Business View Magazine | December 2019

224 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019 runway was completed in the spring of 1953 and Frontier Airlines began flying commercial flights out of Cody that June. Since the first Airport Master Plan was completed in 1985, the Airport has grown steadily over the ensuing decades. Today, Yellowstone Regional Airport covers an area of 694 acres and has one asphalt runway measuring 8,268 by 100 feet. It is the third busiest airport in the state, offering year-round commercial passenger service to Denver and seasonal service to Chicago via United Express, and seasonal service to Salt Lake City via Delta Connection provided by Skywest Airlines. In addition, FedEx Express and UPS Airlines both offer frequent air cargo services. The Airport is also home to 80 GA aircraft and hosts a full array of general aviation services including aircraft maintenance, flight instruction, charter and scenic sightseeing trips, fly-ins, and car rentals. Airport Director, Bob Hooper, reports that over the last several months, general aviation traffic has grown by approximately 33 percent versus the same months, last year, attributable, he believes, to the growing business activity in the Cody area. As a gateway community to Yellowstone, as well as a number of other outdoor recreation destinations, Cody’s economy has historically been dominated by tourist activity, which is typically seasonal in nature. However, in recent years, new and growing industries, such as medical, biotechnology, and online-based businesses have chosen to locate in the community, diversifying the local economy and providing consistent employment opportunities. While the city is not easily accessible from an interstate, the Airport does offer daily regional air service, and a thriving downtown core and quality of life amenities help make Cody extremely hospitable to new businesses. Recent projects at Yellowstone Regional Airport include an expansion of its commercial ramp, providing space for two additional aircraft to park there. “Next summer, our biggest project YELLOWSTONE REGIONAL A I RPORT