Tester Announces Funding for New Terminal Building at Missoula International Airport

(Great Falls, Mont.) – U.S. Senate Jon Tester announced funding today to help Missoula International Airport construct a new terminal building and upgrade its runway system.

“This investment will immediately create jobs and bolster Missoula’s physical infrastructure,” Tester said. “It will also have huge economic benefits over the long term by increasing the number of visitors, residents and business travelers flying in and out of the city each day.”

Missoula International will receive $1.4 million through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides grants to airports across the country in an effort to expand and improve America’s air travel infrastructure.

“We’ve really grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade, so this new terminal building will double the capacity of our current facility, allowing us to accommodate more passengers, more flights, and bigger aircraft,” said Cris Jensen, Director of Missoula International Airport. “We’re very thankful for the support of our Congressional delegation, particularly Senator Tester who-in addition to helping us secure this most recent funding-has been integral in helping us secure other major upgrades, including our new air traffic control tower.”

The current terminal building was originally constructed in 1948 and is too small to accommodate larger aircraft like 757’s, Jensen added. As a result, the airport has been forced to turn down offers from certain airlines hoping to fly into Missoula. This new terminal building will remedy these issues and significantly expand the number of passengers and flights the airport can accommodate. The funding will also be used to upgrade the safety and security of the airport’s current runway system.

Tester recently helped secure new roundtrip service from Missoula to Texas as well as funding to construct a new taxiway at the airport. Tester has announced more than $20 million to upgrade over two dozen airports across the state this year.