Billings Logan International Airport | |||||||||||||||||||
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 Billings Logan International Airport terminal | |||||||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | City of Billings | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Billings Department of Aviation & Transit | ||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Billings,Montana,United States | ||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | May 29, 1928; 97 years ago (1928-05-29) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hub for | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating base for | Cape Air[3] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Time zone | Mountain Standard Time (UTC−07:00) | ||||||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | Mountain Daylight Time (UTC−06:00) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 3,662 ft / 1,116 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 45°48′28″N108°32′34″W / 45.80778°N 108.54278°W /45.80778; -108.54278 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||||||||||
| Maps | |||||||||||||||||||
 FAA airport diagram of BIL | |||||||||||||||||||
  Billings Logan International Airport | |||||||||||||||||||
 Interactive map of Billings Logan International Airport | |||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Statistics (2024) | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Sources:FAA[4] flybillings.com[5] | |||||||||||||||||||
Billings Logan International Airport (IATA:BIL,ICAO:KBIL,FAALID:BIL) is in thewesternUnited States, two miles (three kilometers) northwest of downtownBillings, inYellowstone County,Montana. It is the fourth busiest airport in Montana, having been surpassed in recent years byBozeman, Missoula, and Flathead County (Kalispell) in number of annual enplanements.[6][7] Owned by the city of Billings,[4][8] the airport is on top of theRims, a 500-foot (150 m) cliff overlooking the downtown core, and covers 2,500 acres (1,000 hectares) of land.[4][9]
TheNational Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015categorized it as a primary commercial service airport (more than 10,000 enplanements per year).[10] According toFederal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 387,368 passenger boardings (enplanements) in 2013,[11] 388,329 in 2010 and 397,073 in 2009.[12]
Billings Logan International Airport has scheduled nonstop flights to severalairline hubs such as Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Portland, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Chicago, and Seattle. Billings also serves as a small hub forCape Air,[3] a commuter airline which operates nonstop flights withCessna 402 prop aircraft within Montana toGlasgow,Glendive,Havre,Sidney, andWolf Point.
The airport has twofixed-base operators, Beacon Air Group[13] and Edwards Jet Center, which offer fuel as well asmaintenance, charter, crew lounge, and snooze rooms.
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The first recorded flight in Billings was in 1913 by a local dentist namedDr. Frank Bell, using his home-madeCurtiss 0-X-5, on Memorial Day 1913. With much publicity. Dr. Bell took off from Billings flying west-southwest toPark City and back, a 40-mile (65 km) round trip. This flight was captured by local artist J.K. Ralston in his painting entitledFirst Flight, displayed in the airport lobby.
In 1927, the City of Billings approved $5,000 and 400 acres (160 hectares) on top of the Rims to build a runway. The 1,820-foot (550 m) runway and small administrative building was built by horse-drawn equipment; the airport opened on May 29, 1928.
In 1933,Northwest Airlines introduced the first scheduled passenger air service. Northwest was serving Billings in 1935 as a stop on a route between Chicago and Seattle flown withLockheed Model 10 Electra twin prop airliners.[14] During the 1950s and early 1960s, Northwest operatedDouglas DC-3,Douglas DC-4,Douglas DC-6B andDouglas DC-7C propeller aircraft into Billings.[15]
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Inland Air Lines was serving the airport in 1939 as a stop on a route between Denver and Great Falls.[16]Western Airlines then acquired Inland Air Lines and in 1944 was serving Billings withDouglas DC-3 andLockheed Model 18 Lodestar twin prop aircraft on the route between Denver and Great Falls.[17] Western operatedConvair 240 andDouglas DC-6B propeller aircraft into the airport during the 1950s and early 1960s.[18]
The originalFrontier Airlines was serving Billings in 1950 withDouglas DC-3 aircraft operated on routes to Denver and Salt Lake City.[19] By 1962, Frontier had introducedConvair 340 aircraft on its flights into the airport and would later serve Billings withBoeing 737-200 jets as well as withConvair 580 andde Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprops.[20][21]
Improvements over the years include runway lights in 1935 to the new 120-foot (37 m) air traffic control tower in 2005. Major terminal expansions were made in 1958, 1972, and 1992. In early 2006 the airport added electronic monitors giving info on arrivals and departures.
The name changed from the Billings Municipal Airport to Billings Logan Field in 1957, after Dick Logan, the airport manager, died. In 1971 the airport became Billings Logan International Airport.[22]
By 1961,Northwest Airlines was operatingLockheed L-188 Electra propjet service into the airport on a routing of New YorkIdlewild Airport (IDL, nowJFK Airport) - Detroit (DTW) - Milwaukee (MKE) - Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) - Bismarck, ND (BIS) - Billings (BIL) - Great Falls (GTF) - Spokane (GEG) - Yakima (YKM) - Seattle (SEA).[23]
The jet age arrived in Billings by 1966 when Northwest introducedBoeing 727-100 "Fan Jet" flights in addition to its Electra turboprop service.[24] In 1968, Northwest was operating nonstop 727 jet service from the airport to ChicagoO'Hare International Airport, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Great Falls and Spokane as well as direct, no change of plane 727 flights to New YorkLaGuardia Airport, Newark, Washington, D.C.National Airport, Detroit, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Seattle and Portland, OR.[25]
Western Airlines was serving Billings in 1966 withLockheed L-188 Electra turboprops with an example routing being Los Angeles (LAX) - San Diego (SAN) - Phoenix (PHX) - Denver (DEN) - Cheyenne (CYS) - Casper (CPR) - Sheridan (SHR) - Billings (BIL).[26] Western was also operating direct Electra propjet service to Calgary (YYC) via a stop in Great Falls (GTF) during the late 1960s.[27] By the early 1970s, Western was operating all of its flights into the airport withBoeing 737-200 jetliners.[28] In 1979, Western was operating nonstopBoeing 727-200 service to both Minneapolis/St. Paul and Seattle as well as flying nonstopBoeing 737-200 service to Denver, Great Falls and Salt Lake City.[29]
For at least part of each year from the late 1970s to early 1980s, Billings was served by wide bodyMcDonnell Douglas DC-10 jetliners operated byNorthwest Airlines. In 1979, Northwest was flying DC-10 service on a round trip routing of NewarkLiberty International Airport (EWR) - Detroit (DTW) - ChicagoO'Hare International Airport (ORD) - Billings (BIL) - Great Falls (GTF) - Spokane (GEG) - Seattle (SEA).[29] By 1982, the airline was operating the DC-10 on a round trip routing of Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) - Billings - Great Falls - Spokane - Seattle.[30] The DC-10 was the largest aircraft ever to be operated in scheduled passenger service into the airport. For a short period in 1979, Northwest used aBoeing 747 to provide passenger service to MSP-BIL-SEA. This was at the tail end of a pilot/airline dispute. Northwest also served Billings withBoeing 727-200,McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30,McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50,McDonnell Douglas MD-80 andAirbus A319 jetliners over the years.[31][32]
In 1983, four airlines were operating mainline jet service into the airport:Continental Airlines withDouglas DC-9-10 andMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 nonstop flights to Denver and Great Falls, the originalFrontier Airlines (1950-1986) withBoeing 737-200 nonstop flights to Denver, Great Falls and Helena,Northwest Airlines withBoeing 727-200 nonstop flights to Great Falls, Helena, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Spokane with direct service to Chicago, Seattle and Portland, OR, andWestern Airlines withBoeing 737-200 nonstop flights to Salt Lake City with direct service to Los Angeles and San Francisco.[33] By 1985, Northwest had once again added nonstop service to ChicagoO'Hare International Airport flown withBoeing 727-200 aircraft whileUnited Airlines had begun flyingBoeing 737-200 nonstop service to Denver.[34] Also in 1985, the airport had commuter airline service operated byBig Sky Airlines,Centennial Airlines and Pioneer Airlines with the latter air carrier operating asContinental Express on behalf ofContinental Airlines.[34]
Another airline which operated jet service into Billings wasHorizon Air which in 1999 was operatingFokker F28 Fellowship twin jets with nonstop flights to Seattle on behalf ofAlaska Airlines.[35] By 2003, the airline was serving Billings withCanadair CRJ-700 regional jets.[36] Horizon Air continues to serve the airport at the present time on behalf of Alaska Airlines with theBombardier Dash 8 Q400 propjet which is the largest and fastest member of thede Havilland Canada DHC-8 regional turboprop family of aircraft.[37] Additional airlines operating regional jets from the airport in the past includedAmerica West Express operated byMesa Airlines withCanadair CRJ-200 aircraft andFrontier JetExpress flown byHorizon Air withCanadair CRJ-700 aircraft with both air carriers operating nonstop service to Denver.[38][39]
Big Sky Airlines was a commuter air carrier that was based in Billings from 1978 to 2008. Big Sky primarily operated small turboprop airliners including theBeechcraft 1900D,British AerospaceBAe Jetstream 31,Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner (Metro III and Metro 23 models) andHandley Page Jetstream as well asCessna prop aircraft. The airline operated nonstop flights from the airport toButte, MT,Casper, WY,Denver, CO,Glasgow, MT,Great Falls, MT,Helena, MT,Lewistown, MT,Miles City, MT,Sidney, MT andWolf Point, MT at various times during its existence.[40] In addition, Big Sky operated direct, no change of plane flights from the airport toBismarck, ND,Boise, ID,Dickinson, ND,Havre, MT,Jamestown, ND,Kalispell, MT,Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN,Missoula, MT,Moses Lake, WA,Seattle, WA,Spokane, WA andWilliston, ND at various times during its existence as well.[41] Besides operating as an independent air carrier, Big Sky also operatedNorthwest Airlink service from Billings via acode sharing agreement withNorthwest Airlines in 1989.[42]
Between 2019 and 2024, the airport terminal was modernized and expanded for the first time since the 1990s. The project cost was approximately $45 million.[43] The number of gates increased to 9 (from 6), and the number of jet bridges increased to 8 (from 4). The airport remodeled both the A and B concourses and constructed new screening, lobby, restaurant, and gift shop facilities. The project's purpose was to provide capacity for future growth, attract air carriers, and increase the city's economic vitality.[44]
The Aviation and Transit Board governs BIL, with seven members, each appointed for four-year terms. It is required of the position of a board member to possess the qualifications fit for the Mayor's office. With the consent of the Council, the Mayor elects the board members. No board member may be reelected once his or her term expires. The purpose of the Aviation and Transit Board is not only to help govern the operations of the airport, but also to act as a citizens' advisory board to the City Council. They are to make sure that city policies are implemented and carried out. Shortcomings are to be reported and recommendations are to be made to the City Council.
Billings Logan International Airport has three runways. The primary runway is Runway 10L/28R with a length of 10,518 feet and width of 150 feet. ILS/DME[jargon] on 28R is at 3,738 feet MSL[jargon] is the lowest approach. The second runway is Runway 07/25 with a length of 5,501 feet and width of 75 feet; this runway serves as the crosswind runway. The final runway is Runway 10R/28L with a length of 3,800 feet and width of 75 feet. This runway serves as the primary runway for single engine and light piston aircraft. All three runways are asphalt.[45]
There are nine taxiways currently in use. Taxiway A runs parallel to Runway 10L/28R, serves as the last exit of Runway 10L and connects to the terminal area. Taxiway B runs through Runway 10L/28R as an access taxiway to the Northern Air Tanker Base. Three Taxiways, C, E and F, serve as exit taxiways that vary in width to serve certain size aircraft. Taxiway D intersects Runway 10L/28R and serves as a northern exit point for Runway 25. Two taxiways (G and H) provide all exits for Runway 10R/28L and Runway 7. Finally, Taxiway J is the primary taxiway from the terminal area to the cargo ramps. Two hotspots exist on the airfield side of operations. Hotspot 1 is located at the intersection of Runway 10R/28L and Runway 7/25. Hotspot 2 is located at the intersection of Taxiway C and Runway 10L/28R.[46]
In the year ending December 31, 2023, the airport had 99,748 operations, an average of 273 aircraft operations per day: 58%general aviation, 29%air taxi, 13% airline, and 1% military. 197 aircraft were then based at the airport: 106 single-engine, 62 multi-engine, 22 jet, and 7helicopter.[4]
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| Destinations map |
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 Billings Destinations from Billings Logan International Airport Red = Year-round destination Green = Seasonal destination Blue = Future destination |
| Rank | Airport | Passengers | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver, Colorado | 152,820 | United |
| 2 | Salt Lake City, Utah | 81,330 | Delta |
| 3 | Seattle/Tacoma, Washington | 58,320 | Alaska |
| 4 | Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas | 47,950 | American |
| 5 | Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota | 43,970 | Delta |
| 6 | Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona | 28,370 | Allegiant |
| 7 | Portland, Oregon | 21,810 | Alaska |
| 8 | Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois | 19,290 | American, United |
| 9 | Las Vegas, Nevada | 16,440 | Allegiant |
| 10 | Sidney, Montana | 6,840 | Cape |
| Rank | Airline | Passengers | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Airlines | 205,000 | 20.89% |
| 2 | SkyWest Airlines | 187,000 | 19.03% |
| 3 | Delta Air Lines | 168,000 | 17.12% |
| 4 | Horizon Air | 160,000 | 16.26% |
| 5 | Envoy Air | 126,000 | 12.84% |
| Other | 136,000 | 13.85% |
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