Idaho Falls Regional Airport Explained

Idaho Falls Regional Airport
Iata:IDA
Icao:KIDA
Faa:IDA
Type:Public
Owner-Oper:City of Idaho Falls
City-Served:Idaho Falls, Idaho
Location:2140 N. Skyline Dr.
Elevation-F:4,744
Elevation-M:1,446
Coordinates:43.5136°N -112.0708°W
Image Mapsize:275
Image Map Caption:FAA airport diagram as of January 2021
Pushpin Map:USA Idaho#USA
Pushpin Relief:yes
Pushpin Label:IDA
Pushpin Label Position:right
R1-Number:3/21
R1-Length-F:9,002
R1-Length-M:2,744
R1-Surface:Asphalt
R2-Number:17/35
R2-Length-F:3,964
R2-Length-M:1,208
R2-Surface:Asphalt
Stat-Year:2016
Stat1-Header:Aircraft operations
Stat1-Data:33,152
Stat2-Header:Based aircraft
Stat2-Data:171
Footnotes:Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]
Module:
Embed:yes
Idaho Falls Airport Historic District
Coordinates:43.5172°N -112.0583°W
Built:1930
Architect:C.R. Black
Architecture:Rustic
Added:September 10, 1997
Area:4acres
Refnum:97001126

Idaho Falls Regional Airport is two miles north-northwest of downtown Idaho Falls, Idaho, United States. It is locally known as Fanning Field.[2] It is the second-busiest airport in Idaho after Boise Airport.

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a primary commercial service facility. Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 148,584 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008, 138,957 in 2009 and 144,365 in 2010.

Facilities

Idaho Falls Regional Airport covers 866 acres (350 ha) at an elevation of 4,744 feet (1,446 m). It has two asphalt runways: 3/21 is 9,002 by 150 feet (2,744 x 46 m) and 17/35 is 3,964 by 75 feet (1,208 x 23 m).

In the year ending December 31, 2016, the airport had 33,152 aircraft operations, average 91 per day:65% general aviation, 31% air taxi, 3% airline and <1% military. 171 aircraft were then based at this airport: 128 single-engine, 29 multi-engine, 6 jet, 5 helicopter, and 3 glider.

History

A historic portion on the east side of the airport was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. The listing included two contributing buildings and a contributing structure on 4acres: an aircraft hangar, an administrator or caretaker's cabin, and a beacon tower, as well as a surrounding landscaped area. It "represents" the original site of operations for the Idaho Falls Airport. The hangar was still in use in 1996.[3]

Terminal

The airport terminal has seen many expansions and a partial re-build throughout the years. The current terminal was built in 1959. The first expansion happening in 1982, which consisted of the old boarding area being torn down and retrofitted with jetways to accommodate smaller commercial aircraft that started coming in the mid-2000s. The previous terminal was designed with jetways for older generation Boeing 737, which stopped arriving in Idaho Falls after Delta airlines pulled out of mainline service to the airport in 1998. In 2014, an expansion project was completed that moved TSA screening of baggage out of view of passengers and allowed airlines to again check baggage from ticket counters.[4] [5] In 2019, the airport saw a need for a bigger baggage claim area. The existing carousel was replaced by two new baggage carousels. In addition a new rental car parking lot was constructed. A remodeling project began in 2020 that was to upgrade the amenities at the airport, that consisted of the addition of four new gates, relocated TSA screening and a new check-in area.[6]

Food and beverage service

As of December 1, 2018, Tailwind, a new food, beverage and sundries provider was selected through an open RFP initiated earlier that year.[7] The company is assuming operations in limited mode as proposed renovations take place. The airport expressed a desire to have a vendor that would commit to minimum annual revenue (including a percentage of profits that goes to the airport), specific hours of operation based on flight schedules and out-of-pocket renovations to concession areas.[8]

From 2001 to 2018, the airport restaurant and lounge operator used her own name, Kathryn's. The lounge was operated by this local owner starting in 1999. The restaurant operated limited hours and served basic American fare for breakfasts and lunches Monday through Saturday. At other times, souvenirs, sundries and basic food were available at Kathryn's Snack Shack pre-security screening. In later years of operation, after an airport renovation, Kathryn's Snack Shack also operated post-security on the second level of the airport with coffee, beverages and basic sundries.

The airport has struggled to maintain a viable restaurant operator in the past. One restaurant was known as "Dolores' Place" operated by local restaurant critic Dolores Casella.[9] There were also "Das Kinder Haus" which served German food, and "Runway 21" (1991-1995) which tried to be an upscale steak house and coffee shop.[10] The restaurant has been remodeled once in 1991 and a small fire broke out in 2008 while the restaurant was closed.[11]

Airlines and destinations

Cargo

Statistics

Top domestic destinations
(January 2023 - December 2023)[12] !Rank!Airport!Passengers!Carriers
1 Salt Lake City, Utah69,400Delta
2 Denver, Colorado58,610United
3 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas30,440American
4 Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona29,970Allegiant
5 Seattle/Tacoma, Washington24,420Alaska
6 Santa Ana, California16,440Allegiant
7 Las Vegas, Nevada14,100Allegiant
8 Phoenix-Sky Harbor, Arizona10,140American
9 Portland, Oregon10,010Allegiant
10 San Diego, California3,660Allegiant

Airline history

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. . Federal Aviation Administration. Effective November 30, 2023.
  2. Web site: Idaho Falls-Fanning Field . . July 11, 2013.
  3. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=97001126}} National Register of Historic Places Registration: Idaho Falls Airport Historic District / Fanning Field; Red Baron Hangar ]. National Park Service. William R. Shaw . August 26, 1996 . January 1, 2020. With
  4. Web site: Idaho Falls Regional Airport expansion to benefit travelers | Post Register . June 11, 2014 . July 14, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714201040/http://www.postregister.com/articles/featured-news/2014/06/11/idaho-falls-regional-airport-expansion-benefit-travelers . dead .
  5. Web site: Remodeled Idaho Falls terminal has open house. BizMojo. Idaho.
  6. News: Expansion begins on Idaho Falls Airport . 22 February 2021 . East Idaho News . June 22, 2020.
  7. Web site: Airport restaurant Kathryn's closing after 19 years. SUPPE. RYAN. Post Register. November 8, 2018 . 2018-12-05.
  8. Web site: New vendor taking over restaurant at Idaho Falls Airport in December. November 12, 2018.
  9. Web site: Post Register, "Shop Talk" column: Dolores' Place to close.
  10. Web site: Post Register: East Idaho Digest Feb. 7, 1995.
  11. http://www.postregister.com/story.php?accnum=1044-04272008&today=2008-04-27
  12. Web site: Stats . www.transtats.bts.gov . 19 September 2023.
  13. http://www.timetableimages.com, Aug. 1, 1935 Western Air Express timetable
  14. http://www.departedflights.com, Mar. 1, 1987 Western timetable
  15. http://www.timetableimages.com, Western timetables
  16. http://www.departedflights.com, Western timetables
  17. Feb. 1, 1976 Official Airline Guide
  18. http://www.departedflights.com, Mar. 1, 1981 Western timetable
  19. http://www.departedflights.com, Dec. 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide
  20. Feb. 1994 Pocket Flight Guide
  21. http://www.timetableimages.com, Nov. 1, 1954 & April 28, 1968 West Coast timetables
  22. http://www.timetableimaages.com, July 1, 1968 Air West timetable
  23. http://www.departedflights.com, July 1, 1972 Hughes Airwest timetable
  24. http://www.departedflights.com, Oct. 26, 1975 Hughes Airwest timetable
  25. http://www.departedflights.com, Nov. 15, 1979 Official Airline Guide
  26. http://www.cascadeairways.com/, Oct. 26, 1980 & Oct. 31, 1982 Cascade timetables
  27. http://www.cascadeairways.com/, April 4, 1985 Cascade timetable
  28. Web site: Denver Business Journal: Frontier Airlines adding 4 Denver routes, expanding others. www.bizjournals.com . PDF. 2021-04-07.
  29. Web site: Frontier drops 19 cities in ongoing network revamp. Ghim-Lay. Yeo2014-11-25T20:26:52+00:00. Flight Global.
  30. http://www.departedflights.com, Feb. 15, 1985 Official Airline Guide
  31. http://www.departedflights.com, April 2, 1995 Official Airline Guide
  32. http://www.matr.net/article-7193.html Horizon Air will offer Idaho Falls, Seattle nights
  33. http://www.alaskasworld.com/Newsroom/QXNews/QXstories/QX_20051118_134416.asp Horizon Ending Pocatello Flights Jan. 8
  34. Web site: Route maps. Alaska. Airlines. Alaska Airlines.
  35. Web site: 53.aspx Press Release: Horizon Air Bringing IDA Larger Aircraft, Bozeman Nonstops and More.
  36. Horizon Air Announces Changes to Fall Schedule . . June 16, 2010 . June 16, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100620012455/http://www.alaskasworld.com/Newsroom/QXNews/QXstories/QX_20100616_115008.asp . June 20, 2010 . dead .
  37. Web site: Post Register: Airport Adds Denver Flights.
  38. Web site: Post Register: Northwest coming to I.F. airport, service to begin this summer.
  39. Web site: Flights between Idaho Falls, Minneapolis-St. Paul set to start in June. BizMojo. Idaho.
  40. Web site: Log into Facebook. Facebook.
  41. Web site: The Oregonian, Portland: Seaport Airlines Raises Concerns in Some Communities, Hopes in Others . 2020-01-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051038/http://blog.oregonlive.com/business_impact/print.html?entry=%2F2012%2F01%2Fseaport_airlines_raises_concer.html . 2016-03-04 . dead .
  42. Web site: KIFI-TV: SeaPort President Weighs In On Discontinued Flight . 2012-01-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111208121903/http://www.localnews8.com/news/29929468/detail.html . 2011-12-08 . dead .
  43. Web site: Post Register: Big Sky Airlines Cuts I.F. Service.
  44. Web site: Post Register, December 17, 2000 Air Passenger Numbers Still Gaining Altitude.
  45. Web site: Post Register: American Pulls out of I.F..
  46. http://www.departedflights.com, April 1, 1981 Official Airline Guide
  47. http://www.departedflights.com, Aug. 1, 1982 Republic timetable
  48. Web site: The Spokesman-Review - Google News Archive Search. news.google.com.