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Boise Airport director reports progress on concessions, rental-car facility, airfield projects and passenger growth
Summary
Airport Director Rebecca gave a status update on concession remodels, a consolidated rental-car facility, airfield paving and de-ice apron work, master-plan updates, two minor aircraft incidents and passenger and revenue trends.
Rebecca, the airport director, told the Boise Airport Commission on Wednesday that the airport is "full speed ahead in the concession remodel" and outlined timelines for multiple capital and operational projects.
The director said temporary walls are up at concession sites and that the first remodeled location to reopen will be Boise Depot, followed by Sawtooth Essentials and Tree Fort in July. She said the airport is awaiting permits for Blue Sky Bagels, Pizza Hut, Protein Bar, Waffle Me Up and The Still, and that the goal is to have concession work complete by Oct. 1. "We are full speed ahead in the concession remodel," she said.
The commission heard status updates on passenger amenities and infrastructure. Rebecca said three family restrooms on Concourse B are about 90% complete and expected to open in April. The consolidated rental-car facility is “mammoth,” she said, with Level 5 ready and two levels remaining; structural steel for the connector to the terminal is being installed and interior and exterior framing has begun. The director said the facility may open in late fall rather than summer due to lead times on some items.
On Concourse A work, the airport has released a bid package this week for passenger boarding bridges, which the director called a "long lead item" and said the airport is ordering now with expected availability in roughly two years. The airport also selected Idaho Materials and Construction for two airfield projects: an expanded de-ice apron (bids opened in March and the selection will appear before the City Council next week) and paving work on Concourse A that will create three additional remain-overnight parking spaces. Rebecca said the Concourse A paving contract was approved by council March 25 and construction will start April 14.
Rebecca said the airport has submitted a master plan scope of work to the Federal Aviation Administration and is waiting on FAA concurrence. The last master plan was adopted in 2019.
The director reported two recent, minor aircraft incidents. In one, an aircraft landed but experienced a braking problem; passengers were deplaned on the runway and shuttled to the terminal. In another, an aircraft diverted to Boise, landed safely and taxied to the gate. Rebecca thanked Valley Regional Transit and the airport car-park contractor for providing buses during the deplaning. She described both events as minor.
Operations and finance: Rebecca said passenger traffic is up about 8% compared with last year and about 20% since 2019, driven in part by added airline capacity. She reported increases in airline landing fees, adjustments to transportation network company (TNC) fees, and higher advertising revenue. Professional services spending is up, she said, because of design and project management work on the BOI upgrade; those costs are expected eventually to be capitalized and paid through bonds and the passenger facility charge (PFC). Chemicals expense is down, she said, owing to a light snow year and reduced orders.
On workforce and programs, Rebecca announced that Jill Singer, who has worked at the airport for 24 years, has accepted a promotional opportunity with the City of Boise and will leave the airport. Cody Mendenhall was promoted to industrial trades manager. The airport also launched a hidden-disability sunflower lanyard program in April; Rebecca said the lanyards are free and intended as a visual cue to staff that a traveler may need additional assistance.
Rebecca reminded commissioners that the airport will undergo its annual FAR Part 139 inspection by FAA inspectors, who will be on site for three days to inspect the airfield, training records and nighttime lighting.
The director's report concluded with reminders about upcoming anniversaries — the airport's 99th — and that work on the tenant and concourse programs continues.
Looking ahead, the commission will continue to track the master-plan concurrence with the FAA, construction timelines for the consolidated rental-car facility and Concourse A projects, and procurement lead times for boarding bridges.
