Boise Airport sets passenger record

At a time when Boise keeps setting new records for growth, the Boise Airport is no exception. The state’s largest commercial airport set its own record for 2019 with over 4.1 million passengers traveling through BOI.

This number of travelers is a 6% increase over 2018 for passenger travel, which continues to grow at a faster pace than the national average.

“As the entire Treasure Valley continues to grow, so does the demand for air service,” said Rebecca Hupp, Boise Airport Director. “In 2019, airlines increased air service to a number of existing markets including top destinations like Seattle and Los Angeles. We expect traffic in 2020 to grow as well, with new service to Atlanta and increased service to other destinations, which is why we’ve been working so hard to ensure the Boise Airport is prepared for that growth.”

One sign of the increasing popularity of Boise Airport as a destination is the new airport welcome center, unveiled on Jan. 15, just around the corner from the rental car counters on the ground floor of the terminal.

The increase in traffic prompted the addition of another TSA security checkpoint screening lane in 2019. The new lane brings the number of usable screening lanes up to six. It is used during peak periods and increases the number of passengers that can be screened by 20%.

In addition, three airlines have already announced several new flights coming in 2020:

• In March, Alaska Airlines will begin two daily flights to Los Angeles. They will also add an additional daily flight to San Diego.
• Southwest Airlines will add an additional Monday-through-Friday flight to Denver, San Jose and Sacramento. They will also add an additional flight to Phoenix on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Delta Air Lines will begin a daily flight to Atlanta in July.

In anticipation of this additional traffic, Boise Airport has started its already planned multi-year expansion project, BOI Upgrade.

In 2020, the airport will expand economy parking by paving a gravel portion of the current lot. This will add approximately 250 spaces of public parking. The airport will also begin construction of a five-level, 700 space, employee parking garage near the corner of Wright and S. Owyhee Streets.

In 2021, construction will begin on a five-level 1,300-stall public parking garage. The new public garage will be placed to the east of the existing public garage and will still be within walking distance to the terminal.

Other expansions included in the BOI Upgrade plan include a new rental car garage and lobby and an additional terminal concourse, as well as various other supporting projects. The estimation completion of all the upgrade construction is currently late 2023.