Idaho Falls Regional Airport covers 866 acres (350 ha) at an elevation of 4,744 feet (1,446 m). It has two asphalt runways: 3/21 is 9,002 by 150 feet (2,744 x 46 m) and 17/35 is 3,964 by 75 feet (1,208 x 23 m).[1]
In the year ending December 31, 2016, the airport had 33,152 aircraft operations, average 91 per day:
65% general aviation, 31% air taxi, 3% airline and <1% military. 171 aircraft were then based at this airport: 128 single-engine, 29 multi-engine, 6 jet, 5 helicopter, and 3 glider.[1]
History
A historic portion on the east side of the airport was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. The listing included two contributing buildings and a contributing structure on 4 acres (1.6 ha):[2] an aircraft hangar, an administrator or caretaker's cabin, and a beacon tower, as well as a surrounding landscaped area. It "represents" the original site of operations for the Idaho Falls Airport. The hangar was still in use in 1996.[4]
Terminal
The airport terminal has seen many expansions and a partial re-build throughout the years. The current terminal was built in 1959. The first expansion happening in 1982, which consisted of the old boarding area being torn down and retrofitted with jetways to accommodate smaller commercial aircraft that started coming in the mid-2000s. The previous terminal was designed with jetways for older generation Boeing 737, which stopped arriving in Idaho Falls after Delta airlines pulled out of mainline service to the airport in 1998. In 2014, an expansion project was completed that moved TSA screening of baggage out of view of passengers and allowed airlines to again check baggage from ticket counters.[5][6] In 2019, the airport saw a need for a bigger baggage claim area. The existing carousel was replaced by two new baggage carousels. In addition a new rental car parking lot was constructed. A remodeling project began in 2020 that was to upgrade the amenities at the airport, that consisted of the addition of four new gates, relocated TSA screening and a new check-in area.[7]
Food and beverage service
As of December 1, 2018, Tailwind, a new food, beverage and sundries provider was selected through an open RFP initiated earlier that year.[8] The company is assuming operations in limited mode as proposed renovations take place. The airport expressed a desire to have a vendor that would commit to minimum annual revenue (including a percentage of profits that goes to the airport), specific hours of operation based on flight schedules and out-of-pocket renovations to concession areas.[9]
From 2001 to 2018, the airport restaurant and lounge operator used her own name, Kathryn's. The lounge was operated by this local owner starting in 1999. The restaurant operated limited hours and served basic American fare for breakfasts and lunches Monday through Saturday. At other times, souvenirs, sundries and basic food were available at Kathryn's Snack Shack pre-security screening. In later years of operation, after an airport renovation, Kathryn's Snack Shack also operated post-security on the second level of the airport with coffee, beverages and basic sundries.
The airport has struggled to maintain a viable restaurant operator in the past. One restaurant was known as "Dolores' Place" operated by local restaurant critic Dolores Casella.[10] There were also "Das Kinder Haus" which served German food, and "Runway 21" (1991-1995) which tried to be an upscale steak house and coffee shop.[11] The restaurant has been remodeled once in 1991 and a small fire broke out in 2008 while the restaurant was closed.[12]
In 1981 Western started service on the 727-200s, which flew direct to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO), both via a stop in Salt Lake City.[20] Following the merger with Western, Delta continued to operate mainline jets into Idaho Falls, and in 1989 they had three daily nonstop 737-200 and 737-300s flights to Salt Lake City.[21] In 1994 Delta had three daily 727-200 and 737-300 nonstops to Salt Lake City.[22]
West Coast AirlinesDouglas DC-3s began service into Idaho Falls in 1951 with Fairchild F-27s. They flew until 1968, when West Coast merged with Bonanza Air Lines and Pacific Air Lines to form Air West which was renamed Hughes Airwest.[23] Air West served Idaho Falls with Fairchild F-27s beginning in 1968, as well as did Hughes Airwest. Both airlines started this service in 1972.[24][25] In the mid 1970s, Hughes Airwest updated all flights to Idaho Falls to Douglas DC-9-10 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jets, which flew direct to San Francisco (SFO) and Seattle (SEA) and non-stop to Boise and Salt Lake City.[26] By 1979 Hughes Airwest had added a non-stop DC-9-30s to Denver.[27]
Frontier Airlines started service June 12, 2014 between Idaho Falls and Denver[30] but pulled out effective January 5, 2015.[31]
Horizon Air was serving Idaho Falls in 1985 with Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners non-stop to Boise and had de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8s by 1989.[32][21] In 1995 Horizon Air was serving Idaho Falls with Dash 8s and Fokker F28 Fellowships for Alaska Airlines via a code sharing agreement with the non-stop flight F28 jet flight to Boise continuing to Oakland.[33] The regional airline began operating non-stop between Idaho Falls and Seattle for Alaska Airlines in 2003 with the 76-seat Bombardier Q400[34] but ended the service in 2004.[35] It reinstated non-stop flights to Seattle beginning on October 25, 2008. The flights included a stopover in Bozeman, Montana. This service was discontinued as of August 23, 2009.[36][37] On June 16, 2010, Horizon Air announced its intention to once again discontinue all service to Idaho Falls effective August 22, 2010. At the time, the airline was flying between Idaho Falls and Boise.[38]
Northwest Airlines started service between Idaho Falls and Minneapolis-St. Paul June 9, 2005. Service ended after Northwest merged with Delta Air Lines.[40] Seasonal Delta flights with first-class and coach cabins resumed in June 2014.[41]
SeaPort Airlines offered service between Boise and Idaho Falls starting in July 2011 after Horizon Air left. Due to maintenance issues and due to aircraft changes, the airline stopped service on December 31, 2011. The flight time increased from 1 hour to 1.5 hours.[42][43][44]
Big Sky Airlines started service between Idaho Falls and Denver in October 2002; it ended January 13, 2003.[45]
American Airlines discontinued mainline McDonnell Douglas MD-80s to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) in 1994. The service had started in December 1987.[47] In 1989 American MD-80s flew to Idaho Falls from both Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago O'Hare Airport, both via Salt Lake City.[21]
