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| Idaho Falls Regional Airport finished a major terminal remodel last year, with streamlined TSA operations moved behind the counter. |
New air service, a terminal expansion and a considerable increase in passengers topped the list of positive developments.
On the negative side, Frontier Airlines’ non-stop service between Idaho Falls and Denver was a short-lived thing. Service started in June, but Frontier announced in November it was curtailing the flights, part of a realignment that involved most of the regional airports it was serving.
As far as passengers went, IDA saw a 12 percent increase over 2013: “Remarkable growth, especially considering the dramatic changes in the airline industry,” said Airport Director Craig H. Davis, in a press release.
Total commercial airline passenger enplanements:
- 2014: 163,274
- 2013: 146,378
- 2012: 159,976
- 2011: 148,863
- 2010: 143,836
“(Enplanements) only tell part of the story,” Davis said. Total pounds of cargo/freight deplaned continued to increase, for the fourth straight year.
- 2014: 2,204,795
- 2013: 2,141,287
- 2012: 2,050,454
- 2011: 2,036,669
- 2010: 2,065,816
Financially,the airport continues to operate in the black and sustain itself financially without relying on city general fund assistance. In fiscal 2014, operating revenues totaled $5,047,839 including $2,518,891 in federal and state grant reimbursements.
Davis said he and local economic development officials are continuing to search for an airline willing to utilize the Transportation Department’s Small Community Air Service Development Grant as a revenue guarantee to establish daily service to an east coast hub airport. Search efforts also continue in establishing direct flights to Seattle and expanded service to the Los Angeles area.