capital improvement program worth $32 million.

The program included reconstruction of the primary and crosswind runways, taxiway and air carrier terminal ramp; a terminal remodel of the security checkpoint, passenger hold rooms and terminal concession; airport access roadway improvements; and an updated 20-year master plan.

For more information on Glacier Park International Airport, visit www.iflyglacier.com.

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.