After two years, Idaho Falls Airport expansion project begins

Big changes are coming to the Idaho Falls Regional Airport.

Crews got the green light for a multi-million dollar expansion project, with heavy construction beginning next week.

Around 440 people travel through this airport daily, so crews say it is time to add a little more space.

$5,000 square feet will be added to the southwest part of the terminal, but that’s not all.

After years of planning, airport director Craig Davis says the ideas are finally coming to life.

“This project has been in the design, planning and funding phase for 2 1/2 years,” said Davis. “It just takes that long to get it into the programming with the FAA.”

One of the biggest changes with the $2.3 million project will be moving the TSA baggage checkpoint into its own separate area, away from the lobby.

More ticket counters will be added, giving travelers a faster check-in process.

“We have, on any average day, between 10 and 12 scheduled commercial airline flights and that’s in addition to our 50 to 100 general aviation operation aircrafts per day,” said Davis.

And Davis said it’s all part of a bigger vision for the airport.

Crews have to keep up with business and offer more flight selections for eastern Idaho travelers.

“We just applied for a grant from the Department of Transportation to bring back our non-stop flight to Minneapolis,” said Davis. “If we get that grant, Delta Airlines have already acknowledged that they’ll support that flight.”

Davis said the expansion probably won’t create any extra jobs, but he’s hoping it will attract other airlines to bring flights to Idaho Falls and offer more competitive pricing for travelers.

Airport crews said the construction should take 10 months and isn’t expected to cause any flight delays.