Billings Logan International Airport

An Aviation Gem at the Base of the Rimrock Mountains

Balancing passenger demand with increased commercial and cargo service potential and a warm welcome

If there is one thing that stands out when describing Billings Logan International Airport for those who may not have had the opportunity to visit yet, it is the warm welcome and customer-centered approach that the airport takes pride in.

However, providing a clean, safe, and relaxed atmosphere is only part of the aviation puzzle. What makes this airport so unique and one to watch is its commitment to adding enhanced services, thinking outside the box to enhance economic prospects, and doing so at an airport enviably situated, sitting on approximately 2,500 prime acres surrounded by a beautiful natural backdrop.

Nestled at the base of the spectacular Rimrock Mountains, just a short drive into the dynamic city of Billings, Montana, this airport has earned its reputation as a bit of an aviation hub. Serving as a gateway for tourists entering the region, as well as corporate travelers and passengers eager to take advantage of its expanded commercial routes, Billings Logan has a lot going on.

Juggling the many A.A.E pieces that are at play at the airport, Jeff Roach, Billings Logan International Airport’s Aviation director, has taken the lead in several key areas as part of the airport’s overall master plan and capital infrastructure focus.

With passenger numbers nearing the pre-pandemic level, Roach is optimistic about the airport’s vitality and is capitalizing on its obvious attributes to ensure that aviation numbers continue to rise.

“We are continuing to increase our passengers served and the opportunities that our passengers have here at the airport,” Roach outlines.

“We are now looking at significant milestones here at the airport related to increased activity. One of those is that we anticipate that we will exceed 1 million passengers through Billings Logan for the first time this calendar year,” he adds.

‘We’re looking for that millionth passenger in early December if our passenger numbers stay on track, and will of course identify that millionth passenger and celebrate that here in the terminal with our local business community, as well as inviting the media to participate in the celebration,” Roach elaborates.

Beyond hitting this impressive passenger threshold later this year, Roach is also keeping busy  focusing his efforts on earmarked airport improvement projects, exploring airport business potential, both aeronautical and non-aeronautical, as well as monitoring the recent addition to popular routes, including to Denver, a key aviation hub.

With key infrastructure projects underway and planned, as well as an eye to increasing both its commercial and cargo capacity, Billings Logan has earned its place as a growing aviation center.

While other airports may still be finding the route back from the pandemic a tricky one, Billings Logan International is flying high and paving the way to further growth as we embark on the third fiscal quarter of 2025.

 

Cargo and medical focus takes flight

“At Billings Logan International Airport, we are very much customer-focused and ensure the safe and efficient operation of the airport for our passengers, not only from our community, but from throughout the multi-state region that we serve,” Roach describes.

Perfectly geared for increased cargo and commercial offerings, Roach relays that particular focus is being given to providing the infrastructure to attract another cargo carrier in addition to courting additional possible commercial airlines to make their home at the bustling airport.

“Anything that improves the economic environment for the region that we serve means more business for the airport, both passenger and air cargo,” Roach notes.

“Billings Logan is the busiest air cargo airport in the state of Montana.”

“We’re also the 55th busiest air cargo airport in the nation, last year. Air cargo is very important to the operations here at Billings Logan International,” he expands.

“We are always looking for opportunities to expand our footing in the air cargo arena. Last summer, we completed a fifth air cargo pad.”

“Currently, we have two air cargo pads leased to FedEx, two cargo pads leased to UPS, and we have built a fifth pad for future air cargo expansion.”

Boasting the longest surface runway in the state of Montana, coupled with good weather, top-tier instrumentation on the airfield, Billings Logan International has the capacity to handle cargo operators with ease in virtually any time without limitations.

“The airport has the best opportunity for future air cargo development in the state of Montana, we think,” Roach states.

Another significant development has added to the excitement that Roach exudes for the airport’s economic prospects.

“Within the last few years, Rocky Vista University has opened a medical school in Billings, a doctor of osteopathic medicine, in conjunction with the construction of a new doctor of veterinary medicine school.”

“Classes are expected to begin in about 12 to 18 months, and this will be Montana’s only doctor of veterinary medicine school as well as their medical school,” Roach summarizes.

Roach notes that the medical facilities are very significant for the area that Billings Logan serves. “Agriculture is our number one industry in Montana, and having trained veterinarians available is critical to the agricultural industry.”

The airport, Roach illustrates, is also positioned perfectly to help facilitate medical flights in and out of the area, situated down the road of what is referred to as the Billings medical corridor.

“We have two major hospitals in Billings, and one of those is currently under construction with a new 14-story hospital facility just down the street from the airport- a less than five-minute drive from the terminal. This new addition represents about a billion dollars’ worth of construction over the next five years,” he signifies.

“There are also numerous subsidiary medical offices and clinics in the same general area. Aircraft from both hospitals are based here at the airport, and they leave from the airport and go get the passengers and transport them to the hospital. They also transport passengers from the hospital to the airport who are going to then fly out for additional specialty care, such as in larger nearby centers including Salt Lake City and Denver.

An economic gateway

Recognized as an economic gateway to the region, Billings Logan International is backed by key economic stakeholders, including the Billings Chamber of Commerce, Visit Billings, Big Sky Economic Development, as well as the greater region around Yellowstone County.

“We regularly meet and discuss air service development and business development at the airport or near the airport. We also work with them when we are going out and doing air service development efforts,” Roach explains.

“We try to take participants from these economic organizations on those air service development trips and air service development activities so that the air carriers we are meeting with get a community perspective,” he elaborates.

Roach is quick to point out that the strong community stakeholder relationships were firmly in place prior to him taking the helm, and these partnerships continue to provide the economic framework for greater business growth at the airport and throughout the region it serves.

“At Billings Logan, we are always looking for additional aeronautical and non-aeronautical development with about 2,500 acres total available here and a significant amount of space available for future commercial development,” Roach relays.

Roach highlights the northeast side of the airport, which used to be a US Air Force airbase and then transferred to the airport in the early 1970s, as prime space to lease out to additional air cargo carriers, as the airport remains determined to expand its footprint in the air cargo arena.

Beyond cargo capabilities, Roach also draws attention to the airport solidifying its role as a hub airport with originating flights to five communities throughout the state through Cape Air.

“No other airport in the state of Montana has originating flights. So we are working to make sure that not only air carriers, but businesses are aware that we are a hub airport and we want to expand this role by securing other carriers to provide in-state and regional air service from Billings.”

Navigating infrastructure upgrades down the flight path

Charting the airport’s route forward directly relates to some of the upgrades required. Roach is ensuring these capital airport improvement projects are up to speed and can accommodate projected cargo and commercial growth.

The airport has completed the first half of its airport terminal upgrade and is part of the overall list of projects completed and slated for completion.

“We expanded the terminal restaurant and gift shop to provide more concession opportunities and also expanded the TSA checkpoint area.

“There are now three checkpoint lanes and room to expand to a fourth lane if our passenger levels rise to that need,” Roach adds.

“The terminal project also involved modernizing the bathroom facilities, and we think that we have some of the best bathrooms of any airport in the nation.

The airport passengers are recognizing the welcome terminal changes, and the media has picked up on it, too.

“All of these changes helped us to be named in Travel and Leisure’s Domestic Airport Passenger Survey as number seven in the nation.”

Billings Logan International will also see positive changes to its crosswind runway this year.

“This year, we are taking runway 7-25 from 5,500 feet out to about 6,250 feet, and that corrects some of the geometry issues that we had with our general aviation runway that crossed our crosswind runway.”

The crosswind runway that is currently limited to accommodating up to 12,500 pounds will soon be able to handle up to 17,500 pounds, which will allow for large planes to utilize the runway safely under strong wind conditions.

These upgrades and additions to the airport, coupled with the anticipated construction of three new 100-foot by 100-foot commercial service hangars. Roach notes that completion of these hangars that will be available for lease hinges on the planned construction next year of a new taxiway into the airport’s commercial service area.

As to the next year or so, Roach sums it up well.

“We are always looking for additional aeronautical and non-aeronautical development on the airport, and we are continuously looking for opportunities to expand our cargo footprint.”

Already home to FedEx and UPS, Roach is courting other cargo carriers as he diligently completes the necessary infrastructure work to accommodate them.

“We are also looking at bringing in further commercial carriers that might be interested in providing flights that are shorter legs but provide service for the long distance we have in Montana and throughout this Mountain West region,” he projects.

With all that is going on at Billings Logan International, it is clear that the airport is taking off to greater heights with its feet squarely planted on the ground, meeting passengers with a smile.

At A GLANCE

Billings Logan International Airport

What: The largest cargo service airport in Montana and a commercial and economic hub for the region

Where: Just outside of Billings, Montana

Website: https://www.flybillings.com/