Billings Logan International Airport

Billings Logan International Airport Template:Airport codes is in the western United States, Template:Convert northwest of downtown Billings, in Yellowstone County, Montana. It is the fourth busiest airport in Montana, having been surpassed in recent years by Bozeman, Missoula, and Flathead County (Kalispell) in number of annual enplanements.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Owned by the city of Billings,<ref name="FAA" /><ref name="ci.billings.mt.us">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the airport is on top of the Rims, a Template:Convert cliff overlooking the downtown core, and covers Template:Convert of land.<ref name="FAA" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} FAA data effective January 23, 2025.</ref>

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a primary commercial service airport (more than 10,000 enplanements per year).<ref>

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|CitationClass=web }} </ref> According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 387,368 passenger boardings (enplanements) in 2013,<ref>

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Billings Logan International Airport has scheduled nonstop flights to several airline 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 for Cape Air,<ref name="Cape Air"/> a commuter airline which operates nonstop flights with Cessna 402 prop aircraft within Montana to Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Sidney, and Wolf Point.

The airport has two fixed-base operators, Beacon Air Group<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Edwards Jet Center, which offer fuel as well as maintenance, charter, crew lounge, and snooze rooms.

History

A SkyWest CRJ 200

The first recorded flight in Billings was in 1913 by a local dentist named Dr. Frank Bell, using his home-made Curtiss 0-X-5, on Memorial Day 1913. With much publicity. Dr. Bell took off from Billings flying west-southwest to Park City and back, a Template:Convert round trip. This flight was captured by local artist J.K. Ralston in his painting entitled First Flight, displayed in the airport lobby.

In 1927, the City of Billings approved $5,000 and Template:Convert on top of the Rims to build a runway. The Template:Convert 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 with Lockheed Model 10 Electra twin prop airliners.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During the 1950s and early 1960s, Northwest operated Douglas DC-3, Douglas DC-4, Douglas DC-6B and Douglas DC-7C propeller aircraft into Billings.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Postcard of the airport circa 1940

Inland Air Lines was serving the airport in 1939 as a stop on a route between Denver and Great Falls.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Western Airlines then acquired Inland Air Lines and in 1944 was serving Billings with Douglas DC-3 and Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar twin prop aircraft on the route between Denver and Great Falls.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Western operated Convair 240 and Douglas DC-6B propeller aircraft into the airport during the 1950s and early 1960s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The original Frontier Airlines was serving Billings in 1950 with Douglas DC-3 aircraft operated on routes to Denver and Salt Lake City.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> By 1962, Frontier had introduced Convair 340 aircraft on its flights into the airport and would later serve Billings with Boeing 737-200 jets as well as with Convair 580 and de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprops.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Improvements over the years include runway lights in 1935 to the new Template:Convert 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.<ref name="flybillings">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

By 1961, Northwest Airlines was operating Lockheed L-188 Electra propjet service into the airport on a routing of New York Idlewild Airport (IDL, now JFK Airport) - Detroit (DTW) - Milwaukee (MKE) - Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) - Bismarck, ND (BIS) - Billings (BIL) - Great Falls (GTF) - Spokane (GEG) - Yakima (YKM) - Seattle (SEA).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The jet age arrived in Billings by 1966 when Northwest introduced Boeing 727-100 "Fan Jet" flights in addition to its Electra turboprop service.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1968, Northwest was operating nonstop 727 jet service from the airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Great Falls and Spokane as well as direct, no change of plane 727 flights to New York LaGuardia Airport, Newark, Washington, D.C. National Airport, Detroit, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Seattle and Portland, OR.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Western Airlines was serving Billings in 1966 with Lockheed 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).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Western was also operating direct Electra propjet service to Calgary (YYC) via a stop in Great Falls (GTF) during the late 1960s.<ref>http://www.timetableimages.com, Aug. 1, 1968 Western Airlines system timetable</ref> By the early 1970s, Western was operating all of its flights into the airport with Boeing 737-200 jetliners.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, Sept. 6, 1973 Western Airlines system timetable</ref> In 1979, Western was operating nonstop Boeing 727-200 service to both Minneapolis/St. Paul and Seattle as well as flying nonstop Boeing 737-200 service to Denver, Great Falls and Salt Lake City.<ref name="departedflights.com">http://www.departedflights.com, Nov. 15, 1979 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Billings flight schedules</ref>

For at least part of each year from the late 1970s to early 1980s, Billings was served by wide body McDonnell Douglas DC-10 jetliners operated by Northwest Airlines. In 1979, Northwest was flying DC-10 service on a round trip routing of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) - Detroit (DTW) - Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) - Billings (BIL) - Great Falls (GTF) - Spokane (GEG) - Seattle (SEA).<ref name="departedflights.com"/> By 1982, the airline was operating the DC-10 on a round trip routing of Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) - Billings - Great Falls - Spokane - Seattle.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, Aug. 1, 1982 Northwest Airlines system timetable</ref> 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 a Boeing 747 to provide passenger service to MSP-BIL-SEA. This was at the tail end of a pilot/airline dispute. Northwest also served Billings with Boeing 727-200, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50, McDonnell Douglas MD-80 and Airbus A319 jetliners over the years.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, Oct. 1, 1991 & June 1, 1999 editions, Official Airline Guide (OAG), Billings flight schedules; Sept. 9, 1987 Northwest Airlines system timetable</ref><ref>http://www.airliners.net, photo of Northwest Airlines A319 departing from Billings</ref>

In 1983, four airlines were operating mainline jet service into the airport: Continental Airlines with Douglas DC-9-10 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 nonstop flights to Denver and Great Falls, the original Frontier Airlines (1950-1986) with Boeing 737-200 nonstop flights to Denver, Great Falls and Helena, Northwest Airlines with Boeing 727-200 nonstop flights to Great Falls, Helena, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Spokane with direct service to Chicago, Seattle and Portland, OR, and Western Airlines with Boeing 737-200 nonstop flights to Salt Lake City with direct service to Los Angeles and San Francisco.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, July 1, 1983 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Billings flight schedules</ref> By 1985, Northwest had once again added nonstop service to Chicago O'Hare International Airport flown with Boeing 727-200 aircraft while United Airlines had begun flying Boeing 737-200 nonstop service to Denver.<ref name="ReferenceA">http://www.departedflights.com, Feb. 15, 1985 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Billings flight schedules</ref> Also in 1985, the airport had commuter airline service operated by Big Sky Airlines, Centennial Airlines and Pioneer Airlines with the latter air carrier operating as Continental Express on behalf of Continental Airlines.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Another airline which operated jet service into Billings was Horizon Air which in 1999 was operating Fokker F28 Fellowship twin jets with nonstop flights to Seattle on behalf of Alaska Airlines.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, June 1, 1999 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Billings flight schedules</ref> By 2003, the airline was serving Billings with Canadair CRJ-700 regional jets.<ref>http://www.airliners.net, photos of Horizon Air CRJ-700 aircraft at Billings</ref> Horizon Air continues to serve the airport at the present time on behalf of Alaska Airlines with the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 propjet which is the largest and fastest member of the de Havilland Canada DHC-8 regional turboprop family of aircraft.<ref>https://www.alaskaair.com, Flight Schedules</ref> Additional airlines operating regional jets from the airport in the past included America West Express operated by Mesa Airlines with Canadair CRJ-200 aircraft and Frontier JetExpress flown by Horizon Air with Canadair CRJ-700 aircraft with both air carriers operating nonstop service to Denver.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, April 7, 2002 America West Airlines system timetable</ref><ref>http://www.airliners.net, photos of America West Express and Frontier JetExpress aircraft at Billings</ref>

Airport tower

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 the Beechcraft 1900D, British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31, Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner (Metro III and Metro 23 models) and Handley Page Jetstream as well as Cessna prop aircraft. The airline operated nonstop flights from the airport to Butte, MT, Casper, WY, Denver, CO, Glasgow, MT, Great Falls, MT, Helena, MT, Lewistown, MT, Miles City, MT, Sidney, MT and Wolf Point, MT at various times during its existence.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, 11/15/79, 2/15/85, 10/1/91, 6/1/99 Official Airline Guide (OAG) editions, Billings flight schedules</ref> In addition, Big Sky operated direct, no change of plane flights from the airport to Bismarck, ND, Boise, ID, Dickinson, ND, Havre, MT, Jamestown, ND, Kalispell, MT, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, Missoula, MT, Moses Lake, WA, Seattle, WA, Spokane, WA and Williston, ND at various times during its existence as well.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, Big Sky Airlines route maps</ref> Besides operating as an independent air carrier, Big Sky also operated Northwest Airlink service from Billings via a code sharing agreement with Northwest Airlines in 1989.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, Dec. 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Billings flight schedules</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Airport governance

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.

Facilities

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/DMETemplate:Technical inline on 28R is at 3,738 feet MSLTemplate:Technical inline 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>Billings Logan International Airport. (2007). Chapter 1: Inventory. Retrieved from http://flybillings.com/DocumentCenter/View/5987</ref>

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 7 helicopter.<ref name="FAA" />

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

A Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 decelerating on the runway

A Dassault Falcon 50

A United Airlines A320 - 200

A United Express ERJ 145

A Delta Connection CRJ 900 at Bil

Destinations map
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Statistics

Top destinations

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CitationClass=web }}</ref>	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

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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%

Accidents and incidents

• On July 8, 1938, a Northwest Airlines Lockheed Super Electra stalled on takeoff. One passenger of the ten on board died.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
• On December 8, 1945, a Douglas C-47 operated by Northwest Airlines on an Army charter flight from Fargo, North Dakota crashed 3/10 of a mile south of Billings in snowy weather at night, struck trees and crashed. 19 out of the 23 on board were killed.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
• On June 25, 1965, a United States Air Force McDonnell F-101B Voodoo crashed on approach.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• On May 17, 1967, a United States Air Force McDonnell F-101B Voodoo crashed approximately 2.7 miles northeast of the airport. Both crewmembers safely ejected.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• On November 1, 1967, a Frontier Airlines Convair 580 making an emergency landing experienced a collapse of its nose gear. Neither the sole passenger or any of the crew were injured, and the aircraft was removed from the runway later that day. Damage to the runway inhibited military aircraft operations until it was repaired later that week.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• On December 18, 1992, a Cessna 550 arriving from Watertown, SD crashed on approach to runway 28R, killing all eight occupants. The investigation found the cause to be wake turbulence from a Boeing 757 that arrived just prior to the incident, causing the aircraft to roll inverted.<ref name="ntsb">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• On May 23, 2008, Alpine Air Flight 5008, a Beechcraft 1900C registration N195GA acting as a contract mail flight, impacted terrain about three miles northeast of Billings-Logan International Airport en route to Great Falls International Airport approximately three minutes after takeoff. The sole occupant, the pilot, was killed.<ref name="ntsb2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• On November 15, 2015, an El Al Boeing 777-200 made an emergency landing at Billings Logan International Airport. The cockpit received an engine fire warning on the right-hand engine. The plane was en route from Tel Aviv to Los Angeles carrying 297 passengers and 20 crew members. Inspection after landing indicated no fire was present.<ref name="usatoday">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• On April 20, 2020, a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne N926K crashed just west of the airport in a local gun and archery establishment. The sole occupant, the pilot, received fatal injuries due to smoke inhalation. A probable cause by some locals favored a possible engine failure upon initial climbout.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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See also

• List of airports in Montana

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:FAA-procedures