Idaho Falls Regional Airport

Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IATA: IDA[3], ICAO: KIDA, FAA LID: IDA) is two miles north west west Downtown Idaho Falls, Idaho, United States.[1] It was formerly known as Fanning Field.[4] It is the second-busiest airport in Idaho after Boise Airport.

Idaho Falls Regional Airport

Fanning Field
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Idaho Falls
ServesIdaho Falls, Idaho
Location2140 N. Skyline Dr.
Elevation AMSL4,744 ft / 1,446 m
Coordinates43°30′49″N 112°04′15″W
WebsiteOfficial website
Maps

FAA Airport Diagram as of January 2021
IDA
IDA
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
3/21 9,002 2,744 Asphalt
17/35 4,051 1,235 Asphalt
Statistics (2015)
Aircraft operations33,152
Based aircraft171
Idaho Falls Airport Historic District
Location2381 Foote Dr.,
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Coordinates43°31′02″N 112°03′30″W
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
Built1930
ArchitectC.R. Black
Architectural styleRustic
NRHP reference No.97001126[2]
Added to NRHPSeptember 10, 1997

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 9,012 by 150 feet (2,744 x 46 m) and 17/35 is 4,051 by 75 feet (1,235 x 23 m).[1]

In 2010 the airport had 38,447 aircraft operations, average 105 per day: 74% general aviation, 19% air taxi, 6% airline and 1% military. 169 aircraft were then based at this airport: 73% single-engine, 18% multi-engine, 4% jet, 3% helicopter, and 2% glider.[1]

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 4 acres (1.6 ha):[2] 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 most resent exspansion was completed in 2019, which added 2 new baggage carousels, and a new rental car parking lot.

The hangar was still in use in 1996.[5]

Terminal

The airport terminal has been expanded twice and partially re-built once. The current terminal was built in 1959, expanded in 1982 and the boarding area torn down and retrofitted with jetways for smaller aircraft in the mid-2000s. The previous terminal was designed with jetways for 737s, which stopped arriving in Idaho Falls after Delta pulled out in 1998. The latest terminal expansion was completed in 2014. It allows TSA screening of baggage to occur out of view of passengers and allows airlines to again check baggage from ticket counters.[6][7]

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.[8] 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.[9]

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. The restaurant was known as "Dolores' Place" operated by local restaurant critic Dolores Casella,[10] "Das Kinder Haus" which served German food, and "Runway 21" (1991-1995) which tried to be an upscale steak house and coffee shop.[11] The restaurant has been remodeled once in 1991 and a small fire broke out in 2008 while the restaurant was closed.[12]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Allegiant Air Las Vegas, Phoenix/Mesa, Portland (OR) (begins May 28, 2021)[13]
Seasonal: Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego[14]
Delta Connection Salt Lake City
Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul
United Express Denver

Cargo Destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Alpine Air Express Salt Lake City

Statistics
Rank Airport Passengers Carriers
1 Salt Lake City, Utah 55,020 Delta
2 Denver, Colorado 37,680 United
3 Phoenix Mesa, Arizona 19,920 Allegiant
4 Las Vegas, Nevada 11,280 Allegiant
5 Oakland, California 2,550 Allegiant
6 Los Angeles, California 1,210 Allegiant

For the year 2019, 175,028 Non-Stop Segment Passengers flew in and out of Idaho Falls Airport. [15]

Airline history
  • The first airline flights to come to Idaho falls were on National Parks Airways in 1934–35. Successor Western Air Express/Western Airlines served Idaho Falls until 1987 when Western was acquired by and merged into Delta Air Lines.[16][17] Western Air Express flew the following aircraft in Idaho Falls. Boeing 247s, Douglas DC-3s, Convair 240s, Douglas DC-6Bs, and Lockheed L-188 Electras. All these planes were later discontinued and updated with the Boeing 727-200, Boeing 737-200 and Boeing 737-300 jets.[18][19] In 1976 Western Boeing 737-200s flew direct to Idaho Falls from Calgary, Great Falls, Helena, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. these flights were in addition to non-stop 737 flights from Butte, Pocatello, Salt Lake City and West Yellowstone.[20]
  • In 1981 Western started service on the 727-200s, which flew direct to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO), both via a stop in Salt Lake City.[21] Following the merger with Western, Delta continued to operate mainline jets into Idaho Falls, and in 1989 they had three daily nonstop 737-200 and 737-300s flights to Salt Lake City.[22] In 1994 Delta had three daily 727-200 and 737-300 nonstops to Salt Lake City.[23]
  • West Coast Airlines Douglas DC-3s began service into Idaho Falls in 1951 with Fairchild F-27s. They flew until 1968, when West Coast merged with Bonanza Air Lines and Pacific Air Lines to form Air West which was renamed Hughes Airwest.[24] Air West served Idaho Falls with Fairchild F-27s beginning in 1968, as well as did Hughes Airwest. Both airlines started this service in 1972.[25][26] In the mid 1970s, Hughes Airwest updated all flights to Idaho Falls to Douglas DC-9-10 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jets , which flew direct to San Francisco (SFO) and Seattle (SEA) and non-stop to Boise and Salt Lake City.[27] By 1979 Hughes Airwest had added a non-stop DC-9-30s to Denver.[28]
  • By 1979, four airlines were serving Idaho Falls: Hughes Airwest, Western Air Express both flew jets while Gem State Airlines flew Convair 580s and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners, and Mountain West Airlines-Idaho flew Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirantes and Piper Navajos.[29]
  • Cascade Airways served Idaho Falls 1980 to 1985, first with Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirantes and later with Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners and Hawker Siddeley HS 748s.[30] In 1985 Cascade flew BAC One-Elevens direct to Boise, Portland and Seattle via Pocatello.[31]
  • Frontier Airlines started service June 12, 2014 between Idaho Falls and Denver[32] but pulled out effective January 5, 2015.[33]
  • Horizon Air was serving Idaho Falls in 1985 with Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners non-stop to Boise and had de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8s by 1989.[34][35] In 1995 Horizon Air was serving Idaho Falls with Dash 8s and Fokker F28 Fellowships for Alaska Airlines via a code sharing agreement with the non-stop flight F28 jet flight to Boise continuing to Oakland.[36] The regional airline began operating non-stop between Idaho Falls and Seattle for Alaska Airlines in 2003 with the 76-seat Bombardier Q400[37] but ended the service in 2004.[38] It reinstated non-stop flights to Seattle beginning on October 25, 2008. The flights included a stopover in Bozeman, Montana. This service was discontinued as of August 23, 2009.[39][40] On June 16, 2010, Horizon Air announced its intention to once again discontinue all service to Idaho Falls effective August 22, 2010. At the time, the airline was flying between Idaho Falls and Boise.[41]
  • United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines via a code sharing agreement with United Airlines added nonstop Canadair CRJ-200s to Denver June 8, 2006.[42][43]
  • Allegiant Airlines added twice weekly McDonnell Douglas MD-80s to Las Vegas (LAS) in November 2005.
  • Northwest Airlines started service between Idaho Falls and Minneapolis-St. Paul June 9, 2005. Service ended after Northwest merged with Delta Air Lines.[44] Seasonal Delta flights with first-class and coach cabins resumed in June 2014.[45]
  • SeaPort Airlines offered service between Boise and Idaho Falls starting in July 2011 after Horizon Air left. Due to maintenance issues and due to aircraft changes, the airline stopped service on December 31, 2011. The flight time increased from 1 hour to 1.5 hours.[46][47][48]
  • Big Sky Airlines started service between Idaho Falls and Denver in October 2002; it ended January 13, 2003.[49]
  • Delta Air Lines ended mainline jets to Salt Lake City in October 1998.[50] In 1995 Delta had three daily nonstop Boeing 737-300s to Salt Lake City while Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines via a code sharing agreement had four daily Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias nonstop to Salt Lake City.[51] Delta service to Idaho Falls is now on SkyWest operating as the Delta Connection with Canadair CRJ-200s, Canadair CRJ-900s and Embraer 175s with the CRJ-900 and E175 offering first-class and coach cabins.[52]
  • American Airlines discontinued mainline McDonnell Douglas MD-80s to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) in 1994. The service had started in December 1987.[53] In 1989 American MD-80s flew to Idaho Falls from both Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago O'Hare Airport, both via Salt Lake City.[54]
  • After its merger with Hughes Airwest in 1980, Republic Airlines (1979-1986) served Idaho Falls until September 1982. This service dated back to the West Coast Airlines era (see above). In the early 1980s, Republic McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s flew non-stop to Boise and Denver and direct to Seattle.[55][56] After Republic left, two carriers expressed interest to airport manager Jim Thorsen. Horizon Air then started serving Idaho Falls in 1983 with Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners.[57]

References
  1. FAA Airport Form 5010 for IDA PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective August 25, 2011.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  3. "IATA Airport Code Search (IDA: Idaho Falls / Fanning Field)". International Air Transport Association. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  4. "Idaho Falls-Fanning Field". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  5. William R. Shaw (August 26, 1996). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Idaho Falls Airport Historic District / Fanning Field; Red Baron Hangar". National Park Service. Retrieved January 1, 2020. With accompanying 11 photos
  6. http://www.postregister.com/articles/featured-news/2014/06/11/idaho-falls-regional-airport-expansion-benefit-travelers
  7. http://www.bizmojoidaho.com/2014/06/remodeled-idaho-falls-terminal-has-open.html
  8. [email protected], By RYAN SUPPE. "Airport restaurant Kathryn's closing after 19 years". Post Register. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  9. https://www.eastidahonews.com/2018/11/new-vendor-taking-over-restaurant-at-idaho-falls-airport-in-december/
  10. Post Register, "Shop Talk" column: Dolores' Place to close
  11. Post Register: East Idaho Digest Feb. 7, 1995
  12. http://www.postregister.com/story.php?accnum=1044-04272008&today=2008-04-27
  13. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2021/01/12/allegiant-air-flight-expansion-portland-jackson-hole-key-west/6631129002/
  14. Liu, Jim. "Allegiant Air further expands S20 network in June 2020". Routesonline. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  15. https://www.transtats.bts.gov/Oneway.asp
  16. http://www.timetableimages.com, Aug. 1, 1935 Western Air Express timetable
  17. http://www.departedflights.com, Mar. 1, 1987 Western timetable
  18. http://www.timetableimages.com, Western timetables
  19. http://www.departedflights.com, Western timetables
  20. Feb. 1, 1976 Official Airline Guide
  21. http://www.departedflights.com, Mar. 1, 1981 Western timetable
  22. http://www.departedflights.com, Dec. 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide
  23. Feb. 1994 Pocket Flight Guide
  24. http://www.timetableimages.com, Nov. 1, 1954 & April 28, 1968 West Coast timetables
  25. http://www.timetableimaages.com, July 1, 1968 Air West timetable
  26. http://www.departedflights.com, July 1, 1972 Hughes Airwest timetable
  27. http://www.departedflights.com, Oct. 26, 1975 Hughes Airwest timetable
  28. http://www.departedflights.com, Nov. 15, 1979 Official Airline Guide
  29. http://www.departedflights.com, Nov. 15, 1979 Official Airline Guide
  30. http://www.cascadeairways.com/, Oct. 26, 1980 & Oct. 31, 1982 Cascade timetables
  31. http://www.cascadeairways.com/, April 4, 1985 Cascade timetable
  32. Denver Business Journal: Frontier Airlines adding 4 Denver routes, expanding others
  33. Frontier drops 19 cities in network revamp
  34. http://www.departedflights.com, Feb. 15, 1985 Official Airline Guide
  35. http://www.departedflights.com, Dec. 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide
  36. http://www.departedflights.com, April 2, 1995 Official Airline Guide
  37. Horizon Air will offer Idaho Falls, Seattle nights, Montana Associated Technology Roundtables, June 24, 2003
  38. Horizon Ending Pocatello Flights Jan. 8 Archived 2009-08-15 at the Wayback Machine, Alaska Airlines press release, November 18, 2005
  39. http://www.alaskaair.com/content/route-map.aspx
  40. 53.aspx Press Release: Horizon Air Bringing IDA Larger Aircraft, Bozeman Nonstops and More
  41. "Horizon Air Announces Changes to Fall Schedule" (Press release). Horizon Air. June 16, 2010. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  42. Post Register: Airport Adds Denver Flights
  43. https://www.united.com
  44. Post Register: Northwest coming to I.F. airport, service to begin this summer
  45. Flights Between Idaho Falls - Minneapolis Announced
  46. Facebook.com - SeaPort Airlines status update
  47. "The Oregonian, Portland: Seaport Airlines Raises Concerns in Some Communities, Hopes in Others". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  48. "KIFI-TV: SeaPort President Weighs In On Discontinued Flight". Archived from the original on December 8, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  49. Post Register: Big Sky Airlines Cuts I.F. Service
  50. Post Register, December 17, 2000 Air Passenger Numbers Still Gaining Altitude
  51. http://www.departedflights.com, April 2, 1995 Official Airline Guide
  52. https://www.delta.com
  53. Post Register: American Pulls out of I.F.
  54. http://www.departedflights.com, Dec. 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide
  55. http://www.departedflights.com, April 1, 1981 Official Airline Guide
  56. http://www.departedflights.com, Aug. 1, 1982 Republic timetable
  57. Spokane Spokesman Review: August 7, 1982 - Republic to drop 2 Cities
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