MISSOULA — Vacationer season has arrived throughout Montana, and it’s straightforward to identify.
You see it on license plates, you see it within the lengthy wait at your favourite restaurant, within the outrageous value of a rental automobile, however nowhere is the surge in tourism as evident because the Missoula Montana Airport.
“We simply obtained our June numbers and we’re not fairly at 2019 numbers but, we’re at 95%, however I count on July will meet or exceed 2019,” mentioned Brian Ellestad, the airport’s performing director.
The key’s out on Montana and all of its aspects of recreation. Due to this, airline route planners have boosted their visitors out and in of the state.
“We’re very California heavy, after which now we have a number of bigger aircrafts going to the identical locations,” defined Ellestad. “Dallas is a bigger plane, Minneapolis is a bigger plane, so much more seats to many extra locations.”
Whereas vacationers are able to hop on a aircraft and go, it’s the airways who could also be slowing issues down.
“Some tenants are doing nice, and a few are actually lagging behind. United and Delta are struggling to seek out employees, they’re very brief staffed, in order that they’re taking delays,” Ellestad advised MTN Information. “We’re leaping in behind the scenes to assist out the place we are able to, however we’re not educated on their aircrafts, so when a aircraft has to carry for a gate, there may be a gate obtainable for them to park, however they do not have sufficient employees to go park a second airplane that may be on the bottom, so it’s totally irritating for the passengers and for us.”
Should you’ve flown this summer time, you already know that all the pieces from boarding to baggage declare can take a little bit longer than regular.
Go forward and blame it on the post-pandemic journey craze, however no matter you do, attempt to have some persistence and plan for additional wait occasions.
“The employees which are right here for United and Delta are working arduous. They’re simply brief staffed, they’re overwhelmed….so if you can also make their day simpler by getting right here earlier, you’ll have a greater journey,” mentioned Ellestad.
As vacationers proceed flooding in, Ellestad is raring for the completion of the airport’s new terminal.
Section 1 of the challenge consists of ticket counters, TSA checkpoints, 4 gates, plus a brief gate and baggage declare. This portion shall be full someday between March and April of 2022.
Section 2, which is at present underneath design, will provide 4 extra gates and an space for luggage declare and rental vehicles.
As well as, the brand new terminal will implement common-use gates so airways aren’t restricted to their very own gates, however no matter gates can be found upon arrival.
“We simply constructed this for the demand that we see now, so we’ll in all probability be chasing progress as we preserve constructing,” mentioned Ellestad. “It will likely be simply expandable, in order that’s the nice factor.”
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