Gallatin Field sees record traffic, eyes expansion

By JESSICA MAYRER Chronicle Staff Writer

Gallatin Field airport, which saw a record number of passengers in 2008, is gearing up for a $30 million expansion that could, if all goes as planned, accommodate nearly double the air traffic.

“Obviously 2008 is a pretty good indicator that our community is continuing to grow,” Airport Director Ted Mathis said Friday.

In addition to Gallatin Valley’s growing population, the addition of two carriers, Frontier and Allegiant airlines, has drawn more travelers to the airport with new flights to Las Vegas and Denver this year. United Express also added new, seasonal nonstop service to Los Angeles.

The airport’s four flight schools, corporate and cargo planes, and private jets also keep the place bustling, Mathis said. Over 400 people are employed by 28 entities with offices at Gallatin Field.

To better accommodate all that activity, administrators are planning a sizeable expansion in coming years.

Last year, the airport added about 700 new parking spaces. Planners now envision tacking four gates onto the existing five, while leaving room for additional growth down the line, Mathis said.

“That’s a major expansion,” he said.

The Gallatin Airport Authority, which oversees operations, will meet next month to discuss plan details. And though the economy is slowing, Mathis said, it’s likely the authority will still go ahead as planned with the addition.

“We’re obviously looking at the economy very closely,” he said. “That’s a big factor.”

The project is also “shovel-ready,” Mathis said, which may make it eligible for federal assistance from incoming President Barack Obama’s economic revitalization package.

“We’re certainly pursuing it,” he said. “By the time the package is ready, we’ll have plans ready.”

Increasing competition among construction companies vying for work could also drive down expansion costs, potentially making it an ideal time to grow.

Locals who rely on tourism say the expansion is good for business.

From a supply and demand perspective, additional space for more airlines could increase competition and lower ticket prices, said Cory Lawrence of Bozeman-based Off the Beaten Path, which arranges itineraries for vacationers locally and internationally.

Since Allegiant Air came to town, he said, airfares have decreased. Increased competition is nearly always a good thing for consumers.

“Purely economically speaking, this makes sense,” Lawrence said. “That can lead to more competitive pricing.”

Jessica Mayrer can be reached at jmayrer@dailychronicle.com or 582-2635.

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