Glacier Park International Airport expansion off to a flying start

A year and a half into construction, Glacier Park International Airport is making significant progress on its $150 million terminal expansion project with the first phase of the expansion nearly at the halfway mark.

The project includes various additions to the airport, such as a new Transportation Security Administration checkpoint, jet bridges, waiting areas, expanded retail and dining options, administrative offices and mechanical facilities. The airport also will feature new restrooms, a lactation room and a service animal relief area.

“It is incredible how far we’ve come in the past year and a half,” said Director Rob Ratkowski in a statement. “It has been amazing to watch this structure take shape, and we are looking forward to the completion of the first phase this fall. We know locals and travelers alike will enjoy the new amenities.”

Ratkowski said he is particularly proud of the new observation area on the third floor, which will give passengers and the public-at-large a perfect vantage for watching planes come and go.

“Aviation is a miracle that we all take for granted,” Ratkowski said in a press release issued earlier this month celebrating the project’s progress.

“What kid isn’t excited to watch the magic of flight happen right before their eyes? Those kids are going to be our next generation of pilots, mechanics and airport operators, and we want to fuel that excitement for aviation,” he said.

Construction crews have finished Phase 1A — the formal name given to the first part of the project — steel erection and framing. Weatherproofing is nearing completion and windows will be added during the next few months. This phase of the project is anticipated to open later this year, but before the busy holiday season.

In addition to the building expansion, the airport also has added to its parking amenities. The new parking lot includes an additional 375 spaces, including Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible parking, totaling roughly 1,300 spaces between the general parking area and the recently paved cell phone lot. The first two hours of parking in the cell phone lot are free, with the aim of reducing wait times during peak hours and long lines at passenger drop-off and pick-up locations.

Upon completion of Phase 1A, the focus will shift to Phase 1B. This part of the project includes the renovation and expansion of the ticketing area, the remainder of the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint, and the remaining sections of the new grand hall. The grand hall will be the central core of the expanded airport and will be partially finished during Phase 1A. Phase 1B is expected to be completed in 2025.

The final leg of the expansion — Phase 2 — will include renovation of the rental car, baggage claim and second-floor gate areas.

The airport is still hoping to secure funding for the second phase, with the grant application for $27 million in funds appropriated by the large Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021 under review. Ratkowski said they will hear back on their application status by July, though he hopes to get news sooner.

LAST YEAR’S BOARDING NUMBERS are in, and Glacier International set another record, narrowly outpacing 2021’s historic traffic, with on and off-boardings each rising by about 3,000 people.

Interestingly, the growth came during the Flathead Valley’s traditional tourism off-season, with traffic during summer months down significantly from the previous year’s peak.

From January to May, there was a huge increase in year-to-year passenger traffic. June, however, marked the beginning of five straight months of fewer passengers than the year prior.

Reporter Adrian Knowler can be reached at 758-4407 or aknowler@dailyinterlake.com.