Boise Airport awarded $74M in federal grants for upgrades

Federal grants totaling $74 million will be landing in Boise to help Boise Airport enhance safety measures and increase operational efficiency as the region and site continue to expand.

The Federal Aviation Administration awarded the airport three separate grants to help offset the cost of the facility’s ongoing runway construction project, and to help fund the second phase of the future Concourse A construction project.

“The runways and airfield are the most critical pieces of infrastructure at an airport,” said Beth Sumner, deputy director of engineering for the airport. “While they may not be as visible as a new terminal, these investments ensure Boise Airport can continue to safely and efficiently serve the Treasure Valley and the entire region for decades to come.”

The primary and largest of the three grants totals $59.4 million. The funds will help support the reconstruction of one of the airport’s two parallel runways. The runway renovation began in March of this year, with work expected to continue on the project during the next two construction seasons.

The soon-to-be reconstructed runway will also get a boost from a second grant totaling $4.9 million that will be used to fund the installation of a runway visual guidance system. The upgrades will include centerline lighting to help pilots maintain a safe and stabilized approach during landings.

The other $9.6 million grant will be used to help complete the south side of the aircraft apron of the future Concourse A. The first phase of the apron project began in 2025 and helped create additional spots for overnight aircraft parking. The added spaces will allow for more aircraft to be positioned for early morning departures, which will also help airlines to expand regional air service.

Including a record 5 million passengers who used the travel facility last year, passenger air traffic has increased 81% at the airstrip since 2014, according to statistics provided by Boise Airport.